Gardening Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 11 May 1932, Page 2

Gardening Notes.

Planting Gooseberries. It .is most essential with gooseberries that they should be planted eariy. They make early growth, and it is essential that the pmnts snouut have a good root hold. Gooseberries arc very gioss feeders, and benefit by applications of fish manure, blood and bone, pig and oow manure. The ground snould be deeply dug or trenched, and the bushes can be planted about four feet apart, and, if in rows, six feet between tne rows. In smalt gardens, however, the bushes are usually plan - ed in rows wide enough apart to allow vegetables to be cultivated between. This method is very satisfactory provided the bushes are well treated with manure. Digging close to the bushes with a spade should be avoided as the} make a lot of surface roots. Muxcliing during the summer should be provide as it keeps the roots cool and moist, * * * Drainage. Good drainage docs not mean necessarily the buying of pipes and cement, and so on, although in rare cases it m ay be worth while to do tins. It means simply the devising of some means by which the supply of moisture may sink well down from the surface when it.rains, and by which the surplus may be drawn off from the subsoil into ditch or pond, where, possibly, it will come in very useful m , the hot weather, especially m the eountry. For ordinary purposes a trench two feet wide and two feet deep should be opened down the middle of, a damp garden, where fruit trees or roses are to be grown-it will run, of course from the upper to the lower end-and the bottom foot of the trench filled with old tins, broken crockery, brick rubble, and the like. If bush cuttings, ancient pea sticks, etc,, arc available, they may be put into the hole over the rubble, with any other roug 1 waste: then some coarse soil, and finer soil to top the lot. Smaller side drains may be linked up with this mam drain at intervals of about 20 feet on each side. If there is no ditch or other means of getting rid of the water at the lower end of the garden, and a pond is out of the question, a rockery might be placed there, raised over the soo-gy soil where the moisture settles. But generally a small pond, or well, will repay its cost of making where fruit or vegetables arc to be grown. I prefer this primitive sort of drainage, or an open ditch, where fruit trees are being planted, as less likely 0 block than pipes, which may have to be relaid owing to disturbance by roots a few years hence, states a northern writer. In new gardens the drain may solve the difficulty for a time at least of what to do with that part of our rubbish which is otherwise not easily disposed of. ■K * * Preservatives fer Wood. ■Garden fences will soon receive their annual overhaul, and the stormy days of winter will find the flower stakes bein" examined and stored. Wherever wood supports of any kind have to be kept in the soil for a time it will repay the gardener to use some preservative so as to check the process of decay which speedily ruins the wood. Some good preservatives are now advertised by various firms, but the gardeners who only need small quantities will fmd a gallon of tar highly useful. Heat the tar carefully over a small fire in the open or by placing the can on a brick which has been in the fire for some hours, then paint the wood thinly to at least Gin above the ground level Shake a little rough sand over the tar to bind it better, then leave the stick aside to dry. Creosote may be used, but three or four coats are necessary; some gardeners get a quantity of the liquid and allow the wooden props to stand in it for three or four days By spring time the injurious elements in the tar or creosote will have soaked into the wood, and they will do no harm to the plants. jVluxtard Greens. Most people only know mustard in A STITCH IN TIME. No kidney ailment is unimportant. Don’t overlook the slightest backache or urinary irregularity. Nature may bo warning you of approaching grave: or serious kidney disease. Kidney disease is seldom fatal if treated in time, but neglect may pave tbe way. Don’t neglect a lame or aching back another, day. Don’t ignore dizzy spells, irregular or discoloured urine, headaches, weariness or depression. If you feel you need kidney help, begin using the reliable, time-tried remedy, Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills. For years they have been found effective. Bead this testimony: Mr L. Sayer, Masonic Street, Masterton, says: “Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills is a fine remedy for the kidneys. I have proved this. They cured me of severe backache, disordered secretions, strengthened my kidneys and improved my general health. I suffered agony with my back and could not stoop or move about freely without enduring torture. The kidney secretions wore seriously disordered, being thick and cloudy, and contained a red sediment. However, Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills cured me, and they deserve great praise. It is nearly twelve months since T gave up taking these Pills, and I have had no return of my old complaint, so mine is a permanent cure.” Sixteen years later, Mr Saver says. “I have still great faith in Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills. They cured me fourteen years ago. and I am never troubled with hit kidneys now.” Doan’s Backache Kidney Pills are Qold bv all chemists and storekeepers. Foster-McClellan Co., proprietors, 15 . Hamilton Street, Sydney. r i But, be sure you get DOAN’S. o 1

Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables.

tho seedling' form when it is associated with cress in the well-known salad. In America tho plant is commonly grown for the sake of its larger foliage, which, when cooked in the right manner, is one of the most delicious greens. It is rather strange that mustard is not cultivated for the purpose in New Zealand, seeing that excellent green stuff can bo produced in a remarkably short time. Mustard seed will germinate at any season of the year, providing there is no frost, as the plant is very hardy. When sowing for o'reens the sowing should be only half as thick as that which is made if the seedlings are to be used. The mustard is in its best condition for cooking just when the flower buds are beginning to be former. After blossoming, the foliage is tough and strong in flavour. In preparing the greens for table care in cooking is needed to get them to perfection. Get them fresh from the garden and wash tliorughly. Have a pan filled with boiling water into which salt has been mixed in the proportion of a teaspoonful to one gallon. Throw the greens in and keep boiling violently from six to ten minutes. Keep away the lid of the pan, so as to ensure a good colour, and drain the greens well before serving. Mustard greens have a delightful piquant flavour that is wanting in any of the cabbages. * * * * How to Distribute Soot. The value of soot for many garden purposes is well known, 'but it is a rather nasty job distributing it evenly. The following is a good method:— Place some soot in a 51b oatmeal bag, tie bag on end of a short stick and shake it over the plants. This will allow a fine, dust-like sprinkling of soot to percolate through the bag. Another method is to get an ordinary tin canister. Punch holes in lid; the holes must be punched from inside to outside; partly fill with soot and place on lid. If tin is held with lid slightly upwards so that the 'bulk of soot rests at the bottom of the tin, and given a forward throw, it will be found that the soot can be evenly distributed. This canister duster is also good for flowers of sulphur.