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GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "F.H.K.," Nelson, writes:—"l have some well-grown cherry trees, but get hardly any fruit from them. Every year they blossom most freely, but not much fruit sets, and the greater part'of what' does form soon dies off. 1 have tried root-pruning, but this has made no difference. The trees are growing in a good loam with a clay sub-soil, if you can advise me in' the matter 1 snaif reel obliged." '. Either fne buds are not properly fertilised, or they are injured.by frost...l should adviso you to get an expert to < examine the trees, when they are in flower. "5.0.5.," Thorndon, asks:—"(l) What is the best method to get rid of grass grug on lawns. I. have tried bisulphate of carbon without satisfactory results. I want to avoid digging up if possible, (2) My kitchen garden, has a gravelly bottom and soil vory light, and each year I am troubled ivith ; tbe cabbage fly. I have tried several kinds of insecticides, also arsenate of lead, and I find I have tg spray' to such an extent as to make the cabbage uneatable, and even then it is riddled with the fly. The only plants I can manage - are in spring and early summer. Do you think coal tar would be successful? (3) Can you- recommend anything for fungus (fairy ring) on lawns and. in borders?" . , I. Constant rolling with a heavy roller, especially after rain, helps to keep the grub, in check. I should recommend you to get the pamphlet, "The Grass, grub Pest," issued, free on application, by the Agricultural Department, and also a copy of the ."Journal of Agriculture," the-July number for 1915, in which the "subterranean grass-caterpillar" is thori oughly .dealt with. 11. Coal tar is an old and well-tried remedy, but one of which I have no per,, sonal experience. To grow cabbages successfully in summer three things are necessary:—(A) .The plants' must ,ba grown l-'ght in the open, where they get the full benefit of, the sun, the -wind, and any driving showers. (B) Constant thorough washing with clean -water. In your-case I should say that a daily syringing with clean water was necessary, taking care to cleanse both slot-ii of the leaves, and especially the sterna I and .stalk of each plant. (C) Thorough cultivation. Afto;- every cleansing with water, the ground should Iks hoed on the following morning. The daily hoeing will encourage, quick growth; and this, should be assisted by weekly doses of nitrate -. of soda- (loz. to lgal. water),, applied after the ground has been thoroughly soaked with 'clear water. Don't wait for blights to appear beforo attending to,:the plants. During summer especially the, leaves must be kept quite clean from the start. Ill—When. a. fatfy ring once commences it increases in diameter-year by year. /Thoroughly soak the ground with a solution of sulphate of iron, one pound To one and a half. gallons of wator. A fortnight later , make a : second application, using lialf strength. A fortnight later • make a third application, still. using half-strength. The soil must be wet (either by rain or by watering) be. fore the solution is applied. Apply the solution well outside the ring, as rail as on the affected ground, aB it is there that the new" growth will be. FLOWERING SHRUBS. The flowering plum (prunus) is among: the earliest of the spring flowering shrubs, and is certainly one of the most attractive. There are several varieties otbainable. Prunus senensis alba has double white flowers, while prunus sinensis rosea has double rose-coloured flowers. Another very beautiful variety is prunus triloba, with semi-double pink flowers. Flowering plums like a rather rich soil, and, as-the blossom is produced on the young wood, they should be fairly-hard pruned .after flowering. . FLOWERING CRABS. ' Some of the flowering crabs (pyrus) ars exquisitely beautiful' when in flower,' and they have the extra charm of bearing later very attractive, and in some cases •useful fruit.. Flowering crabs come to us from several parts, of, the. world,..and they are in peat'variety.' ""'Ani'o'ng those offered by New Zealand growers are:— Pyrus floribunda, a native of Japan, whici bears in great profusion beautiful | white flowers, deeply suffused with Tose. .This is .a splendid.,variety,, as if grows ; naturally: into' 1 a:-fine-shaped- bushJ jahd : needs: ; practically' no pruning.,- • Pyrus j speptabilis is another attractive 'variety which comes from China and Japaii. The blossoms are very laTge and deeply tinted with pink.' The leaves colour brilliantly in the autumn. SWEET PEAS. Autumn-sown 6weet-jpea seed has by this time developed into , fine, strong plants three or four inches high. Staking should now be seriously attended to. Short twiggy sticks or small pieces of. brush should be placed beside the young plants to help them to grow up towards the permanent stakes. . . Wire-netting makes a good framework for peas to climb against, but the ideal support is a good ■ firm manuka brush. fence. The brush keeps the plants sheltered from cold' winds, and the. pea® love to climb up against it. Whenever the ground is •dry enough hoe round the roots :of sweet peas. Keep all weeds -.away, '/and give an occasional top- ; dressing of lime and soot (alternately). .'See that the young* plants are trained ftp grojjr-'iupright from tho stark. If the plants have not yet made new shoots from the base, nip tho top off the leading shoot. This will cause the- plants to break very quickly, and the new shoots that are developed may be trained into place a,s they grow.' .' CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Chrysanthemum plants that have finished flowering should be cut back ts' tho ground. " Some plants may already have made, new growth from the,roots. . If that ia the .caso, the new growth also should be out down level with the ground. -In a few weeks .strong new shoote' will appear, and these are the ODes that are to make, next year's plants. If the plants cannot be left where they are till the new shoots appear, tliey may be. liftod, with a good ball of earth, and planted in a row.in. a.spare part of-the' .vegetable garden: Mojiy growers; prefer, to lift their plants, so that they may at once fork over the', bed, and make' a sowing of oata. The oats, when dug in as green manure later on, -put .the bed into fine condition' -for the future plants, andhholtp t to piovide' moisture- for the. roots of the'ehrysanthemums during the dry weather.- In;-' many gardens chrysanthemums -were attacked by "iust" this year. Wherever there has been'the least trace of it, the. stems and leaves should be carefully removed and burnt. No leaves should be lsft to' lie about;on tho gardens. ' ■■ / .. . TOMATOES. ; , As soon as all tKo tomatoes'arji gathered tho ground should al once be prepared for the next crop. If the same piece of ground ,in to bo used, fbv - tomatoes', again, it should now be'-deeply dug,. and a sowing made of some crop to be.; dug in for green manure later. on. . - The best crop for' this purpose is--peas. v.Sow. them broadcast, and rather thick. • Tho; ground should be well sprinkled ; with superphosphate before sowing- the peas,' Tho peas may then bo left to themselves till they are ready to be dug in. They should be deeply dug in. Where: new 'ground is to- be ; used for tomatoes it. should be deeply-dug, and left rough-all the winter. RUBBISH, HEAPS. Sprinkle salt or lime; freely over-,all. rubbish heaps, and turn • them over fi-e----yuently. As soon .as tliey are quite decayed dig the material into somo vacant "round to make room for the next-heap. Weeds, prunings, hedse-ti;immings keep accumulating, and in small gardens there Is not ton much space to spare for tho rubbish hoap. . Examino cabbage and cauliflower, plants after stormy weather to se-v if they have become loosened. Make the earth firm again about their roots. - Lettuces that were sown ■ early in March are already forming .nico : firm hearts. Seize every opportunity to' hoe between the rows in warm sunny mornings. A lettuce, to bo enjoyable, must be tender, crisp, and, This can only be attained by-quick growth. If you have not already a supply of seedlings coming on to take tho place of the lettuce that are maturing, sow a pinch of seed now in a seed pail. . Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about flowering shrubs, irises, gaillardias, and vegetables.

Permanent link to this item
Hononga pūmau ki tēnei tūemi

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/DOM19160617.2.97

Bibliographic details
Ngā taipitopito pukapuka

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 15

Word count
Tapeke kupu
1,397

GARDEN NOTES Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2799, 17 June 1916, Page 15

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