Gardening Notes

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 23, 31 October 1929, Page 9

Gardening Notes

THE ASTER ANI> ITS CULTIVA-

TION. *

Few of our ahntals are more deservedly popular witk those who have both laxge and- small gardens than, the Aster. This is no doubt due to.the many purposes to which it may be employed, to the diversity of its blooms, and to the lengthy period over which the plants remain a mass of showy blossom.

With the many phases which the Arfter has ' passed through before it has been raised to its present high, state of perfection, we ate not particularly interested. It belongs to the order known as eoinpositae, and certainly Is in many ways one of the most creditable of the plants, belonging to this

group

For many years nurserymen have obtained large quantities if their 'Aster seed. ; frpnivFrance and; Germany, and while'some .of the very_ iinest strains aro obtained from these sources, it is interesting to learn that Tasmanian growers have of recent yeui'S *levote;l attention to the raising of plants for seed,-with the result that strains equal to the imported-article ire now availably from that source, The Tasmanian Giants have already »constituted themsclces one of the most vree blooming strains which, are grown. Any nurseryman's catalogue -will Indicate the large number Of different types of Asters available, and if you have not already grown these plants, don't forget that, when getting out yeur bed that some of the china and quilled varieties must be found room for, as - well as for. a

shpwy little bed of the Chrysanthemum flowered strains.

A few lines of the- general treatment, which, if followed,: usually means satisfactory results, may he.re be mentioned. The first point to settle is which i,s to be the ..Aster bed. In seeking' for this, pick out one whicii is in a fairly -open position,-^while at the same time being fairly well shaded from north winds. It should also be a bod which stands out- prominently, for if Teasonable care is taken La sowing the seeds or plants, the ultimate result will be a showy display of bloom, which for a. monti or two will be mequallefl in any part of the gardeq.

If permitted to do so, :he red Spicier will show quite, as much afEeqiion•. ,foi* thij Aster plants as it does fb.1.1 French, beans or violets, and you have, therefore, to guard against this double by keeping the bed xwel3r' aWay ,from. your vegetable patch or by watcxiing ths plants, examining them .vt regular intervals,, and. at the first feigns of this tiny pest, to spray the plants-well and often wit-H GrishuTst Compound obtainable from all seedsmen and full direetious Will be fouiul on tlic packet. .

The next thing", ftp engage attention is the preparation of the bed. This is pno of those" matters about 'wEicti:we all have our little differences of ppinionf-. For instance, oiie vvritei- will ;sa^ that a deeply worked.soil is necessary. That the xjlants are gross feeders, arid that they must be 'furnished with an abundance of fopd and xnoistXvre. TMs certainly is excellent-advicej but to niy mind it is. desirable that we should get away from theslj hard and fast rules; -,rtgarden well dug and liberally manured, that is to say, dug to a depth of eightor ten inches, "with-the manure evenly wor^ed in throughout'the entii-e depth/ will give, every- opportunity to the plants'-to make a .good -how. Late^ liouid nianure- "will Keep the plants, •giowiirg freely right up to the flowering time. Having |he ground in good condition is of more, importances-, than thequantity of manure used, in most gar-

<l(hiing' operations,

To 'no small exffeift- Asters- re .= ent any. check being given, them. Both water .anl manure must be available, •■ arid, 'when once a bed is well grown, it .'&. ipreferable^to 'give tiic a heavy watering, then several light; sprayiiigjS, using a hand scarifier to.-/.'bTejct the surface of the soil, when- ail.rhe water-has been absorbed; An implement which is •of great value foi-vthis purpose in gar; dens svvhere annuals are set out', is a miniature model Of; the cultiH vatbu,)- which can.v be obtained 'from seedsmen,:^ This little implement can me worked almost anywhere.

Wheri it is desired to obtain a massec! effect either in selected or mixed colours, the mid-season and. )ate ilowexing varieties are the most suitable. The seed can be mixed in a smaU proportion of line sand and broadeas'iiJ, whilfr^ her 3 and there if a touch of outside cpl-

ouv such as that provided by Salvia, Zinnias or some other annual, a small gj.lva.nised band may be Jet out in the garden to, indicate patches reserved for sowing or planting. One of the best displays of Asters treated in this way that I have seen was raise I in the following manner^ The land, a small garden plot, was given ;ts ordinary dressing with stable manure during June, and this was thoroaghly mixed with the soil by being frequently dug of stirred with a prong hoe. In this coi-dition it was just ordinary good garden soil, and about the ir.rddle of September it was again spaded over and thoroughly watered. The following, day bonedust at the rate of a singlo handful

to the square yard was Nspreaa, and was worked in with a prong joe. The seed was then scattered, and tho siuiace soil

smoothed over -with the 'ioe. Afterwards the bed was lightly watered to settle the seed and soil. When well forward, the plants received a drink, of weak liquid manure'at intervals of about, ten uays for a month prior to

flowering

I When broadcasting any of tie light /seeds, of which the Aster is- one, the hoiu." should bo kept close down to the

ground to prevent the soejl bt.ng car-

ri-id away by the"'wind; the soil should ibo worked up'1 to a", fine tilth, and the I sowing needs to be a trifle on the liberal side. Subsequently,'if the seed shows lup too thickly, the ,young plants may j'bc thinned out to abojlt six or nine < inches apart, aecorcling as to whether

dv/arf or larger growing varieties are

favoured. This will leave "room for the "ground to .be lightly stirred at frequent intervals to keep the plants g/owing steadily and to cheek weed: growth. ; In a bedding effect..a mixture o£ white and -heliotrope coloured varieties make an exceedingly attractive show^ whereas when a, few-- plants-are just dotted about in clumps* about the borders mixed packets of some tall-growing .type give variety and enable a bettex

rar.ge of cut flowets- to be obtained,

Asi;c7's are plants which 1.0,vp -fc'o have moderately cool eonditiois, .and when •grown in the south reach.c gr<«ter ds-o-ree: of perfection : than in! less ~con'geniai' latitiixles. This.does r lO t rrnean tiiat they- will: not. g%e result?!.: fully

commensurate with any ' trouble goiio

to invtheir cultivation m, warmer districts, for it is. always'possible to pro-- • vide these artificial eo'ndnions. A weU stirred surface soil will largely contri)>nfce to this conditions. ■■' But if., affsr the plants, arc well iipV a top dressing of mulch of; short, well-dicaved, stable manure is spread over the bed and around 'the plants, the moistuio will' toe

better conserved ami the-foil o bout the

roots of the plants kept -ice and coo). ' At t-liis period, it is rather late to set "out seed hi boxes/, nut. grown plants may be obtained,which will compensate for the failure to put c^. early .sowings.'•'./ These may be fut out at any time du-rnig the next two .'or three.

months

. To ensure.a .succession of bloom ri^htthrough the summer months, a pinch _Q.f seed scattered here and t-liere 'about, tho gariion. cornmoiieing now and c-pntinu-i'ug' at' inter-yalß of about thre'i. weok:^ onwards fo the ctirsy part of .3anuai;.v.. ••should!"be set;out. In' the sarae way a small grass lied .sef~ out- at intervals will pxovifle am pie for-, trequeut' cutting. .^ ..■'.-.■ .; •■. ;'.:--./• A. fine or!ging effect. niay be. plytaiii(;-l_ b ■ the ase of some one or ot.Vr of thtf 'dwarf .strains,^.ueji'-.as the Ta;a Thin nb find China--kinds. Those.".cast-. bo obtained in-mixed colours,'nud bf'ips >;horl in -growth;; are particularly wpjl suited ior' the purpose.. :AmoT.'g""those..j ir.ore favotired for supplying- interi-j" ! Hoe'oratioji^'-the'Giaitt Comb't, aii^AsteT j of the chrysanthemum =■ •*•;, pe. or sonio, of the late branching varieties, to h%obtained in; white and'shades of puTpli?.,.; heliotrope,, pink'and blue. For j lantir.g. in clumps '.abcrut .the bods, ,'t-lie qnillol ' anl plumed Tarictios mako i volcrnno: ciiPTigc, and acid ..groat!v'.to -thij' gejvJffvV" effect pT.qduc.ed. t . . -'