GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 8 January 1920, Page 35

GARDENING NOTES

(By Me J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.)

WORK FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. Ground previously well prepared : by digging and manuring may now be planted with cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, brussels sprouts, and winter greens such as kale, savoys, etc. All these should be well watered after planting, and thus encourage growth as soon as possible; watering is really an essential during dry weather, otherwise attempting to grow vegetables of this nature will prove a failure, and the work done simply a waste of time and energy. Silver beet, sown now, will be available for winter use, and is a good substitute for spinach, and the ribs of the leaves can be used as seakale. Sow a bed of prickly spinach for winter use, also a, good supply of turnips ; the white stone or golden ball being the hardiest are best suited for late sowing. Plant celery in well-manured trenches and water plentifully throughout the dry season. As the late frosts experienced in many parts have ruined tender plants of the kidney bean variety, a second sowing of these, now, should be at once seen to. Cut back the growth of broad beans to hasten’ the maturing of the pods for use; this applies also to late peas, and, as the season: for them will soon be over, see that they have a good supply of water, thus securing the best results. Sow a bed of lettuces in well-prepared soil, and apply moisture if the weather continues dry. Leading shoots of cucumbers, pumpkins, and marrows should be pinched off as the lateral shoots produce most fruit, and apply liquid manure occasionally; these vegetables are gross feeders and require to be kept constantly growing or else red spider will attack them. Sow a line of parsley; it will come in for winter use. If rhubarb is not progressing satisfactorily a good supply of water will soon give it a start. Keep the Dutch . hoe constantly going amongst the crops to check the growth of weeds; stirring up of the surface of the soil will prove beneficial. The Flower Garden. The lawns should be mowed at least once a week, and rolled and watered if necessary ; the sprinkler should also be frequently used while the weather is dry. After using the sprinkler on the flower borders, it will be necessary to stir up the soil to prevent it caking and hardening. Chrysanthemums, dahlias, and such like tall-growing plants will about how require to be staked to protect them being broken about by the wind. Pinks, picotees, and carnations may bo propagated by taking a shoot, slitting it, and pegging it into the soil; separating afterwards when the new plant has taken root. Now is the time to lift spring-flowering bulbs ; these should be carefully stored away in boxes with the name of each variety attached, until the proper time for replanting arrives. The usual summer pruning of the soft growth of red and white currants, and also of the young shoots of apple and pear trees may now be attended to. Pear and cherry trees (after the fruit is gathered) will benefit by being sprayed with helibore powder to destroy the slug or leech which about this time begins to attack them. All surplus growth of raspberries should be cut away, leaving but from four to six of the sturdiest canes. Spraying with arsenate of lead to arrest the, spread of codlin moth may now bo attended to.