Gardening Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 73, Issue 115, 17 May 1930, Page 7 (Supplement)

Gardening Notes

(BY ALKANET).

KITCHEN GARDEN j Preparations should be made for the planting to be done early in spring. Empty’ spaces should be dug or, better still, trenched. Most manuring crops sown during the new year should now be ready for turning in. Where empty' spaces cannot be left empty long enough to grow and turn in a crop of oats the soil should be turned over and left exposed to tho air, destroying the weeds as they come up. Do not leave the soil without digging at all or the results of the plantings to be made will be very poor indeed. Besides keeping the soil poor it will grow a lot of rubbish and afford shelter for the slugs and this should be avoided at all costs. Lettuce may be sown now for planting in suitable spots. If plants are available they' may' be planted out now but the lied must be well worked and manured liberally. If the soil is at all heavy the beds should be raised above the surrounding soil to ensure good drainage- Select varieties that are suitable for winter growing. Broad beans may be sown any time during the winter but the earlier they are in the better the results. Onions should be sown no’#, either for use as spring onions or to be planted out for bulbs. If they' arc to be transplanted sow’ thickly, but if they are to be left they should be sown as thinly as possible. It is usual to transplant them however they are to be used and most convenient also, as it saves a considerable amount of weeding. Silver beet may be sown or planted any time now. Planting is best if plants are availablePotato Onions

These onions are very suitable for sow'ing in places where the soil is not suitable for raising onions from seed. They are as easy to grow as any other onion, but are not suitable for winter use as they' usually’ begin to rot after about June. L’p till then, however, they are quite satisfactory and arc of course ready for use much earlier than any' other onion. They are even earlier than the shalots. Small bulbs are the best for planting. A small bulb will grow into two or three me-dium-sized onions, but a large bulb will break up into a number of smaller ones not very suitable for use. The bulbs should be planted in row’s eight to 12 inches apart with four to six inches between each bulb. If the soil is good a very’ line crop will be the result; but even if the soil is not very good the results wjll bo quite satisfactory'. Radishes may now be sown. and grown in sandy soil if reasonable shelter is available. Peas may now be sown in sandy or peaty’ soil if the drainage is good- It usually is in that class of soil; that is why it is so good for growing win ter vegetables. They should be sown more thickly than usual as they will not grow’ quite as luxuriantly as they do in the spring or summer. The young plants must be protected from the birds or they will most likely disappear. Spinach may’ be sown now but only’ the winter variety. (Strawberry plants should be planted as soon as possible to give them a good early start.

If asparagus beds are to be planted the soil should be removed and the hole filled up with garden refuse ami then covered up again so that the vegetables will be well rotted by the time the plants arc put in. Old blocks of rhubarb may now be lifted and stored, to be divided and re-planted later on or to be put under glass to force for early rhubarb- They will run into growth in a vinery' as long as they are kept reasonably moist. If the soil is heavy it is a good policy to lift ail celery and heel it in in a space where it will be handy, especially if an elevated position is available. They are inclined to rot if the soil in which they are planted is at all wet. All potatoes should be out of the ground by now. Where the small bulbs are to be used for seed for next season, they should be picked over, put in shallow' trays, and stored under a hedge. They will quickly go green and then to make sure they are all right. They’ may’ start into growth so it would be best to have the trays standing on a couple of bricks to keep them off the ground.

THE FLOWER GARDEN Chrysanthemums have been exceptionally fine and very few have been spoiled by the weather. Some very fine displays are to be seen, in local gardens. The first early varieties arc passed their best nut tbc main crop vaimues are- s*:i.l lc< Ling very fine anc some of tut later ones are still !g- come gu: Roses have also flu wo cd longer than usual this year. The display of r’livn.n tints is yet to come, although some very fine coloured oaks are to be seen where they' have been exposed to the weather. Bulbs are not yet showing much growth as they like rather more growth than we arc getting at. present, but their time will, no doubt, soon come. Shrubs or roses should not be planted unless very’ suitable conditions pre-

vail. We shall probably have plenty of moisture presently. The weather has been exceedingly suitable for raising seedlings outside. There has been no excessive moisture to damp them off and no great, changes in the temperature to check this growth. It has been most satis factory' for starting anemones and raur.nculas into growth. They will b.com much earlier for having an early start. Narcissi bulbs should rot be left vnplanted any later than this. Tulips and hyacinths also should go in immediately', also exias, morfixiaa and all the other odds and ends of spring flowering bulbs. 'l’hc weather tm..' been, and still is, excellent for striking cuttings of all herbal cious perennials and bi-annuals. (a nations should re planted as soon as conditions ar.- a lit,tie more moist. The beds and borders should bo prepared for them now. The present time is veiy suitable for making cuttings of these plants. Some varieties strike almost as freely from cuttings as they de from layers. This is a good time to observe how the different trees grow that are grown for autumn tints- They, like all other trees and shrubs, respond to good treatment and proper pruning, etc. It will bo noticed, for instance, tnar. the best foliage on the oaks is o;i strong growing trees. A stunted tree has small branches perhaps quite brightly coloured, tut not enough to make a display. They should therefore be pruned back each year. It will also prevent it from growing too tall. The top branches always loose their leaves through exposure. The liquidambar is a very tall tree if left to itself but if it is pruned every year it makes a nice compact

Then there is the Japanese maple. If it. is le’ft to grow as it likes it will spread freely and take up far too much room for an ordinary garden. It becomes very twiggy and while it colours freely' enough the leaves drop very quickly. Like that it is unsuitable for decoration; but if it is pruned back each winter it will grow fine long branches that will colour a little later. Pruned trees of any sort colour a little later, but tho foliage is better, as it lasts a lot longer than if the tree has not been pruned and the colour will be much more vivid and healthy looking. If the tree is not pruned the foliage is inclined to become sickly looking.

The present time i» ideal for making preparations for any new planting that is to be done in the orchard or any shelter trees that are to be planted to protect the fruit, trees as they' grow. It is really best to plant the shelter trees a year or two before the fruit trees are to be put in. Fruit trees must be protected from the winds and the weather if a reasonable crop is expected, and very few localities have natural shelterIN THE ORCHARD The variety of shelter trees to be planted should be carefully considered. If in doubt consult someone that has had experience in tho matter. Advice is usually’ freely given, but the most important tiling is to make sure you ask the right one. The late apples arc now about to be gathered. If no cold storage is available put them in benzine or apple cases or even secondhand banana cases. Pack carefully', if the apples bruise they will not keep. Put ihe boxes on some scantlings or some bricks to keep them off the ground and cover the tops with some straw so tho rain can soak throughA single layer of boxes is best, but if space for storage is limited they may be put in layers of two but not any more, or the fruit will become dry and shrunken. Under a tree or hedge is a good place to stand tho cases where the sun does not get on them. It would be advisable to cover the cases with sonic fine wire-netting to keep the mice and birds out. It would be best to look oyer them about every’ three weeks and remove any apples that show signs of not keeping. They’ usually' keep fur quite a while in this way, some varieties longer than others.

A LURKING DANGER There is a lurking danger in the aching back. The i.ehea iud pains of the back tell uf kidneys overworked. Go to the kidney’s ass.stance when backache pains warn you. A kidney warning should be promptly heeded, for gravel and urinary troubles are only a step away. Read how the danger can be averted: ’ *■ Mrs L. Chandler, who ives at Maxwell, Wanganui, says: “Some years ago I was in a poor state of health owing to my kidneys being very much disordered. I had gonising pains in my back, which prev mted r ii 7 ‘ fr' moving about freely during the day, ami spoilt my rest at night. 2 had sever al other symptoms of acute kidney trouble, and was altogether in a very bad way. I read one day of a cure by Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills, and in the hope of getting a little case I sent for a bottle. These wonderful Pills not only' eased me, but effected a co nplcte cure. The backache has gone, and my kidneys are strong and healthy. I am a great believer in Doan’s Backache Kidney [’ills and always keep a bottle in the house, taking them every now and again, last as a preventive against any return of my old complaint. ” Four years later, Mrs Chandler says: ‘ I have had no return of my old complaint since Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills cured me 1 some years ago. This remedy keeps me in good health. ” Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills arc sold by all chemists tnd storekeepers. Foster-McClcllan Co., Proprietors, 15 Hamilt n Street, Sydney. But, be sure you get DOAN’S. —Advt. WORMS IN CHILDREN. A very' annoying yet common com plaint with children is worms. Dispel these parasites quickly and effectively with WADE’S WORM FIGS. Abso- | lately' reliable. No bad after-effects. ..Obtainable at all chemists and stores.*