THE WEEK'S WORK CARE OF VIOLETS BEST-KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION SPRING BULBS

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 90, 13 October 1932, Page 17

THE WEEK'S WORK

CARE OF VIOLETS

BEST-KEPT GARDEN COMPETITION

SPRING BULBS

FLOWEB, GARDEN. The leeent uarm lams, which wore so much needed, have invigorated growth which, under pie'ent conditions, is liable to become soft and .sappy. Any tall-giawing pljiita such as delphiniums, " lupins, etc., should be given support before they are biokfin flown. ' Carnations arc throwing up their floweiing stems. These should'not be allowed to lie about on the ground. Employ some appro\cd method of support. Plant out annuals of all kinds as, they become available. The soil is in ideal condition foi planting at the present, time, -and plants put out now will suffer very little cheek, Get the ground ready for planting out chrysanthemums. , Dahlias may be planted in well-dug and manured soil. Keep the roses free from, aphis, by spraying them with Black Leaf . 40. " Seeds of all hardy annuals may be sown in the open ground. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Plant out onions on well-manured, firm soil. The roots only should be put into the ground, th 6 small bulbs being on top. Sow in quantities sufficient to meet requirements ,all seasonable ; vegetables. 1 Earth up potatoes, cabbages, peas, and caulifloweis. After earthing is completed lettuces, ladishes, carrots, or paisnips may bo sown, in tho furrows between tho.rows, thus saving space. Plant out lettuces, cabbages, cauliflowers, and rhubaib. I?ea9, beans, canols, paisnips, spinach, beet, and lettuce seeds may bo sown. .French and. butter, beans may be sown in very warm, sheltered positions. ivinniCL' beans may also he sown. As those la^t foi rhref veai's the ground should be well piepaied bef oie sowing. " ' .Tomato plants which are well hardened may be planted out in some warm, sheltered position. , ' ■ - ' Thin out all seedling crops, keep them free from weeds and the soil between tho rows loose on tho surface. Supply supports for peas, even the dwarf varieties doing better if kept off the ground. SpTay potatoes with Bordeaux Mixture as .1 piotection^against blight.

METHOD OF CULTIVATION

dressing, with either decayed manure or some good sweet soil mixed with wood ashes and bonedust. Tho plants must'be .itaked before they are damaged. It is a good,plan to place the stakes in* position as soon aa the plants are' a foot high and to affix'ties at intervals <as the plants grow. ' Once they have been T)lown over they soldom do well, as tho roots get wrenched even if the stemß are not brolcoii. _- ' ■ Chrysanthemums must not be- allowed to suffer from lack o£ moistme. Give a good soaking if the weather remains hot and dry.

As a general rule violets ,are sadly ■neglected, being allowed to remain without attention, for an indefinite time until they have thoroughly exhausted tho soil and become so crowded that they cannot produce good blooms. Prp" por cultivation moro than pays for the trouble* by ,tho improvement that toaults, both in the number and size of the blooms. Tho presont month is the best 'time to rnalco new- beds of violets. Violets love rich soil. The ground should bo dug two spits doep, adding a good layer of manure or decayed vegetable matter, and keeping Borne o£ the best soil for tho top. The beat position for a violet bed is one which gets the full benefit of the morning sun and shade at midday. Tho old plants should be taken up as soon as they have finished flowering, and tho young rooted layers bo chosen for replanting. Choose damp weather if possible for tho planting, and allow about nine inches between tho plants. All tho largost leaves may be cut off as this will leave less surface for the evaporation of moisture. Make the soil fairly firm round the plants, and water them well in. ' About a month after planting a sprinkling of nitrate of soda may bo given, and watered in. Caro should bo taken to keep the nitrate off tho f oliago as it burn*. A further similar dressing of loz to the squaro yard may bo given a month later. , During tho summer months the surface of the beds should be kept hoed, and should the weather become very dry watering should be resorted to. A thorough soaking once a week is better than more frequent sprinklings. When ttie weather is dry-red spider is liablo to attack tho plants, turning the leaves yellow or rusty coloured. In tho event of this occurring spray with lime sulphur at a strength of one in seventyfive of water. It is necessary/to remove' all', runners during the summer,- especially in tho case of newly'planted violets, as theso weaken the mainplants. Old established beds whiefoare to remain undisturbed will benfit if tho rank growth of toliagoMs cut off and a good mulch of lotted manure spread over the plants. Tho great drawback to this is tho gieat number of weeds which come up from seed which is in the manure. A mulch of good rich clean soil with which is incorporated a small quantity of bonedust would have as good an eft'oct without the weed trouble.

Ibe Wellington South' Horticultural Society offers special inducement by means of a homo garden competition, open to all those lesiding iii the distnct which is almost identical with the doctoral district, commencing at the Basin Iteservo and taking in JTewtown, Berhamporo, Mornington, Island Bay and Happy Valley. Tho society's schedule states that a first prize of .£1 and a second of 10s will.be awarded, tho entry fee being is. The competition is for the best kept garden in tho Wellington South district, and is opon to any resident who docs not employ labour in his or her garden. Entries close with the seeretaiy nest Saturday (35th October), The. period 6f competition is from Ist October to 20th April. Gardens will bo judged during November, January, and March, when points will be allotted for neatness and order, general effect, and flowers or. vegetables (or both). The secretary's address is 270, Eintoul stieet (telephone No. 25-444).

TREATMENT- AFTER" BLOOMING

DISEASE ON VIOLAS. " Viola."—Pansles and violas are subject to several fungoid diseases which produce spots on the leaves. The only way to deal with them is to remove and burn all affected -leaves and either to dust with flowers of sulphur or to spray with limo sulphur or Bordeaux mixture. The spraye, unfortunately, spot any blooms there may be, but should prove effective in preventing the spread of the disease. LAWNS AKD OTHER MATTERS. (Ngaio).—(l) I do not think you would be wise to risk using tho lawn seed you have had fov three years—the germination would bo very poor at best. (2) Top-dress the turfed lawn in the spring with some fine sifted soil to which has been addeda fair amout oi! bonedust. A good mixture for a lawn is one ounce each j of superphosphate and bonedust andtwo ounces of basic slag to the square yard. (3) Stack tho horse manure and turn over onco. or twice at fortnightly intervals^ If allowed to remain in the stack without turning it generates to.great a heat, which causes the loss of ammonia—its most . valuable ingicdient. (4) Your question about preparing a rose plot and pruning the bushes is too big to be answeied here, Tho mattci s will be dealt with in due season. (5) Lilacs like a position which is sunny, and soil which doea not get too dry.