GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 66, 10 December 1921, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By ’’Kowhai.") STRAWBERRIES.

Those who a.re intending to strawberry beds this autumn rrin nreonrinc the soil as soon aa nossiuie to gFve’it time to settle down before the nlants are put out early in April* berries love a deep, fairly rlC Jj'’° l^ t room, therefore the ground should be trenched, and should he.ve plenty of go manure dug into it. Mark out the space ?o be given to strawberries then remove a strip, about two feet wide, of top soil, and wheel it away to a space n' ac ®- Thoroughly break up the subsoil thus ic vealed, and work into it animal manure nr trreen manure in the form of iveeus. etc. B and in tho case of heav y. grit, sand, and cinders to make it, more norous Now throw the top soil from the next strip on to this well-worked subsoil, and proceed to treat the new strip of subsoil revealed as you treated the first The last strip of subsoil will be covered with the top soil that you wheeled awav to a vacant place. Strawberries, although they I'ke £ deeply-dug rooting-place, also very mncli dislike being planted in loose soil. Hence the importance of preparing the beds beforehand in time to allow the soilto become firm. During tho Himmer this prepared ground may be used for a. crop of peas, beans, or lettuces, or a crop _ ™ay be grown to be turned m in February as green manure. Before putting out the Pl antß ,n ZjßF'j the surface soil may be lightly forked over, and a dressing of bonedust, about 4oz. to the square yard, worked in. When planting care must be taken to spread out the roots nicely, and to cover them verv firmly with fine soil. The Pla““ should not ho planted too deep. Look at the plant before making the hole, and then have It so that the crown of the plant just rests on the top of nice fir® soil. The crown should be neither buried, nor left high above the surface soil. Keep the plants free from weeds at all times, and hoe regularly between tho rows Dun ing January and February established plants send out several Tunners, which form little plants at intervals of about, a foot. It is the plant nearest the parent on each runner that is wanted All the others that are formed beyond these should be removed At the DOint where the first little plant in formed the runner should be pegged to the ground but first a little heap of damp sand and rich loam should be placed under the pl«nt for it to root into. As soon as the new plant shows signs of having root, ed it should be separated from, the parent bv cutting the connecting stem. In propagating, care must be taken to use only strong Vigorous, stock.. uw wprn-out roots will not produce vigproun plants. Sometimes, too. plants are barren. although exceedingly healthy, ana nnv plants propagated from these would be barren also. The young plants shouia be put into their permanent beds as early as possible in April. PORTULACA. Portulaca is a charming.little plant for growing on small rockeries, or in dry sunny parts of the garden. The colours of tho flowers are gorgeous. and flowers are produced most the plants are given the conditions they like best It is a mistake to make tne soil too rich, for then more leaf than bloom. The soil should contain plenty of grit, as the little'Plants love to cling to any gritty material they can find. Ordinary garden soil. then, with plenty of coarse river sand, and some leaf- soil, is what the plants require. Also an open position and plenty °L’" n ’ ‘ tulaea makes a charming edging where flower-beds are edged with stones or large pebbles, and it makes a pretty finish to a rockery when uaed as an edging, and a lowed to stray from the crevices or the stones down to the path, and all J 01 }”” the lowest rocks and stones. rhe tiny seedlings of portulaca. need protection from our hot sun. and a supply of moisture, as they have such small roots. As soon as the plants begin to spread oyer the ground, however, th? roots receive the protection they need, and water should be supplied only when it is thought necessary. As seen as the plants .aye become thoroughly established they will flower bravely all through the hottest weather. LA VATF.iI A. For a week or two now lavateras have been making a brilliant show in the garden, and, provided seeds are not allowed to form, will continue to do so tor many weeks to come. As the plants grow fairly tall and bush out in a delightful manner an ideal place for them is at the back of the herbaceous border or among low-growing shrubs. As soon as the flowering time arrives every plant becomes simnlv covered with masses o' beautiful silken-petalled. clear pink flowers. As cut flowers they are delightful, for the slender stems are easily arrrnged in vases, and the flowers keep fresh for a long time, fresh buds opening every day. , , Tho cultivation of the plants is very simple, for they seem able to adapt themselves to almost any soil, though they will give tho best results on well-nrepjired. rather rich soil. As there is often some difficulty In transplanting the seedlings, it is advisable to sow the seeds where the nlants are to grow. As soon as the seedlings are up they should be thinned out to a foot anart each way. T«i common with many flowering plants. lavateras are particularly showy when the plants are massed. VIOLETS. Violet plants should be carefully watched for red spider. During dry weather, if the leaves ore not kept clean and tree from dust, this pest soon attacks them. As a rule, unless watched for, it is not noticed till it has a good hold of tho plants. The plants should be kept well syringed with clean water, care being taken to keep the undersides of the leaves well wanked. Not, more than three or four run'tgrs should bo allowed to each plant. These should be pegged down to moke roots for themselves. Tho sol about the plants should be kept well stirred. VEGETABLES. Continue planting out where, necessary: Tomato Plants.—Plant firmly m well-dug, not over-rich ground. Cabbage and Cauliflower—Plant in rich, well-dug ground. Cut off with a sharp knife the long tap-roots when planting out. Plant the seedlings firmly, and keep them moist and shaded from hot sun till growth bl pumpkin and Marrow.—Plant in thoroughly prepared rich ground. Celery.—Plant in well-prepared trenches. Potatoes—An early variety may be planted to provide new potatoes for the autumn. , , . Broccoli— Plant in deeply-dug ground that was well enric’g.i for early potatoes or peas. Keep the plants well watered till growth begins, then hoe regularly. Sow, where necessary, the following Scarlet Runner Bearm.-Sow in ground that has been trenched and manured. Sow the seeds from six to eight inches apart. French Beans—Sow in drills two feet apart. Dust bonedust in the drills when sowing, and give a slight dressing, of superphosphate sa soon as the seedlings are a counlc of inches high. Carrot.—Sow thinly in drills twelve inches apart. Dust superphosphate along the rows as soon as the seedlings appear, and begin thinning out as soon as they are. big enough to handle. Peas.—Sow in drills from two to three feet apart in well-trenched and manured ground. Beet.—Sow in drills 18 inches apart in ground that was ->nr ' z, r a previous crop. The ground . .. mO deeply dug. hut mad? firm aga,n before sowing the seed.

Lettuce—Sow thinly in drills 15 inches apart, and thin out to 9 Inches in the rows. Begin feeding with nitrate of soda (Joz. in one gallon of water) as soon ns the plants are beyond the seedling stage.