STRAWBERRY CULTURE

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 30, 5 February 1931, Page 23

STRAWBERRY CULTURE

PLANTING TIME NEXT MQNTH ■.'■ PREPARE GROUND NOW

This column is intended principally for nardentrs with small plots, and tho aim is to make it as practical and useful as possible. Inquiries on any matter of gardening Inters* will be welcomed. The rule far eorreipondence Is that all communication! mutt b« accompanied by the name and address of the writer, not for publication, but as > guarantee of good faith. This rule will be strictly adhered to. This' is your column—make use of it.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "H.E.A."—Tho premature falUnc of runner -■■ iJdan flowers without the forming of pods t , may be caused by several things. The' plants may be so crowded that the flowers '. do not get fertilised. The growth, may be too rank. The most probable causo is the cold winds experienced throughout the season. Tlie flrst blooms frequently fail ' to set pods, but usually later on a good crop Is borne. Thlß ,ls ; considered tbo best season to' strike carnation cuttings. i See these notes. - — -'-.■- ---TNfkau."—Nikau palms are native bush plants, and for satisfactory results must be treated as such. The soil should be rich in leaf mould. Shelter from wind and a certain amount of shade are necessary while the roots should be kept cool and moist. Beyond working in as much decayed leaf mould as possible to tbe soil the plants should require no feeding.

/ Strawberries should be planted during March or April, and to ensure good re; suits the ground should be worked up as soon as possible. The, best soil for strawberries is a-good loam easily; ..worked, well-drained, but not too light, as it must be capable of holding moisture. The groun.d should be well dug and have as much humus incorporated; as can be conveniently worked in. This helps very largely to hold the .moisture. Stable manure is excellent if it can be obtained, .but failing that, give a dressing of bonedust, 4 to^ 6 ounces per square yard. The sooner the plants are in after the beginning of March the better, as they have a better chance to get well rooted before ■winter. Set the plants twelve inches • apart in the rows, allowing sufficient room between the rows for picking. Be'careful to keep the crown of the plant on the surface. As the plants ;grow all runners should be removed; except those required for making fresh plants. /'■■•' The young plants will sometimes root in naturally without any assistance, but the most reliable method is to peg "down the runner and place a littlo fine soil round the young plants. All secondary runners—that is, runners beyond the first plant from the parent— should be removed. To keep the ber-, ries clean, a mulch of straw, hay, pine ieedles, or grass clipping should" be .spread round the plants and between the rows. This, also has the effect of keeping the roots moist. t , Strawberry plants arevgood for three "years, doing .best in, their second year as a rule. It is, therefore, wise: to have yonng plants coming onto re--place those which are past their use- ■ fulness.' •••"■■■ ■ . STTMM^IWE'IiOWERING BULBS. '■ Nerines, Belladonnas, Brunsyigias, »tc, which flower in late summer, are "now dprrnint, and if any.require jnov-J : ing' through having become ■overcrowd-1

eel or for, any other reason, this is the time to' do it. The bulbs remain dorniant for a very short time, and will soon bo sending up,, flowering stems. Nearly all these: bulbs send up flowers from.the.bare bulbs, the' foliage appearing later. The soil round" the clumps should bo kept stirred, and if a little bone,dust is worked in and the ground is kept moist the results will be better. When planting, be careful not to put the bulbs-too deep,,- as ■ ■ they do] not flower so well unless they/ get-1 ■thoroughly ripened. Keep the nose of tho bulb just above the surface of the soil. Always avoid animal manures with all bulbs. If it is used it should be worked into the lower spit of soil, kp that the roots have to work down to it ; V " '"" :: ■ NARCISSI AND LACHENALIA. Narcissi generally do better if planted early. Some of the early flowering varieties, such as "Paper Whites'^ and; "Soliel d'Ors/' have hardly any resting time, the-roots commencing to grow before the tops are thoroughly dead. It is always well to get,' the bulbs in early, so that; they may make good roots before they, commence, to send up top growth.. Narcissi will grow*'in any soil,, but for the best results they ■musts have something to 'feed on. Prepare the ground by deep digging, working in humus or manure to ,the lower spit'and a little bondust on the surface. Wood ashes or ashes from a garden., fire are particularly good for. all. kinds' of bulbs. Narcissi should be -planted from 3 to 7 inches deep, according -to the size of the bulb, tho larger bulbs requiring, to be planted deeper. The depth mentioned is to the base of the bulb. . .■•■' ; Lachenalias, which are small bulbs, also make roots very early, and consequently should be got in as sooii as possible. They do best in a sandy soil, and do not require to-be planted more than three inches deep. In their native state theygrow in pure sand. It is necessary to have perfect drainage and a warm situation. These early sprmg flowering bulbs are easy "to grow, increase' rapidly, and make a wonderfully gay patch over a period of a month or more. There are several varieties and hybrids, but the most common are aurea, yellow and red/ and tricolour, yellow, red and green.