GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 90, 10 January 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(Dy "Kowhai.") STKAWBEHRIES. Where now strawberry btdß arc to be made I.UIb autumn, the jircpuration ol' tho soil should bo taken in hand at once, to give it tirao to settle down before the plants are put out early in April. strawberries Jovo a deep, fairly-rich rooting place, therefore tlio ground should .Iw trenched, and should have plenty of good manure dug into it. Mark out, the upace to be given to strawberries, remove a strip, aoc-ut, two icet wide, of the top soil, and wheel it away to u spare place. Thoroughly break up the subsoil thus revealed, and work into it animal manure, or green manure in tho form of weeds, etc., and, in the case of heavy Boils, road grit, sand, and cinders, to malto it more porous. Now throw the top soil from the next strip on to this well-worked sub-roil, and proceed to treat the next strip of subsoil as you treated the first. The last strip of subsoil will be covered with the top soil that yon wheeled away to a vacant place. (strawberries, although they like a deep-ly-dug ranting place, also very much dislike being planted in loose soil, jrence the importance of preparing the beds beforehand in time to allow the Eoil to hecome ilrm. Before putting out the plants in April, tho surface soil may Iks lightly forked over, and a dressing of boneiiusl, about foz. to tho square yard, worked in, Those who already have strawberries growing will now be thinking about layering runners to provide new plant's' for next year. The plants' scud out nover.il runners, which form little plants at intervals of about a foot. It is the riant nearest tho parent plant on each runner that is wanted. All others that are formed beyond these should . bu removed. At the point where tho first little plant is formed, the runner should bo pegged to the ground, hut first a little heap of damp sand and rich loam should be placed under the new plant for it to root into.' An soon as the new plant showß signs of having rooted, it should be separated from the parent by cutting the connecting stem. In propagating, care must, be taken to use only strong, vigorous stork. Old wornout- roots will not produce vigorous . plants. Sometimes, too, plants are barren, although exceedingly healthy, and any plants propagated from these would' be barren also. The plan of treating strawberries as annuals has much to commend it. To do this it is necessary to have always a few plants that are used only for increasing stocli. They mint not be allowed to fruit, but should he allowed to flower so that it may be known whether they are barren or fruiting plants. A.s soon SB the first truss of flowers appears, nip it, out. Immediately runners will be thrown out. Stop those as soon as tho first little plant is formed, and peg them down according to the directions given above. In this way early plants are secured. Only two or three plants should be taken from each parent. The new plants should be planted out during December or early in January, and a good place for them is on ground that waa richly manured for an curly crop of peas. Beyond forking in a littlo bouedust, no other preparation is necessary. A few ot the new plants should be grown in a sparo corner to provide strong plants to propagate from next spring, Plants that are treated as annuals in this way bear a nice crop of large strawberries the following spring, and, as soon an they have borne fruit, they may be dug up and their plates taken by a crop of French hewn or some other vegetable. The few plants put aside for propagating from will meanwhile be providing the new plantß for the following year's crop. In planting out strawberry plants care must be taKon to spread out tho roots nicely, and to cover them very firmly with fine soil. The plants' should not be planted too deeply. Examine the plant before making the hole, and then have it so that the crown just rests on tho top of nice firm soil. The crowu should bo neither buried nor left high above the surface soil. Keep the plants free from weeds at all times. SYHINGING. Those amateur gardeners who live on main roads or streets find their work considerably increased nowadays by tho heavy motor traffic. Given a few fine days, every car or cycle that passes raises a cloud of dust, which falls and settles ou one's cherished plantß,.covering leaves and flowerß with a line white powder. Under auclt conditions it becomes necessary to syringe or hose tho plants with clear water on the evening of every hot, dry day. Plants cannot te healthy if they are covered with dust, and tho growth must beeomo slow and stunted. Wants derive much of their nourishment from tho gases present in the atmosphere, and if their pores are choked with dust, they are forced into the position of depending almost entirely on their roots for nourishment. For cleaning plants, use a syringe in preference to a;hose, but it must bo used correctly. Fill the syringe with clear water from a bucket, but do not empty the barrel at one push. It 6houl-l be emptied by a series cf short, sharp pushes. Cleanse Imth sides of tho leaves, but do not use sitcli force as to 1 ruiso them. The short, sharp push cleanseß without bruising. The plants soon f-eshen up after the dust has been washed off them, and. are able to absorb nourishment from the atmosphere until the next day's procession of vehicles again reduces them to a Btato of (lust and discomfort. HHDDABB. Winter rhubarb, Topp's Winter, should bu allowed to rest now before the leaves dlo down. The plants will probably make a good growth of leaves and stems after tho picking has stopped, but the leaves, if left, help to make the plants strong for next year. As soon as the plants die down, remove about an inch of the old surface "Soil, aud replace it with a mixture of decayed leaves and well-rotted manure, Veil covering the crowns of the plants in the process. -Plants of summer rhubarb need constant supplies of water and liquid manure to keep up the supply of good stems. Cut away all decayed leaves at once, and keep the plants free from weeds. The following liquid manure is good for rhubarb.—Three ounces of soot and six ounces of guano should be tied iip in a piece of sugar-bag or scrim, aud then allowed to stand "for a few days in ten gallons of water. Each plant may have a thorough soaking with this liquid just ■as -it is. VEGETABLES. SAVING SUED POTATOES. Tlio best time to select tubers for seed ia just before the haulm begins to turn colour. The tnburs should be taken from those roots that have tho greatest number of large, well-shaped potatoes. Sever choose for seed potatoes those that are badly shaped, those that come from a v;enk root (that Is, a root that bears very, low and very small potatoes), or those from roots that have shown any signs of dlsert.se.' The selected tubers should be spread out in a cool dry place "to green." The skin thou becomes hard, and the potatoes eo treated are less liable to be attacked by disease. Store, tho seed in shallow boxes in a cool, dry shed, where they will bo exposed to a fair amount of light. MAHItOWS AND PUMPKIN'S. The Tines of marrows aud pumpkins are now spreading over the ground \ery quickly. It 'is necessary to keep them free from weeds to allow (lie sun and air free acccsn to them. After a iiot dry day the leaves should be syringed with clear water during the evening. Water that has been exposed to tile sun frr a, few hours is the best to use for washing plants Water that if drawn ttraight from a 'well is generally very cold, and if used straight away gives the plants such a shock that it is apt to cause a check Therefore, those who are obliged to use pump water, should draw it in the morning, and allow it to stand all day in tubs, buckets, kerot-eiio tins, etc., in the sunshine. Vine" that are making rank growth and very little fruit, should have their tips pinches olf to cause Ihem to throw out laterals. The laterals will generally bear jruit freely. OAIIBAGES. Keep a sharp look-out for the eggs of the cabbage butterfly during dry, warm weather. Look especially on the under sides of the leaves. Wash the leaves thoroughly by frequently Syringing with dear water. It destroys the eggs before they can hatch out.. Garden Xotes next -week will contain seasonable notes about'.'-Dahlias, routine •ivork, and vegetables. _____