Life in the Garden

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 12, 16 September 1908, Page 39

Life in the Garden

Practical Advice for Amateurs

NEXT WEEK’S WORK. By VERONICA. SEEDS TO SOW THIS MONTH. Flowers.— Candytuft, Carnation, Calliopsis, Dianthus, Lupins, Godetia, Mignonette, Sweet Peas, Poppies. Vegetables.— Broad Beans, Peas, Carrot, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cress, Mustard, and Radish, Lettuce, Onions, Parsnip, Spinach, Turnip (White Stone), Parsley, Tomato, Celery, and Vegetable Marrow; sow under glass. Roots.— Potatoes, Rhubarb, Gladioli, Lilies. Trees.— Roses, Lemons. Plant Out— Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Onions, Nemesias, Ten-week Stock, Asters, Antirrhinums, Carnations. J* GENERAL GARDEN WORK. The garden must have attention this month. Manw who may have neglected to do a little when opportunity offered will now regret putting off when they find the soil hard and baked. Those, however, who attended to turning over their land and leaving it in a rough state, will now be able to get ahead rapidly, as the soil will be in good workable condition. Any trees or shrubs still unplaced should be at once planted. Potatoes should be planted in quantity this month. Rhubarb roots may still be set, and every opportunity should be seized for planting out cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and onions. While transplaning onions the root should be “puddled” in a mixture of old cow-dung and mould fairly wet. Tne tops should be trimmed and do not plant too deep; shallow planting gives better bulbs. When onions are deep planted they are apt to grow “neckie.” Several sowings of peas should be made this month; where stakes are plentiful, some of the tall growing kinds, such as Telephone, Te'egraph, Duke of Albany, etc., may be used, but where staking cannot be done then sow some of the many dwarf growing kinds, such as Little Gem, King Edward, or Stanley. In the flower garden, attention must be given to flowering bulbs now coming in flower; stir the sail lightly and keep free from weeds and slugs. Ten-week stocks should be planted out as soon as possible; in order to have a good display these must be got out early, they do best in good well-manured soil. Carnations should be got ino their flowering quarters, and the Marguerite varieties which are so useful for cutting should also be planted out. Antirrhinums and Delphiniums require attention, and when strong enough should be planted out. A few hybrid gladioli may be put in now, and towards the end of the month the bulk of these roots should be in the ground. By making several plantings a succession of blooms will be secured. L.lics may still be planted, some of the finest kinds, such as Sulphureum, succeed best planted this month. Spray peaches—where this work has been overlooked —with Bordeaux mixture for the prevention of leaf curl. The best time is just before the buds burst. GARDEN ITEMS. Sweet peas which are now so deservedly popular have had rather a rough time lately. What with cutting winds and keen frosts, and hosts of slugs and snails it is a wonder they survive in some places. Their vitality, however, is wonderful, and it is surprising how soon they make headway when weather conditions are favourable. They now require the soil to be stirred, and if not already staked should have some support. If stakes are not available, wirenetting will answer. Seeds of Sweet

Peas can still be sown, and will make a good display later on. Potatoes are being extensively planted this season. The general opinion amongst growers is that Up-to-date is the best known kind for general planting. Northern Stars are not so popular as they were. They resist the blight certainly better than most kinds, but are quite unsuitable for light soils. The Tubers in many eases are too small, and it is not a first-class eooker. Breese’s Prolific has still a good many patrons, King Edward and Royalty are good flavoured kidneys, and the new Princess Victoria has had quite a run. The Loganberry has been crossed with the Raspberry known as Superlative, and the result is a fruit more resembling the latter. Messrs. Laxton Brothers, the raisers have named it the Laxton Berry, and probably we will hear more about it before long. Messrs. Bennett and Green, of Auckland, are forming their business into a limited liability company for the purpose of extending their operations as nurserymen and landscape gardeners. The firm are well known as successful growers and gardeners. There is ample scope for art in the laying out of gardens in the Province, and it is to be hoped the venture nrav be a successful Me. When in the vegetable market one day recently in Auckland. we were rather surprised to notice John Chinaman buying. If that astute gentleman knows how to sell, he is also no novice at buying, and so far as our observations went certainly no plunger. John “chipped in” with his fraction of a bid just as the auctioneer’s hammer was falling. A “canny” man is John. The new weeping apple has had quite a run. Grafted on stems 6 to 8 feet high, it seems a tempting thing to plant a tree and have a seat underneath, so that when the fruit is ripe, you can select a nice one without getting up. Let us hope the moth won’t spoil such a pleasurable anticipation. By the way, we are quite certain there is a big fortune awaiting the man who can produce a moth-proof apple. The moth does not attack some sorts as much as others. We have observed that the “Welcome,” a nice dessert kind, coming in just after Astrachan, is fairly clean. We have heard and noticed of late with regret that some well established hedges of Eleagnuu around Auckland are dving out. It would appear as if some fungus were destroying the roots, as the

plants turn a sickly yellow colour ami the usual vigorous growth natural to the plant ceases. Some specimens have been forwarded to the Government Biologist for examination, and his report will be awaited with interest. PROPAGATING BEGONIA. Gloire de Lorraine. This beautiful winter-flowering plant is one of the few subjects that cannot be raised from seed as staminate or male flowers only are produced, the usual methods of propagation being by stem and leaf cuttings. To obtain a supply of stem cuttings, old plants that have ceased

flowering or can be dispensed with should be placed on a sunny shelf in a moderately cool greenhouse ami water be gradually withheld, the soil being kept only just moist. In about three weeks the tops of the plants should be cut off two or three inches above the soil, and after a short time a number of small shoots will be seen growing from the base of each, when the pots should be removed to a warmer temperature, say, sixty degrees, and the usual supply of moisture be allowed. By treating the plants in this way good strong healthy shoots are produced, and as soon as they are large enough they may be removed with a sharp knife and be prepared by removing the two lower leaves and severing the stem im mediately below a joint as shown in Eig. 1 herewith, two and a half inches being a suitable length for cuttings when prepared ready for insertion. Begonia shoots carrying flowers or showing flower buds similar to Fig. 2 should never be utilised for propagating purposes as they always result in failure. The cuttings should be inserted singly in thumb pots, compost consisting of three parts loam, two parts leaf soil, one part peat and one part sand being suitable. Cover the surface of the soil with sand, make a hole in the centre with a blunt-pointed stick, and see that a little sand is carried to the bottom of each hole as shown in Fig. 1. as in addition to inducing more speedy rooting, the sand prevents decay of the base of the cutting. Insert the cuttings, make the soil moderately firm about the stems, water with tepid water, and plunge the pots in a temperature of sixty-five degrees, keeping them close until rooting has taken place, when air should be gradually admitted, and after a time the plants be removed and placed on a greenhouse shelf near the glass, shade from bright sunshine being pro vided when necessary. Grow the plants steadily on. syringe occasionally, and as they require it repot into larger sizes, soil consisting of four parts good fibrous loam, two parts loaf soil, one part dry manure and one part sand forming a good general compost for this class of Begonia. Leaf cuttings must consist of perfect well-developed leaves, each with a por tion of leaf stem attached as shown in Fig. 3. Fill a well-drained pan with com-

post, make the surface linn, and insert the stein of each leaf, making the soil quite firm about them and allowing the leaf itself to rest upon the surface as shown in Fig. 4. Plunge the pin in a propagating ease in a temperature of not less than sixty-live degrees, occasionally dew over the cuttings with tepid water, and in a short time roots will have been emitted from the leaf stems, this being indicated by the appearance of new top growth. Treat the cuttings in the mania r before advised for stem cuttings, and when thoroughly rooted pot oil' singly into three-men pots. J* PRESERVATIVE EFFECT OI ROADSIDE TREES. In the “American Florist” we read that in answer to enquiries from the I nited States, Consul-General Robert P. Skinner, of Marseilles, furnishes the fol lowing information relative to the effect of wayside trees on French roads: “It is proposed to plant trees along the roadsides of New York State in order to keep the moisture in the road and prevent ravelling, and the question lias been raised whether or not the roots of such trees may spread out underneath the road surface and eventually create great damage in a severe climate when* there are extremes of heat and cold. While French roads are not always bur dered with shade trees, they are so very frequently, and my information is that Ihe trees are planted not only for furnishing shade, but in order to protect the roads themselves against the effects of excessive heat and drought. It is believed that the long dry summer season is much more inimical to roads than severe cold. The chief officer in charge of the public roads in Marseilles is of the opinion that, on the whole. New York roads would be benefited if bordered with trees, suggesting, however, that only such should be planted as have vertically descending roots.” F. Birot. civil engineer and former conductor of the bureau of bridges and highways, expresses himself as follows on the subject: “In countries where the climate is damp, roadside trees are prejudicial to the maintenance of tin* highways, as they prevent the circulation of the air and tin* drying of the soil: in most of the southern French regions such plantations are. on the other hand, very useful in dry weather, as they maintain the roadbed in a state of freshness favourable to its conservation. Tn general, trees should be selected with high, spreading branches, such as the poplar, the elm. and the ash. ami they should be planted generally upon the outer edge of the road-box and at distances of 10 metres (32.50 feet). THE STARRY MAGNOLIA ( Magnolia stellata >. Several of the Magnolias are well fitted for planting in small gardens, but none more so than this, as it is one of the «1 war fest and most easily accommodated

where space is limited. It is also earliest to flower, coming into bloom in SeptemImt or October, according to the mildness of the weather preceding that time. Ihe flowers consist of numerous long, narrow petals, giving the flowers a starry appearance, and in this respect it differs from most other Magnolias which have fewer and broader petals mostly arranged in the form of a cup.

THE " SUCCESS ” HOT AIR PROPAGATOR.

Propagators intended for amateurs having little or no other means of heating are usually made on a design whip 11 weeps the interior of the propagator very damp. This may be suitable enough during the drier and warmer periods of the year, but very early in the season it is about the worst thing that could fall into the hands of the inexperienced. A moist atmosphere is generated and during the night there is great condensation. especially when the propagator stands outside the greenhouse, so that seedlings very soon get destroyed in the early months of the year. Messrs. Charles Toope, F.R.H.8., and Son. London, have now made a hot air propagator which they consider their most recent improvement. It is the only hot air propagator yet placed before the public. It is made to suit the requirements of those who have a difficulty with tlie moist air propagator. When

this has to be stood in the open air with the glass exposed to all weathers the advantage of a dry atmosphere inside the propagator must be apparent to most cultivators when work has to be • lone during winter months. The lamp or gas burner is placed directly underneath the seedling compartment. but the flume does not play on the bottom upon which the pots are stamping. On the other hand, it plays upon a radiator, which throws the heat out in all directions and heats a cold current of air. which passes up and! into the plant compartment. Moisture may be maintained by the cocoanut fibre upon which the pots rest. The hot air chamber is made of the best quality coated steel. I’he cold air passing over the radiator is lu ativl. and this air only passes into the seedling compartment. The fumes from the lamp, after being utilised, pass off into the open air. This propagator may, therefore, be used outside of a greenhouse as well inside. A tube can be fixed to a hole in the propagator when this is necessary to carry the fumes outside the greenhouse. J* THE USE OF ARSENIC IN HORT.CULTURE. There appeared recently in the “Glasgow Herald” the report of a paper read to the members of the Edinburgh Botanical Society on “Tire use of arsenic in horticulture.” The author of the paper gave an account of the death of some domestic fowls on an estate in the south of Scotland, the cause of which he had Iwen called in to investigate. Inquiry showed that the paths which the fowls usually frequented had been dressed some eight months previously- with a weedkiller containing equal quantities of arsenic and caustic soda. The rain had washed away the caustic soda, and file arsenic remained in the soil in dangerous quantities, and this accounted for the death of the fowls. Now, this is a most extraordinary statement, and will be a serious blow to the use of weed killers, and I am certain all who use them will express regret. for they are a most valuable aid to the gardeners, and a cheap and efficient means of keeping walks and drives clear of weeds and moss (writes John Simons in “The Scottish Gardiner.”) It is a most remarkable occurrence, surely, that, after eight months, the fowls should begin and die, after having. I presume, the run of the ground from the time the dressing was applied. The weed killer, too, has been ineffectual, as the paper stated that there is “a more or less vigorous growth of weeds, over which the arsenic had no deleterious ef-

feet.” This is a matter of considerable importance both to the makers and users of weed-killers, and is deserving of searching inquiry. Of course, in the newspaper report referred to. particulars are not given, and it is possible there may have been some causes contributing to the death of the fowls, such as an overdose of this mixture or careless handling. I have used a weed-killer for many years, and have never known of any injury done to either beast or bird by it, and plenty of both have had access to parts where it was used; indeed, a dairyman near at hand applied it to the ground round his door, where numbers of fowls were running about regularly, and are not confined even for- an hour. I know of many gardeners who use it extensively, and have never heard anv of them complain of accident to animals of any kind. Temple of Sweet Peas. NOV fCI, EXHIBITS. EV ER Y BODY’S FLOW ER. The annual exhibition of the National •Sweet Pea Society at the Royal Horticultural Hall in July, formed one of the prettiest and daintiest displays of floral colour ever seen. No fewer than 120 exhibitors from all parts of the kingdom took part in the keen cantest of endeavouring to win the handsome prizes offered b; the Society. Looking from the gallery upon the immense and varied display of colour one could not help being struck with the great charm and beauty of the manylovely tints, ranging through all shades of white, crimson a.nd scarlet, blush, cerise, rose and earmine, yellow and buff, blue, violet, purple, lavender, and mauve. Perhaps the most remarkable feature of the exhibition was the elegantly designed and charmingly deeorated temple of sweet peat-, arranged by Messrs. James Carter and Co., which occupied the centre of the hall. Here sweet peas were displayed to the prettiest effect, winning the admiration of visitors acid gaining a well-deserved gold medal. The novelty of the show as regards new varieties was a seedling, unnamed, exhibited by Sir Randolf Baker. This was of a deep maroon colour, slightlytinted with a faint blue shade, quite the darkest variety yet raised. Another variety which delighted the experts was the Earl Spencer, a lovely- bright orangecoloured flower shown in the collection staged by Earl Spencer. The one colour yet waiting in full perfection is a good yellow. Experts, however, are busily engaged in endeavouring to make good this want, and no doubt we shall see it forthcoming next season. The champion prize of the show was secured bv Mr. Robert Bolton, of Carnforth. This consisted of a handsome silver cup offered by Mr. Atlee Burpee, of Philadelphia. U.S.A., for the best display of sweet peas arranged on a space of 4ft. by 3ft. The individual flowers in this exhibit were remarkable for their size and beauty of colour. Sil- Randolf Baker won the Sutton Challenge Cup in the special class for fifteen varieties.—Dailv Mail.