IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 19176, 6 December 1927, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

' WORK FOR THE WEEK. p T ' (9PECIALI.T WRITTZH FOB THE PRBBS.) (By J. T. Sinclair.) ANSWERS TO CORRESPOiND,ENTS s Rhubarb.—The reaßon your rhubarb etalkß 1 are short and thin is because you are f pulling too many off the plants. It is usual to givo the plants a rest after tho r gooseberries are fit to cook. The second growth will give you plenty of stalks for preserve making. During the next six weoks water and feed the ! crowns well, and you will get good returns. • L.R.—Tho flowering period of the aubretia will soon be over; cutting it back will not prolong the flowering. .You can, however, cut it back, if it is looking untidy, retaining, of course, all portions which are rooting. > Up aw a.—Your roses are attacked by greenfly and ulildew. You will get rid of both i: vou use one teaspoonful of "Back Leaf 40," and two tablespoonfuls of lime-sulphur to every gallon of water. Mix these well together and spray the ) bushes thoroughly. Wetting, of course, both sides of the foliage. VEGETABLES. Onions.—Let the thinning ot these be done before the plants become crowded; if larger bulbs are wanted, thin to about 6-8 inches; if small, 3-4 inches apart. Give dressings of soot in moist weather, also when dry at inj. tervals of about a fortnight, and water , it in in the latter case. If some bulbs 1 are desired for pickling, thickly sown ! rows should bo left uuthinned. . B§et. —This should be thinned out to six or eight inches apart. Tho plants sometimes come up very uneven'j, some too close together, others too wide apart. With care some can b© transplanted to fill u,p gaps. Ihe trowel should be used for the purpose, and as much soil as possible should be lifted with each plant. If the tap root is not injured the result may be quite satisfactory. Water must be given the newly-planted seedlings if the soil is dry, or they will wilt badly. Spinach.—Sow the round-seeded or prickly-seeded sorts in partial shade in rich soil. Sow the seed very thinly, °r drop several seeds at points about eight inches apart along the drill, which will

save trouble in thinning; leave one plant only at each point. Set the drills at least one foot apart and draw them two inches deep. Water well in dry weather. Peas.—Some of tho sowings made since October will not pod well if the soil gets dry. Copious waterings should be afforded, which, as well as supplying moisture to the plants, keep the roots cool. This makes the crop thrive better as tho pea does best under cool conditions. Savoys.—A further sowing of these for succession can be put in. Tt is well to keep the young plants frofn this sowing well dusted with lime and soot, which will keep nests away. Asparagus. —Tlio plants from seed sown last September should now be thinned, if at all crowded. If sown in the permanent position 18 inches apart,, only one plant, the best one, should be left. When sown in drills to bo planted out nest spring, six inches at least should be allowed, so that the roots will not l>e entangled and possibly get broken when lifting is taking place. It is essential that all shoots are securely staked so that the crowns do not suffer. Plenty of water must Ixi civen; and a good soaking to settle the soil aboilt the roots should bo given as soon as the thinning out is finished. Potatoes. —The late varieties should be earthed up as soon as the plants are large enough and the soil is in suitablo condition. Weeds are often a source of trouble between the plants and should be pulled out before the soil is drawn up. Cucumbers. —Plants in full bearing under glass should have tho fruit removed when about two-thirds grown, so that the young ones forming will have a better chance to swell. Plants bearing heavy crops of full-grown fruit soon become exhausted unless relieved. Copious supplies of water must be afforded, tho (xtints kept pinched out. and regulating the growths seen to. i * FLOWERS. Chrysanthemums. —During the next two weeks the final potting will claim attention. If the soil was prepared as was advised a few weeks ago a start can be made with the strongest plants. Pot firmly, and press the soil round the sides "with a flattened stick. The plants to be potted should be ,-well watered a few hours before knocking them out of their pots. After potting, if the soil is in good condition, water wili not be needed for a few days, but the plants can be sprinkled overhead with a svringe morning and evening. To allow" for water and future topdressing, the soil should be about an

inch and a half from the rim. When watering great care must bo exerfcised until the roots take to the new 6oil. The summer position should be well exposed to the sun, but should be sheltered from strong winds. Give each plant suitable stakes, and these should not be thrust through the ball of roots, but kept well to the outside of the pots. Dahlias.—These plants sometimes suffer from drought unless a mulch is put in. This especially applies where the soil is light. Throughout the season water in abundance must be afforded when the plants require it. Staking, tying, and pinching out must be seen to in time. Replanted tubers often throw up a large number ot growths, and when this is the case the most of them should be removed, so that the plants may become stocky and capable of producing good flowers in abundance.

Tulips.—Late varieties will have ripened off by now, and may be lifted and the drier bulbs stored', the larger ones planted out again iti the beds in the autumn, and the small ones planted' a few inches apart in three months' time to grow into size next vear.

Climbing Plants.—Climbing plants growing in restricted borders should have applications of stimulating liquid manure at frequent intervals; never give the stimulants strong or cloudy, but clear and weak, nor when the soil is dry; water well with clear water, and soon after apply the liquid stimulant in moderation, say once or twice a week, till autumn, when it may be discontinued.

Climbers in the greenhouse can be treated the same way, and these should be kept absolutely free of insect enemies by the frequent use of the syringe. Clean water will keep most of them off if applied daily,-but when this fails through lack of time or attention, insecticides must be employed. General Remarks, —The garden will soon be at the height of its beauty, and the flower display will soon have reached its maximum. How to prolong its charm is ever a problem. The solution lies in attending to a fow essential details with care and thoroughness. Whether it be staking, watering, hoeing, or weeding, the work should be carried out as quickly as possible, so that for some,time it will be out of hand. One of the simplest ways of prolonging the blossoming period of plants is to remove the faded Bowers, and so prevent the formation of seeds. There is nothing shortens the life of a plant of an annual nature so much as seed production. The sweet pea, for example, soon ceases to flower when pods are allowed

to form. The good results of removing seed vessels are also noticeable in the case of violas, pansies, delphiniums, and other familiar flowers.