Gardening Notes

Hutt News, Volume 3, Issue 15, 4 September 1930, Page 9

Gardening Notes

CARNATIONS.

Now is the time to plant out Carnations. They will just above have time to make good growth during the re: mai-iider of the winter. Good, strongrooted plants are on sale at the. leading stores. Many shapely blooms are on shew in the windows round town, and from the later a good choice can be

Any carnation, in a bed that is not well drained, Avill be. showing signs of distress after the recent'heavy rains. Tie beds should be well dug over to let the air in and-a liberal dusting of lime -oror the plants and "'around them will aid, considerably to sweeten the soil. A hessian >jag about" six inches by nine, inches will be found most useful for this jab. Either hydrated or aii'-slaek-«d lime is suitable. Do. the dusting ab«ut once a fortnight, and it will help t» keep down rust.' Carnations are great lovers of lime. After leaving the lime .on the surface for a day or two lightly fork it in. This prevents crusting the surface and consequent sowmess. .•■".' ■. ' ■ ■'.' .. ' ■.''... Whiter flowering carnations ■■could do ■with a little feeding now after _'their' fiust of blooming.- ' Liquid manure made from cow manure and soot steeped in w,ater .for a few days,: -is ja»st suitable and should be given weak. Tl« feeding can easily be overdone, and if it is the plants will grow too sappy and refuse to' flower at all. This habit takes a long time to overcome. A little superphosphate and sulphate of potash given just occasionally will aid -coasideraJbly in producing good quality blooms. In heavy soils the plants require less 'feeding than in sandy soils, and anytking given should be inthe form of a stimulant only. The writer grows his plants in good-heavy, loam, and practically the only feed given is a good dressing of bone meal with the lime when planting. This is replenished after «ach season with a light dressing of a good general fertiliser. In lighter soils soßie very old cow manure will be found beneficial, incorporated with the aoil, but don't .use tiis ,ag a mufefe a|:. a»y time. It is too potent. . Keep the soil wellstii-xed around the plants, especially after heavy rain. TMs is a most important factor, and helps to keep the soil airy arid sweet. Keep the plants well tied up to prevent them trailing around the ground and hanbouring wood lice, etc. If all side, buds on 'each flowering shoot are palled off, all the sap goesfto the strong new shoots coming from the bottom of/ tke plant. By this method, strong, ■bmsJby and healthy plants axe ensured f»rspring flowering.