The Home Garden

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 84, Issue 190, 14 August 1940, Page 10

The Home Garden

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

The Potato and It’s Culture. The potato is the most democratic food of the meal table—old and young, rich and poor, people of every cult, creed and class, and in every country of the world pay tribute to the food qualities of this vegetable. While potato growing can be carried out successfully by the average gardener without a great deal of knowledge, there are some points of importance which govern success. I need scarcely remind gardeners that potatoes are mere enlargements of underground stems, shortened and thickened, in which starch is stored. Like other underground stems the tubers possess buds or eyta, from which the plant is capable of re-development, and although the tubers may be preserved through the colder months for planting in the spring, they are nothing more than portions of the plant which died down and apparently ceased to exist in the previous autumn. Hence the life of the plant is prolonged year after year. The importance of using good, clean seed cannot be emphasised too strongly. Poor seed invariably results in uncertain crops. Be sure that the tubers are clear, sound and of true type, and of suitable size, thus avoiding many diseases that arise from seed of poor quality. When once tiie seed is procured they should be exposed to light, breaking off any long white growths. Spread the tubers out on an old sack in the sun until they turn green; this hardens them and promotes strong, early growth. Good results may be obtained from almost any soil provided it is well-drained and of sufficient depth and properly manured. The potato is a quick-growing crop and has a good appetite, but will not work hard to obtain food from the soil. It requires plenty of freedom for its roots to spread and does not thrive too well in a cold, wet soil. The diggingin of oats, lupins, or mustard improves the texture of the soil and increases its capacity by adding organic manure or humus. Although the potato is a root crop it also requires a well developed leaf and stalk system. The leaves play a very important part in the development of the roots. They are the digestive system of the plant, and as such, regulate to a great extent the starch content and the quality of the tubers. Their chief food is therefore nitrogen, phosphates, potash and lime. These are not required in equal proportions, but should be applied as follows: 31b. of sulphate of ammonia, 101 b. superphosphate, 31b. sulphate of potash. Nitrogen produces healthy stem and leaf growth; superphosphate produces vigorous root system, and potash is the food most closely associated with the starch formation so necessary to the potato. Successful potato growing depends on four things: Suitable soil, good seed, thorough cultivation, and manuring. The Best New Flowers. Seedsmen’s catalogues are now arriving, and we can spend enjoyable evenings perusing them and making up our minds which flower seeds to order for the coming season. Of the new flowers the brilliant Iceland Poppy (Papaver Nudicaule) Red Cardinal caused quite a sensation when exhibited at one of the Royal Horticultural (England) Society’s shows. It is a first-rate garden plant and the flowers are excellent for cutting. Cornflower, Lilac Lady, a lovely lilac-mauve counterpart of the popular dwarf Jubilee Gem, is assured of ' warm welcome. Two new Godetias of distinct merit are Orange Glory and Carmine Glow. The former would make a glorious splash of colour if grown en masse, for its flowers are a rich shade of orange-cerise. Carmine Glow is of the double-flowered azalea-flora type, of bushy habit, about one foot tall, the large flowers having attractively waved petals. Plants may be raised from seeds sown in a warm greenhouse in August or September and will bloom in the summer. Englemann’s Viola, a type of pansy, is a valuable new strain that is sure to become popular. The flowers are smaller than those of the giant and special strains for which the raiser is famed, and they embrace an even wider range of colours. The plants are intermediate between the viola and the pansy, and bloom freely from spring till late autumn. W. J. Unwin, Dobbie and Robert Bolton have all introduced new varieties again, and in these novelties are to be found some lovely sweet sweet peas. increasing Fruit Production, It is prouably true to say that most amateur gardeners possess fruit trees in either bush or standard form, and that many of them are apples. It is certainly true that the fewer trees the amateur has the more he hopes and expects from them. Then why is it that so few take the precaution of seeing that the blossom is cross-fertilised with pollen from other varieties, for, other things being equal, that will assist them to yield a good crop of fruit. The average grower of fruit trees seems to say to himself: “From time immemorial the idea has prevailed that apples will only bear well once in every two or three years. I suppose 1 must not expect to be luckier than the rest and have a good crop every season.’’ Many factors conduce to irregular bearing. Il is improbable that we shall ever produce the perfect and never-failing cropper. However much nature is helped by science, she will, on occasion, coniound all prognostications and refuse to give that abundance of fruit which should be the careful grower’s just reward for his labours. The vagaries of our climate , the attacks of pests, or the exhaustion of the soil constituents necessary for the upkeep of vigour of the tree, will render fruit in abundance if these necessities are carefully watched. Apples.—These succeed best in a deeply-worked and well-manured loamy soil, but good results are obtained on light soil which has been properly dug and well enriched. In the case ot a very heavy soil it is essential that this should be deeply entrenched. In addition it should be given a good dressing of lime, this application being thoroughly dug in. Apricots.—Here a good loamy soil is the best, to which has been added a little extra chalk, lime or mortar rubble, as well as some welldecayed manure. Cherries. —A good mellow lorn with lime in it is preferred. Proof of this is found in the way cherries flourish in some of the chalky districts. Free drainage is of very great importance in the case ot this iruit, as stagnant moisture in the ground is fatal to healthy growth. Currants.—Both red and white currants succeed best in a deep, welldrained soil, and if this condition can be secured the bushes often do well on land that is not particularly rich. Anything like waterlogged ground is very harmful. In the case of black currants a cool retentive loam in rather a moist situation is the best. The fact that black currants like plenty of moisture is evidence by the luxuriant way in which they grow in low situations, and by pools and streams. ' Gooseberries.—Here a fairly deep and fertile loam of medium consistency is best. Free drainage is an important feature. A loamy soil, containing plenty of humus and a fair amount of lime or mortar rubble with it is needed. The soil must be deeply trenched before planting. Pears.—The pear likes a rich loamy soil with a fair amount of sand or grit in it. On the whole the land on which pears will grow well may be a good deal lighter than that which is required for apples. Plums, Etc.—Plums are fastidious in their likes and dislikes, and the grower should find out the varieties which succeed best in his district and give preference to these. A few kinds will grow well almost anywhere. A very rich soil is not desirable, as this will tend to encourage production of wood instead of fruit. A strong retentive loam is the best, but lime in some form or another is essential. Quinces. —If space permits room should be found for a quince tree, as the fruit is very desirable for preserving, jelly-making, etc. The most suitable soil is a warm, sandy loam where there is free drainage. Renovating Lawns. The present time is one of the best for renovating or attending to an impoverished lawn. Many specifics arc recommended for this purpose, but poultry manure or horse manure are best of all. This need not be unsightly for long, for if evenly distributed over the surface and brushed about with a stiff stable broom eveiy two or three days, it is soon worked in amongst the grass. The next best thing is a sprinkling of fine soil or sand, and with this any good chemical m inure or soot can be mixed. Sulphate of ammonia is excellent, and forms the basis of most of the lawn sands at present obtainable. Upon heavy soils, lime makes a good addition to the dressing. Superphosphate is cheap and effective it used at the rate of about lour ounces per square yard. Glaclioia Worth Growing. (Continued from Last Week). Phar Lap.—ln colour it is a pink to the casual eye, but Ridgway's colour chart gives it as: Ground colour—a very pretty Thulite pink, flecked spinil pink, with pale cameo pink in the throat and light lines running through the centre of the petals. It is a giant in the exhibition class, opening live to six florets on a straight spike with perfect placement. Picardy.—Probably the most beautiful gladiolus ever introduced and sought after by all glad, growers. Splendid for both decorative and exhibition. Prevailing colour, soft shrimp pink, without flecking, lip petals a light flesh pink. Blooms are large and well placed, up to ten out on a strong, straight spike. Very robust in growth and a good propagator. One of the “must haves." Rev. i Fallu. —Deep blood red, immense massive blooms on a tall straight spike; six to eight and more open with nearly all remaining buds showing colour. Strongly recommended. Star of Bethlehem.—A pure white gladiolus which in its colour class is probably the largest variety in existence. Colour snow white with a tinge of cream on the lower petals. Champion, Auckland, 1939. Vagabond Prince.—Something unusual in colour. Iridescent garnetbrown, lighter in the upper throat and with small blotch of scarlet red on lip petals; eight to ten well placed blooms out at once on a straight spike. Best novelty, N.Z. Gladiolus Show, 1938. Takina.—Absolutely the largest gladiolus grown. The massive spikes open seven to nine florets, eight inches across. Has been exhibited with nine open florets eight and three-quarter inches across. Colour rosaline purple, lightly flaked a deeper shade. Award of Merit, Ballarat, 1933; F.C.C., N.Z. Gladiolus Society, 1934.