THE GREENHOUSE.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 940, 9 December 1933, Page 23 (Supplement)

THE GREENHOUSE.

SHADING WITH BLINDS. Preparations may now be made foi shading greenhouses and, generally speaking, it will be found that movabh blinds are more satisfactory than washei o-r shading mixtures, as they can b< removed immediately shade is noi wanted by the plants. One of the simplest and least expensive methods ol forming a roller blind for the purpose it question is illustrated herewith. A lils or 2in diameter wooden roller as long a* the greenhouse should be obtained, anc a sin diameter wooden disc screwed to each end, as at A, to guide the roller up and down on the roof. The canvas should he nailed to the roller and alsc

to the woodwork at the top of the roof Four side pulleys must be fixed to tin woodwork at the points 1,2, 3 and 4ir sketch B. Strong cord must be obtained and the end fastened to the Avoodwork at 5. Pass the cord doAvn the roof under the canvas &s sliOAvn by the dotted lines and then round the roller and up the roof on top of the canvas and through pulley 1, forwaid through pulley 2, and doAvn the roof to point 6. Then take the cord up the roof again through pulley 3, forward through pulley 4, and down the roof, where it must be passed round the roller and be carried up under the canAas as shown by the dotted lines and secured to the woodAvork at point 7. To roll up the blind the cord must be pulled at 6. Fix an angle iron to the greenhouse roof at each end, as shown at C, to take the weight of the roller off the can A-as when the blind is down.

SOWING HERBACEOUS CALCEOLARIAS.

The seed of herbaceous calceolaria is A'ery fine and also A'ery expensiA'e* and care must be taken in sowing it or there is soon a loss. The best way to sow the seed is to prepare the pan and water it, then let it stand for an hour or so before soAving the seed. When about to sow

the seed, fold a piece of coarse paper in half so as to form a V shape, put the seed in this furroAv, and by holding at a 'gentle slope and tapping Avith a pencil you can soav the seed quite thinly. After

sowing stand the pan on an inverted pot in a <lisli of Avater to keep away slugs and other pests.

STAKING GLADIOLI. Gladioli should be staked as soon as the spikes begin to show. Some of the A’arieties seem to have a great liking to take a side lean early in life, but if a short stake, even a foot out of the ground is sufficient, is put to them with one tie, it will bring the spike upright

and keep it there. There are some varieties Avith very tall spikes that call for longer stakes, and especially is this so if they have been allowed to continue for a time in a leaning position. When tying, do not tie tightly and see that the raffia does not cripple any of the flowers. BARS LEY. The present is a suitable time to make a sowing of parsley to come into use in late summer and autumn. It is best to make this sowing by the side of a path, as parsley is rather fond of solid ground, and moreover it is easy to gather and saves walking on the" soil Avhen in a Avet condition. Parsley, to do really well, requires a deep, rich, rather moist soil, Avith plenty of rotten coav manure forked in. It does fairly Avell in partial shade. As soon as the seedlings can be handled they should be thinned out to 6in apart. The thinnings can be replanted elseAvhere to form another bed. When about Sin high, if they are not groAving very luxuriantly, water with a solution of loz each of sulphate of ammonia and Bulpluite of iron to a gallon of Avater.

KEEP ON KEEPING ON. Just draw on your grit, it’s dead easy to quit! It’s the keeping-your-chin-up that’j hard.—R. W. Ser\ 7 ice. I

ALL MEN ARE POSSIBLE HEROES. All actual heroes are essential men, and all men are possible heroes. 1 —E. B. Browning.