IN THE GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20094, 25 November 1930, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. (srECIAX.LT WRITTEN JOB TH7 fBESS.) [By J. T. Sinclair.] ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. K Boyes.—lt is usual to give strawberries a mulching of farmyard manure in the epring, the roots getting tho benefit of the manure and by the time tho fruit is ripe tha mulch is clean and dry for the fruit to rest on. In your case I should put on a mulching of clean straw now, if available, working it close around the plants. This will help to retain the moisture in the soil and also keep the fruit clean. Givo a good soaking of water, if dry. Cut off all runners rot wanted to increaso the stock. Enquirer.—For tho summer control of leaf spot on pears, and shot hole on p.pricots, use Dial brand Bordeaux mixture 01 lime sulphur sprays—Bordeaux "mixture, lib of powder to seventeen gallons of water, and lime sulphur,- one part to one hundred parts water: Spray, now. and acrain in a month. These sprays can be used much stronger when tiie trees are at rest, or-jiißt before" thev break into growth in the sprin" See directions on boxes or bottles L.R.—For leafspot on jour roses, spray at onro with Bordeaux mixture, or lime sulphur, and at intervals, us required. VEGETABLES. Thcro will lx> plenty of work in the vegetable garden just now in thinning tho different crops such as parsnips, carrots, etc., an<l in hoeing to keop down weeds and to liclp conserve the moisture in the ground. A good many think tlio only use for th.c hoe is to cut weeds, but that is not so, for by its continual uso a £Lno tilth will be obtained on tho surface. This acts in the same way as a mulch, and if the surface is continually stirred this greatly chocks the evaxjoration of moisture trom tho sail. If watering is done the hoc should always bo used immediately the soil is dry enough to work again, or tho watering will he of little use. Sow the different vegetables wanted for succession, in small or larger quantities as required, and any lettuce, radish, etc., wanted for salads should be grown not far from a good'water supply. It should bo quite safe now to plant out tomatoes, although it is just as w.ell to watch -the weather for a tinre yet. The ground is getting warmer, and plants that have been growing steadily, in pots or boxes will take to the soil straight away, soon outstripping plants that were put out while, the ground was in a told state. FLOWERS. - -\\ lien aubretias begin to-get' shabby they should. :be . cut well back, as by doing this the plants are kept within bound.;. They may look a bit sorry for themselves if the weather should get very dry, but a good watering occa-. sionally will help to start Ihcm into growth for another season's doweling. Aubretias can be increased by division of the old plants, cuttings, or seeds.Seed ran be sown iu a box at the present time and giVen shelter from sun and wind in a cold frame until germination takes .place; .vhen thev should bo given plenty of air, and when large enough they should bo pricked off into other boxes or in a half shady position out.sido to grow lor planting where wanted, in the autumn. Cuttings can be taken any time from now on mid ■rooted in sandy soil in a lon, keeping close and shaded from the sun in a frame until roots are formed. . Then give the same treatment, a.s seedlings. T>ivision of the plants can be done in the autumn.

' Polyanthus plants f-hyuld l>e taken up and thrown au ny if not wanted for another year, as seedling plants raise*l now do Letter than the old plants. Hbwevor, if it is thought'de.sirable, the old plants can bo kept for '-another year. Divide, into, small pieces, with roots attached, and plant in rows "l the. dampest part of the garden. II partially shaded, fo much tho better. An occasional hoeing, to keep tliem free from woods. i s all the attention thev will need through the 'summer. In the autumn- thev will he good plants to refurnish the beds nr borders for a spring--display after tho summer occupauts are over. It is a good plan at the present time to go over "all chrysanthemums growing outside and cut all the tops off to within »ight or nine inches of tho ground, thinning out some of the weakly shoots if there aro too nianv. By cutting them back thev will not be so lanky, and shorter stakes will do when staking is required. Any Spare early flowering plants, if in pots, can be used to fill p, vacant place or two in the herbaceous border.

Bedding out should be gone on with as soon as tho plants are ready and the beds are cjeare<] of spring flowering plants, leaving tho tender varieties till the last. Keep an eye on all cfimbor* and give a tie where wajited. Violas are making :i good show at present, and to prolong the flowering season all seed pods should be taken- oiff and a good soaking <jf water given, if dry weather sets in. Sweet peas are making great growth, and any shoots that fail to catch on to the stakes should be given the help of a tie. Ke«p the weeds down amongst the plants, and hoe occasionally.- ■ • Mulching-r-.The benefit that accruos •to - the roots of shrubs, herbaceous plants, vegetables and fruit tree's, from a mulching of manure or leaves pays in tho timo saved in watering, in the event of a'dry timo'setting in. Mu'ching helps, the plants bv acting as a . food for this roots near the surface, and it checks the evaporation of moisture from the soil. A good time to apply mulches is in- late spring when the soil is getting warm, and l>efore tho hot weather sets in. GREENHOUSE. Herbaceous- ■ Calceolarias —These plants, when well grown, make a glorious display in the greenhouse, when in flower. Calceolarias are plants that need a cool situation at all times. Even during winter months, so jong as actual frost is kept from them,- there .is no necessity for artificial ' heati Seed may be sown I'roia ..the . end of this month .and throughout December. A cold frame, facing south, will be a suitable place, in. which to. raise the young plants. Boxes or pans in which the seed'.is to bo sown should have good, drainage, fusing pieces of broken/'pots. "for the purpose. - The soil should bo com•posed of two parts loam, one part leaf mould, and, one. part sand, passing the whole through a half-inch sigve to give it the necessary fineness. Place somo of the rougher materia) over the drainage, tilling up to within an inch of .the top, and using some, finer soil for the immediate surface of the pans. Give a good watering- through'-a; ros6 some t : me. before!, sowing. The fiOwiug should bo done with ..care, as,'the seed is very fine. ' A dusting of very fine soif fth'6iild~ be spritikl'dd " over The seeds, and a sheet of glass placed on top. shaded" from sunshine, 'with asheet of papor. As soon as germ in a-, tion takes plac<\- remove the ■ paper, covering when 'the' sun .sliines strongly • Gradually adniit more'_ air" until' -iv , you 11 g • i>l ants ; xfyw -do without the :protoction . of; the'shSet of glass. As soon'; as the young plants can be handled, thev may be pricked off irvto other pans,- /using soil of a sitriilar nature 16 that--i'4i tlio seed pan; If. kept shaded under cooll moist conditiri'is they will soon require io lwy potted into small pots. It will be an advan-

tage to mix a small - quantity of old cow 'manure .with -the soil at tiiis'tuiie. Pot fairly firmly to induce a sturdy habit of growth, and maintain a moist atmosphere at all . times. , As. the young plants grow, 'and tile small pots get filled with roots, a shift into 'tiveincli. ones should be- given before the plants become pot-bound. Rich, soil may bo. used now, being made up. of three parts loam, and 'one .part each of leafmould, dry cow manure, and sand. As the plants grow, pinch out the point of each .to iftduoe a branching habit. As autumn approaches and there is a likelihood ot frost, protection should be given the frame at night by ample covering. At this' time the frame can bo turned around to face .the north, and be care-' fill not to oVerwafer, only sufficient being needed to keep the plants in a healthy state. IT a greenhouse is available, where frost- can be kept out, the plants could be given a light position ,on a shelf, and .they.. can- remain there for the winter. The final potting into 6 or 7-inch, pots should he .undertaken -about or >September, according to the state of the plants . ,at the time. . Similar- soil: to that, used before, but of>- a- roughernaturey with the addition of a s~incli pot of boneclii&t to" the barrowful. of the mixture.,' will be an advantage. -As the sunshine gets stronger in spring, £{ve the necessary shade, to- avpid. injury to the plants; Us-e neat stakes as th^ -plants grow .aiid. rebdire them.' and apply* diluted farmyard maTiur'e in a weak state as soon as the roots are running well round the pots.'