IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16435, 31 January 1919, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

<in*UIAT WRITIBH TO* "T«« P*»»."> (Bt J. T.. SINOtAW ) ANSWER TO CORRESPONDED , . Bes'.e/ avenue.—Sorry your parcel did not arrive in time for_ reply in last ■week's ieen«. The specimens sent seem to ba email samples of Devonshire Quarrenden. WORK FOR THE WEEK. Sow—Radish, lettuce, carrots, endive, spinach, and turnips. Plant—Cabbage, savoys, kale, late celery and late broccoli. VEGETABLES. Carrots—A good-sized sowing of one oi the horn varieties .of carrois for drawing during -winter dan bo put in now. Ground from which a crop of potatoes or peas has been taken will produce good roots. A sprinkling of soot, lime, or superphosphates can be applied and forked in, the ground trodden fairly firm, and raked level. As the roots are not stored, but simply drawn when required, the seed should be sown thinly, and no thinning will be needed. The tact of the main crop not being as good as usual owing to the ravages of green fly the tender ioots from this sowing will be niudi appreciated. Celery~The last of this crop should now be planted, excepting, perhaps, late sowings meant for-flavouring only. From now onwards all kinds will require attention periodically, as no crop suffers more from neglect than celery. AV:iter, of course, must not be stinted, or the plants will probably "bolt." ■ If liquid manure is now and again it will be of great bsnefit, but chemicals of a saline nature should not be employed, as they havo the tendency to make stalks hollow or pithy. Late crops of all kinds of greens should be got in at once, if .npt already done, as many of them will not come to much if left later. When the plants have besorne established, keop them moving by frequently stiirittg the soil with the Dutch hoc. This is one of the best means to promote healthy growth. Late planted lote must, however, be given copious waterings whenever they show signs of distress when the soil is dry, Marrows and pumpkins are not so forward as they usually are at the end of January, and some of the fruit will bo hastened along if the points of some of the shoots are pinched put. Weak liquid manure applied during the next few weeks will help tho plants considerably. . FRUIT. Black Currants—The bushes should new bo gono over, and be well-thinned out, bo tnat ample air and sunlight will got at tho now shoots. When cutting out the wood, romove entirely some of tho old branches, which have borne fiuit. Tho fruit is chiefly produced on tho young wood, and unless'this be given a chance to become well ripened, .the * crop '-will not be as good as it should. There is a great disadvantage in having the wood overcrowded. Light and air until the leaves fall are what are needed to keep the wood in good condition. FLOWEBS. "-' Flower Bdrdcrs.—At this season I work in beds and borders is mainly confined to, hoeing, watering when necessary, and giving liquid manure to such plants as are flowering or will flower later. The simplest way to make liquid manure is to put a littlo artificial fertiliser into the water-can. The amount stated on the package should not be exceeded. If the solution is too strong it will damage the plants, for which reason it is best applied after rain, or after «. watering with clear water. Unless seed is wanted, withered flowers should be picked off. before pods are formed. Unless this is done the plants will soon go out of bearing, and the material ■which should have been spent on their growth will be wasted. If it is intended tp save seed, in many cases an economical thing to do, the best plants should be selected for the purpose. If M;ed i s taken indiscriminately without regard to size, colour, or form, the block must deteriorate rapidly. ■

Cinerarias.—Tho seedlings will be ready for taking from"' the seed-pan when the second rough leaf unfolds. Lift them carefully and transfer them to "thumb" pots, using a compost a little rougher than that in which the seed was sown. ■ Do not burr, the plants below the seed-leaf. Give a gentle watering, and place the pots in a. closed frame or glass-covered box. When the little seedlings are established the plants, will do best in a frame, standing, for preference, on the south side of a wall or fence, aed itself facing south. The pots should stand on a layer of sifted ashes, which should be kept moist. A slight dew can be given the plants overhead late every afternoon. . Subsequent treatment consists in watering and potting on as these become necessary.

Rose Cuttings—Most of the strong growing varieties'do veil on their own roots. The best cuttings to put in now are those which have borne flowers. The prepared shoot can be from five to seven inches Ion?, and should have two to four leaves left on, according to their length. If these can be procured with a '"heel" of the old wood attached success will be more assured. If, however, cuttings with heels of the old wood cannot be got heels can bo made by .cutting off the stem just below a leaf. No buds should b<? removed from the cuttings, three or four of the latter can be inserted round the edge of a pot filled with a .stnidy compost. If a position and conditions are given the cuttings «ts

that described above for cinerarias roots will be emitted in four or fire weeks. When the roots arc moving freely the plants should be potted off separately, and placed back in the frame for some time; afterwards air can be "iven gradually until no glass covering Ts needed. Tho pots can then be placed in some position where the Plants can get plenty of hghc and air. Some time about the end of May or beginning of June the young plants can be°placed in their permanent position •where they will flower freely, the following season. . Ohn"santhemums.—lt is necessary to good "gardening that ones thoughts Should always be directed to the future; preparations hare to be made tor days far off. and the garderer who fails in this dutv is not likely to succeed in, realising" his most cherished schemes. So whilst our gardens arc full to overflowing with numerous summer flowers, it will not pay us to neglect the requirements of plants that should gladden the short autumn days with their showv flowers. We mean primarily, of course the chrysanthemums, which are now rapidly, filling their final pots with roots, and stand out of doors fully ex-, posed to the sunshine. Greenfly, hlacktiy and earwigs are daily to the chrysanthemum grower. These pests must be kept under control or the plants will suffer. When once a vigorous and healthy plant has filled its pot with roots it requires an astonishing amount of water; in hot weather the supply given early in the morning often fails to e keep the'roots moist until the close of day. Erery plant should be examined twice a day, and water afforded to those requiring it; and to them only. Whilst the plant may suffer such a check as to cause it to lose much of its foliage from being allowed to get reallv dry on only one occasion, it may just "as easily be injured by much wetness at-the roots, due to overwatering. Excessive watering causes starvation in the soil; air is excluded by tho moisture, and growth ;s hindered or even prevented.