The Home Garden

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 301, 21 December 1939, Page 3

The Home Garden

WORK IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. Garden work at the present time, when outdoor sowings and plantings are in abeyance, is chiefly confined to watering, hoeing and keeping spent blooms cut away. Where there is plenty of water available it is simply a time of appli cation to keep the plants going. Those who have no surplus water shouk not forget that a mulching of manure or two or three inches of dust-like soil will act as a blanket and prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture. Many of the large, quick growing plants such as dahlias, may benefit by waterings and even chrysanthemums may be hurried into bloom by water ing. There are many plants, however, that are better without application. l of water, unless under exceptional circumstances. Border carnations car be grown more successfully if no artificial waterings are given. It ma\ appear to give the plants a little distress but it produces firm, hard wood and foliage that can resist disease, instead of the soft, coarse foliage which develops rust and spot with the first few moist days of autumn. The same rule applies to chrysanthemums. Bloated, over-fed and soft, they are alright until we get a wet autumn and a lew days is sufficient to clear off most leaves. Layering border carnations is the best method of propagation and as soon as the flowers die off preparations should be made to increase the stock. Plants should not be kept longer than two years, and at the most three years. The rockery is now past its best and opportunity should be taken to .- i haul and curtail the growth of some of the more aggressive varieties. A little bonccust mixed with surface soil is a good and safe manure lot almost any plant. Some of the spring flowering plants such as aubretias. species of pink? ami primulas, can be propagated by cuttings, division or seed inserted about thio time of the year. Dahlias are now making rapid growth and will need attention staking, disbudding .etc. The Vegetable Plot Although asparagus is greatly appreciated b\ most people in the early summer months it would be difficult to name a crop that is so much neglected. Generally, after cutting has finished for the season, the plants get no further attention during the summer, except an occasional weeding. This is a mistake, because the greater the care lavished upon the plants after cutting the greater w ill be the supply of edible stems for next year's consumption. The crowns arc often seriously disturbed by the blowing about of the heavy top growth in high winds. This should be avoided by staking. Drive in a number of stout stakes down each side of the bed, from which a string or thin wire is suspended to keep the top-growth in place. The value of this work is beyond question, for the crowns grow without the disturbance which occurs when the top growth is allowed to sway in all directions. In the case of newly-made beds a good soaking of water, if dry weather prevails, will be productive of good results. Weeds must be kept in check by hand-weeding, for no crop resents their presence as much as asparagus. Attention to these details, small they may seem, helps considerably to successful ultivation. Tomatoes should be tied and disbudded. Spray at the first sign of the caterpillar with arsenate of lead, using one ounce to two gallons of water or spray solution. Any crops that are over should be cleared away and the ground forked or dug over lightly. Il is a mistake to allow weeds to grow ard seed. Any seedling crops should be thinned as soon as possible. A tew swedes, carrots, peas, butter beans and beet should be sown. Land not required for further plantings should be sown in some green crops for digging in. When water is scarce confine watering Io such plants as lettuce and other shallow rooting vegetables. It is a mistake to apply water to deep rooting varieties. Ihe Greenhouse Calendar Pot begonias to flower in summer. Sow cyclamen to flower in winter Pot perpetual flowering carnations to supply flowers in winter. .Sow salpiglossis to flower in late summer. Pot pelargoniums to flower in winter. Sow cinerarias, primula Sinensis and petunia Io flower in winter. Pot coleus for a foliage display in winter. Ferns are now growing fast and will need watering; to allow them io become dry will result in the lips of the fronds growing brown. A moist damp atmosphere must be continually maintained, and although some varieties will stand a lot of overhead watering, there are many that will not, and a moist atmosphere must ba maintained by damping floors and benches. Begonias will be growing freely and will need, potting and attention to watering, etc. The stems will need staking and small wire supports shaped like a \. with about six inches of wire 101 l attached, to stick in the ground will support the large blooms. Water must be available to all plants when required, and as this is often overlooked during the holiday season it is advisable to see that, they are given a good watering now. Saucers may be tilled with water and the pots stood in them: larger plants may be placed in two or' three inches of water in the washin • tubs. Hanging baskets should receive a good soaking. and seed boxes placed where they will not. get too much sun. Helpful Gardening Hints Keeping Mint Fresh. Often a quantity of mint is left over, but this should not be placed in water as is usually done. After washing well in cold water place the mint in a glass jar. Either screw the lid tightly so that the air cannot enter or turn the bottle upside down. Seeds. The germination of seeds such as canna, clematis, lupin, penstemon and any hard skinned varieties will be greatly accelerated by pulling them in a cup of warm water and letting them sleep for 1 a night before sow ing. A Novel Floating Eowl. A dahlia that can be used very effectively in a floating bowl is a variety named waler lily. Not only the delicate colouring. out the shape ot the flower is quite distinct from any other dahlia. ’A hen seen floating in water with water lily foliage it is deceptive enough to deceive even the most initiated. Daphne. Often older bushes of daphne fail, the leaves turn yellow and the whole plant is at a standstill. A reviver can be given by applying a dressing of sulphate of ammonia about Li to 2oz. to each plant. Daphnes are iime-haters and this in any form must be kept, away from the plant. Manures For Violets. Equal parts of cow manure and old leaf mould or boned.ust at the rate of 2oz. per square yard. Dahlias.- Dress the beds where dahlias are to be planted with a manure mixture of super-phosphate (three parts to one part of sulphate of potash.' at the rate of 2oz. per square yard. Mildew On Roses.—Flour of sulphur dusted over affected parts as soon as it makes its appearance will keep it in check, but in bad cases it may be necessary to use lysol (two tablespoonsful to one gallon of water) and spray under the leaves as well as on top. Lysol must not be used after 4 o’clock in the evening, as it will burn the foliage if it remains wet during the night. If used during the day it will dry quickly. Useful Verandah Plants Two subjects of note arc the asparagus plants. They ere often called ferns, which is entirely wrong, as they do not belong to the fern family, but are bush or trailing shrubs. Asparagus plumosus is well known and used for trailing up verandah los is. This plant is a native of tropical countries and thrives in hot places, pioviding there is enough water. If the plant is allowed to become too «tr\ the leav s turn yellow' and immediately drop. Thus it is not popular as a pot plan' because it will nor stand the neglect that is often meted out to these subjects. Asparagus Sprengeri is an ideal plant for growing in pots and hanging baskets and many verandahs are improved with its foliage. The plant hangs in graceful sprays of dark green, and if well manured attain four Io live feet in length. This, like its brother, requires plenty of moisture. If grown n baskets, plunge twice a week in a tub of water and allow' to soak for 20 minutes. Il can then be allowed to drain properly before hanging up. Both varieties are gross feeders and an application of table salt will stimulate growth. Every month a liquid manure of ammonia and potash should be applied after watering. * Weeds On Paths. —Weeds seem to grow over-night and are oftimes troublesome on paths. Hoeing disturbs the gravel and it is best to use a weed destroyer. The following is a simple, cheap and effective weedkiller:—Thoroughly mix half a pint of creosote with 2i gallons of water. Water the path with this mixture. Celery Diseases.—Celery rust may be controlled by a spraying of bordeaux mixture immediately the diseased leaves ere noticed. Paraffin Emulsion.—Dissolve about 11b. of soft soap in a little hot water, adding an eggcupful of paraffin and two gallons of water. Aphides.—Nicotine sulphate loz. to five gallons of water with a little soapy water added. Use the same spray for mealy bugs on ferns and bushhouse plants. Calcium Arsenate Baits.—One lablespoonful of calcium arsenate to lib. of bran; add two tablespoonsful of sugar to this, and mix into a mash, not too wet, and distribute amongst the plants.