SEED SOWING

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 37, 13 February 1930, Page 26

SEED SOWING

METHODS OF PROPAGATION ADVICE TO AMATEURS' ■ : ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Northland"— (1) The cause of your scarlet runuor beans not setting is hard to determine. It may bo caused by over-rauk growth or lack of warmth. I do not think it is due to either bce3 or disease; (2) Tho most probable cause of your lettuces running to seed is their being over-dry at the roots. At this season of the year - lettuces requiro lots of moisture. (3) From what you say, I judge your lawn requires resowing. If that Is not practicable it would be advisable.to remove the clumps of cocksfoot and to resow those and also the other bare ■ patches. <4) The subject of soil sterilisation will be dealt with fully la. next week's notes. . . . • . E;P., Lower Hutt.—The plot you intend to make into a lawn, being. now ground ■ from which y6u have just taken a crop of potatoes, should not require any fertiliser, as presumably you manured for the potatoes. Lime Is .inclined, ,tp. encourage, the' growth of clover, and for. that reason Is not "advisable. You mighi.giys-a dressing of basic slag or bonedust, about 3 to 4 ounces to the square • yard. Work your soil over several times, breaking down all lumps and getting the levels correct. '"to ensure that the ground Is equally firm all over it should also, bo rolled several times. It is most important that this work should be done properly before the seed is sown in April; If It is decided to • use fertiliser, this should be sptinklcd over the ground before, the last three or four raklngs. Sow the seed evenly and fairly' 'thickly1, afterwards raking, * well in and rolling lightly if ithe ground is not too wet. It' Is ' advisable to get the .best- lawn seed, which. Is. out up/by'all. the leading seedsmen. The cost is a little more, but as it Is to last indefinitely this should not be taken into consideration.' ... The proper time to plant escallpnla is in the early winter, say, about'-July, or August. Any nurseryman will tell you when the plants are ready for lifting. Although we are experiencing much warmer days, the fall in the tempera-' ture at night is most noticeable, and a reminder that ■ autumn is fast, ap-, proaching. We may safely expect a fair,number of hot days for the next few. weeks, ana it: is a good policy to take advantage of. them by waging perpetual war on weeds. It is also wise to push, on with planting and seed-sowing: so that.the full advantage of tie -warm soil may be obtained. A good start for the plants before winter sets in will make all the difference to the ultimate results. Seed-sowing in the open ground is somewhat difficult when the soil is very dry, especially during windy weather, when there is so much evaporation. Every opportunity should be taken to sow after rain as soon as the surplus water has drained away sufficiently to make the soil workable. In any case, before sowing the ground should be well soaked, and it is well to remember that it takes quite a :iot of water to really moisten'soil/which is quite dry. A mere sprinkling which darkens the surface is not enough to do any good—-the moisture should ,66 at; least a foot in the ground. "Where, seeds, whether of vegetables ;or flowers, are sown in beds at this season of the year, it... is always advisable to provide shado by means of some light scrub or a piece of open scrim, as, this checks, evaporation and will make watering a less constant task. Where possible the seedbeds should be mado in a position, which has at least partial shade, for preference where it will be shaded during the afternoon. The propagation of various.plants by means of cuttings or layers is an important task from now till the end of next: month. . Partial shade . is. nee; .. sary for propagation by cuttings;' layers, of.'course, must be put down where convenient and do not require shading in any case. : WHITER SWEET PEAS. ; , ■ ■ Seed of the early flowering,) or iocalled winter-flowering, sweet peas should, be sown without .delay]if not already in. As soon as. the seedlings appear a, little light scrub should be laid over them for the double purpose of shading and to prevent damage by jbirds. Atv-this season of - the year blackbirds do : considerable damage to young seedlings, by digging . them up unless protection of some kind is afforded. A dusting of old, soot over the', sweets peas seedlings will keep away .slugs. and, snails. .The.seedlings should be'kept moist; and as soon, as a few inches high twiggy scrub must be supplied for them to climb on. As these sweet peas flower in early spring the warmest, position should be chosen for them and one sheltered from the winds as far as possible. i Most of the summer flowering sweet peas are over now, and should be pulled out, the tops being either burnt if mildew is present, or buried. COLLECTING SEEDS. During fino weather any seeds it; is intended to save should be gathered aa soo.n as ready, Most kinds should be secured before the pods open; otherwise the seed will be lost. Kemove the stems with the seed pods attached, and hang them in a paper bag in a warm, dry place, to4 complete. ripening. '. Do riot neglect to write the names of the different varieties;on each 'bag. It is a mistake to save seed from any plant of poor quality. Always endeavour to improve a strain by saving seed from plants of outstanding merit. Some of the. points'to be kept in mind are the stamina of the plant," the size, shape, and. colour of'the'flower, and the bear-

ing qualities,of the plant. Never save seed from a disused or sickly plant. SPRING BULBS. I The .plaining season for spring flowering bulbs is approaching, and every effort should be made to have the land in good condition for them. Animal manures should bo avoided, and in. no case should tbe,bulbs come into contact with tie- manure. Where a compost heap can be drawn on such material is the very best for bulbs ot a. I kinds. The ground should be deeply dii" and tho compost well incorporated to-"the full depth. A light dressing of bone-dust may also be added. Ine depth to plant varies with the different bulbs while the nature of the soil should also be taken into account. In heavy soils bulbs may be planted a little shallower than would be the case where the soil is very light or sandy. The smaller bulbs, such as lxias, treezias, 'tritonias, laehinalias, sparaxis, etc., should bo planted from three to four inches deep; hyacinths and tulips 6 inches, narcissi 5 to 7 inches, according to' -size and variety, all depths to the base. of. the bulbs. Belladonnas and nennes are already commencing to throw up flower spikes, and'by some growers this is considered the best time to plant. Theso bulbs require to be thoroughly ripened it they are to flower well, and consequently the bulbs should be set in the case of nerve's right on the surface with the roots'only in the soil, and the belladonnas just below the surtaee with 'tiro1 nose1 of- the bulb protruding, from the time growth commences water should be supplied until the foliage dies down naturally. ' This class of bulb should not be moved too frequently, as .they' do best ; when rather crowded _ | . ■ VEGETABLE GARDEN. ' ' Th 6 harvesting of potato and onion crops 'should'bo'done as soon as they are" m'attire. Potatoes left in the ground are''very liable to start into fresh growth, with a very detrimental effect on their quality.-- Onions should not be lifted until ripe; that is, when the tops eotnnrence to turn colour. In the meantime the beds should be regularly cultivated to keep the surface of the soil open. At this stage no stimulating fertilisers ' should be used. The practice of breaking down the tops is seldom, if ever, advisable, except when long, spells of wet weather .occur. If it is deemed necessary care should be taken not "to rupture the stem in doing it, or a new top will grow up through the break and ruin the bulb. Any thick-necked bulbs should be utilised for immediate service, none but perfect ones beiug stored for keeping. Tomatoes are making good growth — in fact, the growth has been somewhat rank recently, and every care must be taken to check any sign of blight. The only safe precaution is to spray regularly, at" least every three -weeks with Bordeaux mixture, .with which should be added; at this season, arsenate of lead, to prevent attacks by caterpillars. As the fruit matures, some of the leaves may be thinned out to allow of the entrance of-sunlight; but this must be done with discretion, too many leaves being removed will spoil the plants. All side growths should still be removed, and" also any, dying leaves. Asparagus cutting should have ceased before how, as next season,'s crop depends on the growth made during summer. Beds should be kept free from weeds, and growth be encouraged by occasional thorough waterings, if the soil.bo. .dry. This may, be preceded by a dressing; of nitrate of-soda, loz to the square yard, and followed by a liberal application of liquid manure. Top growth' must not be cut off until it commences to die down, but any berries must be removed before they fall. All growing crops should be kept free from weeds, and have the soil frequently loosened about them.J Only in extreme cases should watering be resorted to. In the majority' of cases, free cultivation of the soil at frequent' intervals will do more good than watering.