THE GARDEN.

Waipa Post, Volume XXIV, Issue 1415, 13 October 1923, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

Established Plants. In most gardens arrangements have been made for the early display of flowers from hardy annuals, and spring erops of vegetables. The seedlings which were planted several weeks ago for the purposes mentioned should be established sufficiently to be able to stand a little forcing. Although the ground may have been enriched underneath by the working in of stable and farmyard manure, as well as other kinds oi animal and bird refuse, it is necessary to give the fine fibrous roots which come comparatively close to the surface more nourishment than they are able to obtain in a natural way. When To Top-DPesk. There are many kinds of fertilisers with which to assist the growth of young flowering plants and vegetables. but the most reliable for general gardening requirements are nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, blood manure, guano, bonedust and su pcrphosphate. As an aid to the slow growth of cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, spinach, asparagus, kohlrabi, leeks and onions, there is nothing better than nitrate of soda when it is properly applied. It is. however, necessary that the plants should be thoroughly rooted before they are able to make good use of the stimulant. Between the rows of vegetables and flowering annuals, which are thoroughly established, nitrate of soda should be broadcasted at the rate of three ounces to the square yard, and covered as lightly as possible with a tine lined .rake. The object is to nourish the fibrous roots which come near the surface, and it is useless to put the fertilising ingredient too far in the ground where it will he out of reach. Rain, or applications of water which are necessary in dry weather, will carry the sustenance down where the roots can make good use of it. Sulphate' of Ammonia. Although sulphate of ammonia Is not so rapid in its action as nitrate of soda, the nitrogenous value is much greater, and for potatoes there is nothing so helpful. It should be applied in the same manner as nitrate of soda, but care must be taken to prevent any of the particles from reaching the leaves of vegetables or flowering plants when they are damp. Under these circumstances the chemicals in the sulphate of ammoaia will scorch the foliage and do more harm than good. Flowering plants that are well advanced will he strengthened by topdressing the soil between them with blood manure, bone dust, guano, or superphosphate at the rate of three ounces to the square yard. In all cases the fertiliser should he broadcasted over the surface of finely tilthed plots between the plants it is intended to benefit and covered by a light raking of the soil. Time to Plant. There is no better time of the year than the present to plant seedlings of vegetables and annual flowering plants which are able to stand the cold weather which may be experienced until the end of October, and advantage should be taken of the opportunity to sow seeds and put in young plants of any of the varieties enumerated in the lists above. If the soil is ordinarily fertile, they will make a good growth almost immediately.