IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIII, 2 August 1929, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

PROGRESS STILL SLOW THE KITCHEN CROPS Amateurs whose so.I is /n a condition to enable them to devote portion of Spud Monday—the first Monday in August—to tiie traditional planting of potatoes on that day may count themselves fortunate, for in most gardens in Hie city and district conditions have been too wet even for preparation. Where the ground is wet and heavy it is only risking the loss of (he sels if planting is attempted. However, a change in the weather should not be long in coining and with more warmth in the air and the soil spring operations should soon be in full swiiig. 1; has been impossible in many cases to dig in green crops-sown, for inuniirial purposes and plants like blue lupins are growing so tall that very thorough trenching has been rendered imperative. As soon as it is possible to resume digging, no time should be lost. On light soil that, is warm the main crop of onions may be sown. On heavy land, however, it would be wise to leave it until later. The same advice applies to the sowing of carrots (and most other seeds!, which should only be sown where tho.plot is sheltered and well-drained. Broad beans are very hardy and can fairly safely be sown for a succession crop if the ground is not required for other purposes. If early peas are just showing they should be earthed up for protection purposes. Shallots are very useful in the kitchen but it. is a mistake to plant them in wet soil. So, too, are potato onions; which are not so strong for edible purposes, uncooked, as the ordinary onion. Unfortunately potato onions are not easily obtainable in. Nelson—ceitainly not in any quantity. Now is' a. good time to lift and replant Hie herb bed. If lifted every two years or so the herb bed can be kept tidy, but when neglected it soon becomes weedy. Seed sowing in the open ground has been a failure lately, and in such cases it is a good plan to sow a pinch of lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., in boxes, so as to have plants ready when the ground improves. Digging and trenching, cleaning up of untidy corners, burying of rubbish, are odd jobs that can be done whilst tho ground is too wet for other operations. It is a good time to plant new rhubarb beds. Rhubarb is a very deep rooting plant, and deeply trenched soil is essential.

It may snem quite unnecessary to give advice about keeping tools in proper order to anyone who has a garden, and who is continually using a spade, fork or rake, yet, how often do we see the last tool used left where the owner finished with it? This is bad for the tool, but it is far worse for the owner the next time he comes to use the neglected implement; because it makes work doubly hard. There is no need for this state of tilings if we make it a rule to clean every tool we use before we consider our'job finished. Always keep some old sacking at hand, and clean off all the soil adhering to the tools, give them a rub with an oil rag, and hang them up in a dry place. The mowing machine, too, wants a reasonable amount of care if it is to do its work well. After using, thoroughly dry, and give the knives a rub with the oily rag, and if the shed floor is damp stand the machine on a board. Although, as already said, potatoplanting is being delayed, it is well to bear in mind at this season that in planting potatoes a very warm situation should be selected. The ultimate success of this crop depends largely upon how the ground has been treated, the state it may be in at the time of planting, as well as the selection of the'most suitable seed. The quality of the product depends greatly upon the character of the soil. When grown in comparatively light, dry soil, especially the early crops,' the tubers are generally liner aiid better flavoured than those grown on stiffer land. New ground when properly broken up and prepared, invariably grows better potatoes than ground that lias been cropped for several seasons. SOWING SEEDS As at. this time of the year the amateur thinks, of getting many seeds sown in the greenhouse, both flowers and vegetable's, a few general hints may prove timely and helpful. The compost is of first, importance. It must be pori,iis iight mill no: pressed into too linn a mass. Make it up of old turf thai has been maturing in a heap for some months, or. failing that, good fibrous loam. Leaf mould is also necessary, and, ci course, good, clean sand. Place drainage in. the seed pan, then a little moss, fibre, or partially rotted leaves. Now place the compost on a riddle or sieve, rub much of it through, but place the fibrous, Jumpy stuff first in the seedpans; finish up with the fine soil, press fairly firm with a piece of board, and it is ready. Seedlings always need a greater proportion of loam than the seed, and the older they are the rougher jt should be. Sow thinly. Beginners are particularly careless in this matter, and it is only' experience which will teach some people what an important thing it is to sow thinly. Thick sowings produce a tangled mass of seedlings difficult to separate, and they get drawn and weakly. Do not sow deeply; seeds should only be covered to twice or three times their diameter. For small seeds this means the thinnest film of soil we can get on. top is sufficient. Tiny seeds, like those oi begonias, should not lie buried at all. Water the soil in the seed pan, then let it drain, and when the surface is still damp scatter the seeds on top. The compost should be just below (lie rim, so that a sheet of glass can be placed over the seed pan. Keep the whole close until the seedlings can just be seen, tilt the glass half-an-inch to one side, and gradually give more and move air till the glass'is entirely removed. Shade is essential also, both for seeds and seedlings. A sheet of paper over the glass is often useful. The soil should be kept moist : the very finest spray is useful for watering the plants. or ll'ie pan can be stood in water up to its rim. Never neglect to water the soil before the seeds are sown. MIDST THE FLOWERS There is little to add to the advice given in these notes dining the past few weeks. Weather conditions have not been conducive to much progress. P should not be forgotten that roses

must, be pruned now. Prune with the aim in view of keeping your plants as flill ul young wood as possible. Willi climbers and very old plants some old wood must be retained, but with the ordinary bush rose keep to last season's wood. Old, apparently worn out rose bushes, can be given a new lease of lite by luting them, cutting back any thick,. fibrcless roots, replanting in. good so:l, arid hard pruning- (lie tops. No pruning or planting will make a bait variety a good one. .If the variety mildews badly, suffers from dieback, is a weak or bad doer, replace it with a new variety. Evergreen shrubs should be pruned sufficiently to keep their shape and prevent encroaching on others. Secateurs are. the best tool to use, even when (lea I-J ing with large leaved hedge plants, such' as laurel. The secateurs make the best job even if it is slower than the shears. Kui'lv (lowering shrubs that bloom on the wood produced lnsi season should not. be pruned until after flowering. Shrubs that flower on the current, season's wood, such as hydrangeas should be pruned now. keep anemones, ranunculus and all bulbs Well weeded. Although there .seems to be a possibility of a late spring the bulbs give evory promise of making a good display, judging from the blooms already showing and the buds in sight. Even if planting or sowing is out of the question, weeding can be carried out, but if tho soil is heavy, don't tread on it. As a rule, however, there is plenty to do in tho borders which can be reached from the paths. "DON'T-S" FOR PLANTERS Don't leave the staking of trees that need it until planting is completed. Drive the stakes before the roots are covered with soil, and so avoid damaging them. Don't, plant too deeply. As a rule .the soihmarks on the stems indicate the previous depth, and this is a safe guide. Don't fail to plant firmly. Roots cannot make headway in loose soil. Don't overlook the importance of hav- ' ing some fine soil handy to shake down among the small roots. If the soil is wet have this fine soil as dry as possible. Don't plant during hard frosts or very wet weather. Plants which arrived at such times can. be laid in soil without harm. Don't fail to trim, with a sharp knife, all damaged and broken roots previous to planting. Don't cramp the roots; make the. hole too large rather than too small. Don't leave a plant lying about with the roots exposed to the air._ Don't allow stable manure to come in direct contact with the roots.