GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 50, 22 November 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

THE SOIL MULCH

WHY THE HOE SHOULD BE IN FREQUENT USE

(By "Kowhai.") In must districts there is a period during the summer months when rain does not tall, and plants arc men dependent upon the moisture that is already .stored in the soil. As has already been mentioned in -a previous article, we must take steps before that time arrives to conserve the moisture that is already in the toil, anil also to have our soil in such a condition that, when rain docs tall, the ' maximum amount of it may ue secured. Before discussing the best method of conserving the moisture that is already in tht soil, let us consider the conditions that art necessary for us to trap as much toil moisture as possible. When rain falls it either enters the soil or it does not. If the soil in hard and caked the precious moisturo simply runs oil and in evaporated. How necessary then to keep the surface soil loose by the frequent, use of the hoc! But it is not only a loose surface soil that is necessary. In a well-prepared garden, the rain, having entered the surface soil, is drawn by gravity to a good depth, until the subsoil is thoroughly saturated, 'flic subsoil then becomes a huge reservoir, and it is from thia reservoir that the moisture so necessary to plant growth is drawn during a dry spell. But all garden soils are- not well prepared. Some gardeners think it is sufficient to cultivate only the top soil leaving the subsoil hard and undisturbed. What happens to the rain in such a garden? It enters the surface soil freely enough, and quickly saturates the top nine inches, but cannot, alas, enter the groat rescr-voir-tho subsoil. It is instead held in tho surface soil, where it is apt to become stagnant before- it can drain away or become evaporated, and when the dry spell arrives, and the surface moisture is quickly used up, there is in.that garden no reserve for tin unhappy plants to draw upon. As a rule they die, and their owner blames the dry spell, never dreaming that he is largely to blame for tho insufficiency of soil moisture. There are some subsoils that arc so porous that they become too saturated, and drains are then necessary to carry away surplus water. And now, having arranged to fill our reservoirs with soil moisture, wo must toko steps to conserve it, for no sooner has the rain ceased than tho moisture is drawn by capillarity to tho surface again. Here It is used up in various ways. It may bo taken up by weeds, nnd every weed can ho looked upon as a pump that is drawing moisture from the soil and transpiring it Into tho air. Hence tho urgent need for the hoc, to keep weeds cut from the start. It may be taken up by plants and crops, and that is as it should be. Rut, having reached their roots it must not he permitted to rise still further till it reaches tho surface of tho soil, for there it would br. quickly evaporated by sun and wind. And it is only by destroying capillarity that wo can prevent the moisture rising to the surface. Thia is done by keeping a layer, two or three inches thick, of loose dry soil on tho surface, and it is known as the soil mulch. Every shower of rain destroys tho soil mulch by caking the surface, and hoeing must at onco take place to prevent evaporation. Care should bo taken also to tread on the garden beds as little as posnible, for the pressure of the foot packß the soil, and moisture is then able to rise by capillarity to the aurface, where- it is evaporated. Hence every footprint may be regarded as a leak iu the great reserToir. Take heed then, amateur gardenoral Keep your hoes at work lest a dry spell overtakes you. and your plants have no resorve of moisture to draw upon. And, bearing in mind this article, forgive ''Kowhai's" constant repetition—Hoe! Hoo!

SOWING SEEDS IN THE OPEN. (1) Havo the ground deeply dug, mado fine, and firmed again. (2) ■ (Work in lime several weeks beforo sowing. 13) Work in boncdust (if the seeds aro sown where the plantß arc to grow) .just before sowing seed. (1) If the ground is dry, water It with tepid svatcr several hours before sowing the seed. (5) Sow thinly. (6) Just cover the seeds with fine soil ruhbed gently through the hands. (7) Shade from direct, sun's rays till the seedlings nro up. (8 Thin out as soon as the seedlings can be handled. SOWING SEEDS OP BIENNIALS. There are many charming plants among the biennials, and, if we would have them well represented in our gardens during the spring and summer of next year, we must bee to tho sowing -of the seeds now. Among them are:—Stocks (Bromipton, Beauty of Nice, and all the winter-flower-ing varieties), wallflowers, anemones, nquilcgias, primroses, polyanthus primroses (spring flowering), Sweet Williams, Canterbury Hells (early summer flowering). All of these flowers make a great show in their season. If seeds aro sown now in seed-pans the seedlings will bo ready for planting out in their permanent positions early in the autumn.

VEGETABLES. Give rhubarb plants liquid manure every two weeks, and remove at once any flowers that are formed. Push on with th 6 planting out of cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, and t'avoys wherever necessary. Plant if possible just before a shower of rain, bu: do not plant when the ground is very. wet.. Make the earth Quite firm about the roots, and see that the young plants do not suffer from dryness at any time. The encouragement of vigorous growth from the start in winter greena is necessary to bring them safely through the summer. Thin out carrots, onions, parsnips, etc., as soon sis the plants aro big enough to handle. Do not thin out too drastically the first time. It is better to do the work gradually. Mali'; the soil firm about the remaining seedlings ns the work proceeds. Clear away at once all seedlings that have been .pulled out and also decaying cabbage and lettuce leaves. They only harbour pests if left about. Continue planting out tomato plants in well-dug, not over-rich ground. Celery may be planted in prepared trenches. The trenches should bt. dug out to a depth of ono foot. Some well-rotted manure should then be dug into the bottom, and about six inches of soil should be returned. Thoroughly mix a little bonedust (about four ounces to the running yard) with the soil that is returned to the trench. If the trenches are made only a short time before transplanting takes place, the soil should be made firm by being trampled upon, for celery does bstter when grown in firm soil. Before transplanting the seedlings add two inches of very fine soil, and a slight dressing of soot or ashes from a rubbish lire. Plant the seedlings about nix or eight inches apart. Shade from tho sun for a few days, and sprinkle the plants with water morning and evening. Ab soou as growth has well started, liquid manure should be supplied. A further sowing of celery seed may still bo made, but for gardeners wiili small families it. is better to buy a Tew plants at intervals during the summer, thus having two or three small trenches with a succesiion of plants. Some people use itjv all their space in one big planting, and then have no room for successive crops. Tho following seeds may be sonu where necessary:-- . (Jeleriac (lurnip-rooted celery).--Sow in rows two feet apart in well-worked, welleuriched soil. Thin out seedlings lo sis inches apart in the rows, tlclcriac docs not need earthing up like relery, for it is grown for its root. Scarlet li'iiuier Heans.-Sow iu ground that lias :i trenched and manured. Son (he seed .in six to eight inches apart, and a hum two inches deep. French Heaiis.-Xow in drills two feet apart, ami have the seeds six inches apart in the rows. Dust boncdust. iu tho drills at tho time of sowing the seed, and give a slight dressing »t Kuperphasplmle as soon an the seedlings are a rnuple of inches hi;h. l!atlish.--Sow broadcast. In rich, linn ground, and provide nil abundance of water for the growing crop. Carrot .-Sow thinly in drills twelve inches apart. I'cns.-Sow in drills from two to three feet apart, (iinund should he trenched and manured, and should have wood ashes mixed with it. Dust, bonedust 111 the drills whop sowing. l,cttiicc.-Siiw thinly In drills lirtc-.'ii ' inches apart and thin "ill lo nine Inches in the rows. The ground should !«■ ilcvply dug. and enriched wilh woll-deniyrd manure. Dust bouedilsl iu the drills when sowing. Garden Notes next week will i.ou'.iiin seasonable notes about: -Wallflowers, routine work, and vegetables.