THE GARDEN

Manawatu Standard, Volume LX, Issue 135, 8 May 1940, Page 12

THE GARDEN

Notes are published under this heading, and readers interested in gardening are invited to send in questions relating to matters upon which they wish expert advice; answers will be published with the weekly notes.

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

The weather has been very kind to those who are preparing for planting. Rose plants that were ordered 'some time during the spring and summer will soon be arriving, and if the bed is not ready heel them into the ground in some spare corner and get on with the work of preparing the bed. The best kind is not too large, so that it can be worked from either side. About Jft. wide will take three rows of plants and these can be worked nicely. Tf the plants have to be put in freshlyworked soil they can be planted in a little 1 deeper than when they are in soil that has been allowed to settle for two or three weeks. Whatever is done, they must he planted firmly, and their roots must not be allowed to come in contact with any, fresh manure. Some sifted loam is splendid to work in amongst the roots and this can he trodden down and some loose soil placed on the surface. The plant should be set deeply enough to cover the union of stock and bud. Do not prune the plants. August is soon enough for this. Where shrubs have to he planted in lawns or grass it is a good plan to prepare the situations they are to grow in by digging them deeply and putting plenty of good, turfy loam below for the roots to rest on. Firm planting is essential for all trees and shrubs, but do not plant them any deeper than they have been growing before. If the holes tiiat have been prepared arc likely to bold water some method must be found to get this away as cjuickly as possible. Nothing destroys . the vitality of a plant quicker than stagnant water in the ground

Trees and shrubs that have been marked for removal should be prepared some time in advance by having the roots carefully cut. This often makes all the difference between success and failure. A place should he found in all gardens for some of the beautiful autumn shades that are to ho seen round the countryside at the present time. The way in which the leaves are hanging on the trees is probably due to the absence of heavy winds during the last month. Berrying plants will also find a very welcome place in the garden and some of the newer Cotomasters are very bright objects. Birds are not fond of these berries and so they hang on the trees a long time. The crab apples are also good, particularly the variety Gorgeous, which is not a favourite with birds. Sflme of the larger varieties arc showy, but, unfortunately, birds are so fond of them that few are left now. There are some new varieties of Cydonias that arc well worth a place in any garden, and the fruit will remain on these plants long after the leaves have fallen. They do not require pruning, but should be allowed to grow as they wish. -L SWEET PEAS. Those sweet peas that were sown in boxes and pots at the end of .last month should be putted up singly m 4 or 5 in pots for planting out wnon the soil is ready. Jn many cases there lias been such a lot of weeding in the garden that it has been almost impossible to get the ground ready -for them, hut if the plants are potted up in lairly good soli and are burdened off as soon as they begin to move the work of preparing the ground can he started at once. It is useless to think that you can grow good flowers without proper attention to the soil—not so much to make the plants grow, hut to increase the length of stem and the size of the flowers. The main thing when preparing a trench is to see that the water does not stand in the bottom of the bed. A trench would bo a better name for it, perhaps, because for a single row of peas the bed need not he more than two feet wide and should have plenty of moisture-holding manure mixed up with the clay. If the clay below is of a heavy, soapy nature some of it can he taken away and its place taken with a good, grassy loam. Wellrotted manure can he mixed with the surface soil and then the surface can be given a good dressing of lime, which can be worked in before planting is done. Allow plenty of room from plant to plant. One foot apart is the closest they can lie planted, hut the best flowers will he grown when they arc eighteen inches apart. QUESTION.

“J.C.” says: “I would like to make ia success of chrysanthemum growing. I went to the recent show and have made out a list of those I liked but 1 have about a dozen varieties which I know are good and which I think are good enough to begin on. I want to know -when to begin the good work. The plants are. still flowering and I shall be pleased to know when I should be* taking cuttings iand what to do after that.” From time to time we have notes dealing with chrysanthemum growing which you will find helpful. There is no need to take cuttings yet. Alter the shortest day is generally considered the proper time except very late flowering varieties, which can be taken as soon ns the cuttings are about three or four inches long. These are stripped of their lower leaves and are inserted round the edge/ of a pot filled with sand. If these pots are put in a close frame and watered as required they will soon begin to root, and then they can be potted up singly into 3in pots. As soon' as they begin to grow' again they can be hardened off and put outside. The plants must not be coddled at any time, ana when the pots become full of roots it is a good plan to

move them into a size larger pot. A good compost of fibrous loam and bone dust dusted over it makes a good potting mixture. NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY. A friend writing from England says that he lias been busy lately and has not had time to send some notes about the newer roses he has seen at the National Rose Society’s shows. He says: “I 6aw the new roses on several occasions. The first Gold Medal qne was Dr. F. G. Chandler, and I think it is a rose that will prove its worth as time goes on. It is my idea of a really good gold medal rose and thorouglily deserved its award. The blooms are large, fully double, perfectly formed bright crimson,- overlaid with a bright crimson sheen. The scent is outstanding. I think this rose is going to rival Crimson Glory in popular favour. Watch out for it, I am sure you will not be disappointed. There were three new Poulsens which I consider there is plenty of room for. Boulsen’s Pink is fairly double and the flowers are borne in large dusters. The clusters are large and the colour is subdued with yellow. Poulsen’s Copper is of free blooming habit; the flowers are a glowing copper and rather flatfish in shape. It is evidently a strong grower. Scarlet Queen is a very good bedding flower of free habit and a rich glowing scarlet colour. 1 saw tills rose in one of the nurseries I visited and I like it very much. Princess Ingrid is a rather attractive bloom with several rows of deep pink petals which are deeply scalloped. I think this rose will prove to be a good one for decorative effect. It seems to me that the hybrid polyanthus are being rather overdone, because every grower had some varieties of his own raising. Freudc and Langley Gem were two others I made a note of, but am sorry to say that I forgot to put down the colours. Home large flowered roses 1 have notes of will interest j'ou: Rose du Barri, the flowers are a rich glowing salmon pink, but I object to these roses that open flat and seem to be dead. Ladv Trent is a deep coppery orange and the flowers are on long stems which make it invaluable lor decorative purposes. I heard one lady pass the remark that she would get a dozen of this for decorations. Mrs M. Sprott is a new yellow, and the petals roll in a peculiar manner. I do not know of any other rose like it. A friend of mine pointed out a rose which has taken his fancy ; it was called Senateur Potie. The colour is a rich yellow, with some other colour over the top of it. and I think there is some pink i.n it. Mrs Geo. B. Easlea will bo a show rose. It is of splendid form and a rich pink in colour. The growth is strong. Christopher Stone is a great favourite with everybody and is to be seen everywhere. Ophelia and her sports, such as Mine. Butterfly. Ladylove, and so on arc great favourites and their popularity .never seems to wane. They arc used on every occasion and in great quantities.” RENOVATIONS AND REPAIRS. These two things arc very important in nearly all gardens, and they are ■generally neglected when the other work has to be done. These can be undertaken when ordinary garden work is impossible. Lawns and edges usually need some repairing, particularly in light and sandy soils. The past season has not been a very trying one for lawns. The heavy rain during the past month has kept the grass fresh and green. Tennis courts that have been heavily used will be showing some signs of wear, and this can be remedied by top-dressing now. Drains arc another important part of a well-kept garden and the outlets should be inspected and cleaned out so that the surplus water can get away as quickly as possible. Pergolas, rustic arches, and fences can be attended to at once. In many gardens there are plenty of name pegs that are losing their names, and these can be replaced by new ones, and the old ones replaned and painted for future use. Stakes that have been used for dahlias and other plants can be pulled up and cleaned, and put away in a dry place for future use. It is very annoying to have to make a fresh lot when one is busv planting. New pea sticks can be collected and tied in bundles and put in some dry place for the winter. Such work will help with the new season’s work. POTATOES. “A Reader” says: “I have read your articles and notes on potatoes, and I heartily agree with all you sayThere are one or two things I would like particular emphasis on—the choice of the right variety for your particular soil. It may seem a strange thing to an amateur gardener, but it is not every variety of potato that will grow in every garden. When you fine a variety that does well in your soil keep it and raise your own seed. Now, I have found that Sutton’s Supreme is a genera] favourite here, and 1 quite, agree with those votes. I think that it is one of the best, but it is not a variety that does well everywhere. When” starting , out, get good, certified seed to begin with, and get it now and start it sprouting in shallow boxes, i Good gardeners are well aware of the advantages of sprouting potatoes, and ; planting them with the eyes already j sprouting, but we are giving hints for beginners, and work to put them on the right track. Any shallow boxes will do for this work, but they should be clean and dry. Put the potatoes in one layer only and put the boxes in the light, but where the frosts cannot get at them. One of the main advantages ■

is that any diseased tubers show themselves and can be removed before they spread contagion. The novice will find that sprouted potatoes will give better results with the crop and, what is more, the sets can bo cut much smaller. One eye to each is enough and the crop given by these will be equal to full-sized sets which are sometimes planted.” THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Those who have not yet sown their onion seed for transplanting in the spring should lose no time in doing so. If the soil is old garden soil it is a good.pian to take out a trench and put some old well-rotted manure along it and fill in the soil again and sow the seed on top of this. Onion seed takes about three weeks to germinate and weeds are liable to appear and should he carefully hand-picked. Use clean soil well away from where onions have been grown in the past. It is olten said that onions can be grown in the same soil year after year, but that has not been our experience. We have found that it pays better to use a fresh piece of ground for every crop, because one never knows when mildew will appear. Asparagus beds should have the old tops cut away and burnt. If these are allowed to lie about oil the ground it means a crop of young seedling plants which are a nuisance. Clean the surface of the bed thoroughly and then give it a good dressing of' manure and cover this over with soil from the side of the bed. In some cases it may be' necessary to put board edges alongside the bed to keep the soil in place. Salt can be sown over the surface. All spent crops should be cut away and the soil prepared for a cover crop of oats or something that will grow through the winter. Whether it is better to grow a cover crop on sod that has been dug out of grass land or to leave it in the rough for the weather to break up and rot the grass is a question that we must leave to the owner of the garden. If the ton of new land 1 could -be cut up small to a depth of two or three inches then perhaps a covering crop would help the good work. Lime put on such soils is a good thing to assist grass to rot down. Everything that can be done to improve the soil for next season’s vegetable crops should be done. Save all hedge trimmings to burn them and scatter the ashes about the garden. Those ashes' are good for almost any kind of vegetable and should never he wasted. Onions will benefit from the use of ashe«. but potatoes do not like too much, although it. improves a crop very much to work some potash in with the crop. If there are any drains to he dug there is no hotter time than the present. Oocn up the drains now and then the tiles can he put in at any time or left until later. The main thing with drains is to put them down below the deepest point it is intended to work. Then the ou+lets have to lie considered, and if there is an open drain all is well, hut if the re is not it may l>e necessary to dig a deep hole where the water can find its way into -the gravel seams below.