CULTURAL DIRECTIONS

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 193, 15 August 1931, Page 27

CULTURAL DIRECTIONS

PRUNING ROSES. SPINACH. The varieties belonging to the hybrid perpetual section should, with a few exceptions, be cut back to within from three to six buds from the ground or stock. The weaker growers must be cut harder back than those of a more vigorous nature. Keep the centre open and the plant evenly balanced. To effect this, see that the "bud nearest the cut is pointing in the direction that the new shoot is intended to take to produce a shapely bush. All weak and decayed wood must be removed, as well as shoots that crowd the plant and prevent free access of light and air. To this end any branches that cross each other

must be removed. A good deal of practice is required before anyone can become efficient. Often a rose bush has made but few strong growths and there are several decayed shoots. In such ease there is little of the plant left after shortening back the leading growths and cutting out the dead wood. Hybrid tea roses now predominate, being the largest section. They are mostly strong growers and free flowerers. Some of them so closely resemble the hybrid perpetuala that it is difficult to detect the difference, except that they are more continuous bloomers and freer growers, and require to be more sparsely pruned, regulating the cutting back according to

the habit of growth. General MacArtliur, George Dickson, J. B. Clark, Mrs. Wakefield, Christie Miller, all vigorous growers, need to be sparingly pruned, whereas the weaker growers need harder cutting back. Tea-scented roses include many of the more deli-cately-shaded and beautiful of all roses. They are distinct in their habit of growth, shortening back straggling growths and thinning out of some of the email twigs being all that is necessary. China roses require similar pruning" to the teas. Moss roses need also to be sparingly pruned. Miniature or polyanthus rosea are apt to grow bushy, needing considerable thinning out and only slightly shortening back

leading growths. Climbing roses that are trained against the sides of fences or houses or up verandah pillars, or planted to cover the pergola, only require the lateral growths to be cut back to within one or two eyes or buds from the leading or main stems all to have all dead wood removed, as well as shoots that crowd the plants. When new, vigorous growers are wanted to take the place of any that have become too old or infested with borer, hard cutting back must be resorted to. SPINACH. Winter spinach needs proper attention, and as it produces a good, wholesome, green vegetable at a time when such are rather scarce, it is worthy of a place in every garden. It will grow in almost any soil, but the better the soil the better the crop. A piece of ground that has carried a crop of peas or potatoes is very suitable. Hoe over the surface and rake off the weeds; if they are very numerous, draw out drills about lin deep and about loin apart. Sow the seed thinly and apply a dusting of fish manure or blood and bone along the drills. Cover the seed and manure by drawing the soil over it with the rake. When the plants have made one

or two rough leaves they should be thinned to a distance of about 4in. The thinnings can be used. Later, when the plants have grown, go over them again and thin out to 6in or Sin. The thinnings can be used, and so on until the plants stand about Ift apart. After this the most forward leaves only should be picked. The whole of the bed should be gone over at each picking. Any leaves that show signs of yellowing should be picked off. This helps the plants to keep going. It is not generally known that the seedlings will transplant during moist weather or if they can be watered. Keep tlie hoe at work frequently between the rows. After the lied has been picked over a few times give the plants an application of a quick acting manure, such as sulphate of ammonia or fish manure.