THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 22448, 19 September 1936, Page 23

THE GARDEN

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS “ Elderberry.'The best way to g« rid of elderberry is to dig it out. N other way will be found satisfactory as every piece left in the ground'wi grow away quickly again. “ Query.”—lf the stable manure we well rotted when dug in shell lime ca be applied just prior to sowing tb seeds. Bub if the manure was ne do not apply lime under two or thre months. If unable to wait it would b better to use the lime when the planl or seedlings are growing away. “ Rosemary.”—Cut all leaders bac very hard. This is an ideal time to d this work. You will find it will brea away again very quickly. SEASONABLE WORK THE GREENHOUSE The plants* in the glasshouse an dwelling, house will need - repotting especially where tliey have not had shift for a considerable time. Palm: aspidistras, or any hard-wooded plan! should now bo repotted into new soi The mixture, for the above should I good fibrous loam, leafmould, and shai sand, and when potting the soil shoul be made very firm yritii a rammer. £ cai'eful before placing soil in the pc that tho drainage is correct. The drain age can bo kept in order by placin moss or rotted leaves oyer the crocl before placing in the soil. Many plants, such as cyclamen, cur rarias, primulas, etc., will need a litti feeding at this stage. Liquid mauui from a barrel or artificial manure wi answer the purpose, it is wise to kee the water inside the house so that : will bo the same temperature, or eh the plants are liable to be chilled whe using water direct from the tap. All flower seeds cun now be sown ii side for transplanting later into boxe: Those who have not a glasshouse ma sow into boxes and then protect tb seed by placing pieces of glass over it, THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Continue when weather permits th planting of early and main crop poti toes, early and main crop peas, earl long pod and main crop broad beans. Transplant onions that were sown i the autumn into well-prepared bed: Rhubarb crowns should be plante where required. Horse radish ah should be planted. Salsify (the oyatc plant) can be planted t r seed sown ini a warm situation, Sah'ey makes fine change of vegetable for tho table One ounce of seed will sow 60ft of dril It is very easily grown, and is simile in growth to the parsnip. The sani conditions will suit salsify. Shallots, if not already in, shoul be planted , without delay. Andtlic valuable vegetable that makes an exce lent dish is the white and pink art choke. These tubers will do in nearl any condition of soil, and if the potat crop should be small artichokes make good substitute for the table. At the present time the couditior arc against sowing many of the sraa seeds. It will be better to wait unt the weather clears and the soil drh out. or there is bound to be failures i germination in many of the seeds sow into wet ground. LAWNS AND VERGES Continue to sow down new lawn and renovate old ones. Where a lawi is in a fairly good condition a dressing of blood and bone or other fertilise: should be given. First of all, cut dowi the surface lightly, and then give : good dressing evenly over the surface If this is carried out when the woalhei is showery there will not be any waste This will keep the lawn in good ordei throughout the summer months. THE FLOWER GARDEN The planting of climbers should nov be done. No arch or pergola is com plete without the beautiful quick grow mg clematis. These climbers delight t( roam through the growth of othe: creepers. When sometimes we fine them growing alone on wire netting 01 a similar material there always Appear to be something wanting. If ‘we wall through the native bush when thi clematis is in flower we see immedi ately what these plants require to shot

WORK FOR THE WEEK Our contributor, a well-known gardener, will be gmd to answer questions, which A « must be received not later than Thursday of each week. (Advertisements for this column must be handed In to the office before i p.m. on Thursday.) 9

off their beauty. We generally find them a mass of bloom, with the growth runhing through a manuka tree _or trees with similar growth. In planting care should be taken in placing the right compost in the pits taken out for them. If a mixture of loam and good leaf mould or well-rotted animal manure is worked into , the positions to take them. There should be no trouble whatever in.getting the plants to start away into growth. The roots should be placed on the shady side of the tree or arch, making provision so that the* plants may receive plenty of moisture throughout the summer months. Where arches or pergolas have already climbing roses over them clematis will quickly climb through them. No tieing will be needed, as the growth of the roses will support the young growth of the clematis.

Care should be taken in selecting the variety to be planted or else there will be a clash of colouring, but there is one variety, Montana Alba (small flowering), white, which seems never out of place. This lovely clematis, with its long panicles of small starlike, flowers, which last in flower over a long period is a beautiful sight, and will improve the appearance of other creepers which are supporting it. Another ideal companion for it is Montana Rubra (pink). It is of the same habit, and very quick growing. The large flowering are hybrids and are very suitable for the same work. Their growth is not so vigorous as the smaller flowering varieties, blit when once they become established there is no trouble whatever. For pergola work these are unsurpassed, and may be had in several colours. !

The following are strong and of good colours:—Jackmanii (purple), Sensation (lavender), Madame Villard (cerise), Nellie Moser (lavender and cerise bar), Madame Andre (crimson), and Duchesse of Edinburgh (double white). •

The passion flowers also make excellent climbers, especially where one requires rustic work or arches to be covered quickly. i'assiflora Bdulis and Passitiora Quietensis are very hardy, but must iiave good drainage, 'i'ne Solanum Jasmineodedis and Solanum Windlenii (lavender blue) are also good climbers. Tacsonia Milissima (jnnk) and Tacsonia van Velxemii (scarlet) I must have warm situations. . The wisterias are very beautiful, but slow in growth. Wisteria Multiguga (lilac and purple), Wisteria Sinensis (lavender double flowering), and Wisteria Brachybotyrs (white) are good. For small fences or low arches the Trotpseolum Stpeciosum is excellent. The Scotch flame flower makes a lovely show, but must be planted in a shady position. As it is a complete failure if planted in a supny situation. Another beautiful climber and sweet scented is Lonicera Confusa (the large French honeysuckle). This variety is very quick in growth, and very hardy, and when in flower will; scent the whole garden, As a cut flower; is very useful for the’roihrflecdratidfl. ] The begonias are beautiful climbers, but must havo warm and sunny positions, and every protection from winds. Good varieties are Begonia Australis 1 (cream), Begonia Carpensis (scarlet), and Begonia Hosea (pale rose). Those who need a good foliage climber should plant Ampelopsis Veitchii. This delightful creeper clings to bricks, concrete, or even wooden walls. It needs no support. in the autumn the colourings arc beautiful. Their is another ampelopsis named Hederaca, but this plant needs support, and the foliage although it colours in the autumn is not so beautiful as Veitchii. The foliage of this variety is very large. F.S.P. BUTCHER’S BROOM A branch of this curious and uncommon piaut was brought to the ‘ Star 1 Oflice this week. It bears bright scarlet berries as large as a cncrry. They grow in a very uncommon way, protruding from the centre of _ the leaf, which is hard in texture with short,sharp spikes. The plant was formerly used for cleaning butchers’ blocks, and is still employed by cigar makers as the most effective water sprinkler for moistening tobacco leaves. It is a very attractive shrub. Its botanical name is ruscus aculeatus, and it is of the order Liliaceae. * THE GOLDEN BELL TREE (FORSYTHIA) Forsythias are quite hardy, and are at present making a welcome splash of golden yellow to the garden. They are well worth growing on account of their early flowering, dwarf habit, for the lovely dark foliage ' throughout the autumn. It is a shrub that responds very readily to generous treatment. The variety Forsythia suspensa is a favourite. as the branches are long, slender, and whip-like in character, imparting a graceful appearance to the plant. THE MUCH MALIGNED MARIGOLD When considering bedding displays, marigolds, calendu.as should not be forgotten. Though to many they may appear coarse, common, or overvigorous, the following notes, which appeared in a repent, issue of 'Good Gardening,’ may serve to add fresh : interest to a good, reliable garden plant:— “ In olden times the marigold was the emblem of constancy in affection and sympathy, in joy or sorrow. The name was given to it because the (lower blooms at the time of all the festivals of the Virgin Mary. The word ‘ gold ’ is a reference to the arrangement of the petals, which were thought to ho like the rays of light round tlm head of the Virgin. Chaucer spoke of these gay flowers as ‘ yellow goldieS.’ “ The Latin name, calendula, indicates that the flower will bloom on the ‘ calends,’ which means the first day of the month, of nearly every month of the year. “ In Shakespeare’s time the marigold, isith its bright flowers and delicate green loaves, was a great favourite among garden flowers. The petals were often dried and stored away for use in making soup. They wore supposed to ‘ strengthen and comfort the heart,’ J

“ SUBEKYL ” WEEDKILLER To Destroy. Roots of Weeds on Drive*, Footpaths, Tennis Courts, etc., apply “ SUBEKYL ” WEEDKILLER, mixed with four parts water. “ SUREKYL ” is not intended for use on eultirated ground, but a spot to tfas centre of dandelions on lawns is effective* , RESTAR (SOUTH ISLAND) LTD., Manufacturers, 259 Cumberland street, -Dunedin,

THE LIFE OF A TOMATO SEED Before the Scientific Committee of the Itoyal Horticultural Society, Hng-. land, at its meeting on May 5, Mr \V. Hales, curator of the Chelsea I’hysia Harden, showed a pot of tomato seedlings. all of winch, apparently, had germinated, though they were reputed to be 16 years of age.