GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 26 September 1924, Page 6

GARDENING NOTES.

(By Waratah.) FLOWER. CAREEN. Beds and borders that were dug over during the winter should now he raked et over when the soil is in a moderately w< dry condition to provide a suitable sur- B; face to sow seeds of annual plants, and J. to plant out seedlings that have been R raised in boxes and hardened elf. An- (e nuals sown no.w in the open ground should be of the hardy kinds, such as Alonsoa, Candytuft, Cornflowers, Cla-rkia, Dimorphoteca, Esclisclilotzia, Gj’psophila,. Linaria, Night-scented r ( Stock, Nigella, Portulaca, .Shirley Pop- hi pies, Larkspur. nc When sowing seeds in beds or borders se do not sow in hard or dry soil, or 1° when it is wet and sticky. Choose a ui time when the soil is moderately moist. Level the surface with, a rake, sow the ol seeds thinly and evenly on the surface, ti and cover with fine soil. The depth of ai the covering soil should depend upon b< the size of the seed sown : the smaller C( the seeds the less covering they need, m Very fine seeds, such as Portulaca, are h< better pressed into the surface soil cc with the hand or a piece of board. The p; surface soil should be made firm pvhat- m ever kind of seed is sown, and’must re be kept moist if there is no rainfall. When the seedlings appear and are cl large enough to handle, they should be thinned out to such a distance apart ai as will enable each plant to develop cc into a sturdy healthy plant. Slugs are B usually very troublesome at this sea- pi son, and lime or tobacco dust should si he sprinkled about among plants they K are likely to. damage. Herbaceous perennials that have tc been three or more years in one posi- cl tion should be divided and re-planted b; in good soil in a fresh position. • Gladioli may now he planted six ti inches deep in good soil and a sunny e i position. P< Any pot plants, such as ferns, palms, a < aspidistras, etc., that (require re-pot- m ting may now receive that attention, d. Cuttings of chrysanthemums may now ft be taken. ft VEGETABLE GARDEN. ai Plant potatoes for main crop in rows 2ft 6in apart, and 15 inches between the tubers, placing the sets 6 inches a. deep. ti Plant Jerusalem artichokes in rows £ 3ft. apart, 18in. apart in the rows, t< and 6in. deep. c ] Give established beds of asparagus a light dressing of salt; this will improve u the flavour, act as a fertiliser, and also „ assist in keeping down weeds. Broad Beans.—Sow in drills 3in. deep ‘ and 2ft. 6in. apart ; drop the seeds in 4in. apart, or grow in double row T s Bin. a between the seeds, 9in. between the a rows, double rows to be 3ft. apart. r French beans may he sown now in S 1 sheltered situations, and by the time w the plants are through the ground B there should be no dangeir of frost, ii sowings should he made a every three weeks until early in Jan- v u'ary, so as to have the beans young g and tender. Canadian Wonder or Bur- ti pee’s Stringless are the best kinds to b grow. e Sow runner beans 4in. apart and 3in. deep. The rows should run north and south if possible, and if more than n one row is grown allow 6ft. between j ( the rows. Strong supports 6ft high should *be provided for the plants to Js cling to, or by pinching the tops out when about 2ft. high and stopping long P shoots as they appear they can be a grown into sturdy bushes which will 0 not require stakes. J' Sow carrots in ground that lias not h recently been- manured in rows Ift. f apart. Parsnips should now be sown in b rows‘ls to 18in. apart in ground free from fresh animal manure; anything ol\ q this nature will cause the roots to be t forked or badly shaped. t i Leeks may be sown now in seed- t beds four transplanting in December dr 1 January. r Lettuce should be sown thinly in shallow drills 15in. apart, as soon as seedlings are large enough to handle thin to Sin apart. j Mustard and cress for salads should ‘ he sown in shallow boxes filled with" 1 fine soil. Make the soil quite level and I sow seeds thickly on the surface. Press the seeds lightly into the soil with a 1 piece of board, water with a line rase < can and shade until seeds have germinated. Cress germinates moire slowly than mustard, and if both are wanted i together sow the cress five or six days in advance of the mustard. Onions may still be sown in shallow drills 15 to 18in apart. The bed must be made firm by treading or with a light roller. Sow the seSds thinly, and when the seedlings are large enough thin them to 3 to flw. apart, according to the size of butb required. PickIling onions should be sown in wide drills, or in small beds. Scatter the seeds thickly and evenly so as to gei small onious of the kind suitable for nekling. The soil should not he rich for tins class of onion. Peas should be sown at intervals of two or three weeks in drills 3in. deep and 2ft. apart, if of a dwarf variety. STall kinds should be allowed 5 to 6ft. between the rows. The soil should he good; On light land superphosphate is a good dressing. Peas need plenty of potash. Radishes should be sown at intervals of a fortnight in rich moderately firm soil. Sow the seeds broadcast i and rake in. Turnips should be sown in small quantities at fortnightly intervals. The soil should not he very rich, or strong foliager will develop at the expense of the roots. Cabbage and cauliflower should he (sown for succession. Those who have plants ready should plant small early kinds of cabbage 18in. apart, larger kinds 2ft; early cauliflower the same 1 distance. Saw celery in a well-drained shallow box filled with fine soil pressed moderately firm. Saw thinly and just press the seed into the soil, as the seeds are small, and should not he covered deep. Shade until seedlings appear. The seeds are slow to germinate and the seedlings rather delicate. As soon as the young plants can be handled prick them out into boxes and keep well watered until they are large enough to be transplanted into

trenches. Parsley may he sown now. Sow ! half an inch deep and thin out to six inches. It should be sown somewhere near the house so as to be easy of access in bad weather, as it is so often

needed. At this time of the year small birds are troublesome in pulling up young seedlings and eating small seed® sown near the surface. The best prevention is to stretch a double row of black cotton along each row 2in. from the surface. Slugs and snails are also very destructive, and lime must he freely dusted about on the surface soil at frequent intervals.