IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 2 January 1931, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN

A DRY SPELL THE VEGETABLE PLOT The dry spell is having an adverse effect on gardens and lawns. Water restrictions are now in force, and it will be a hard matter to keep growth moving unless rain falls soon.

Peas should be sown at regular interval?'. If space is limited they should be staked, but if there is plenty of spa'.e it- is not necessary. Any that are stwn now must have the soil very well prepared for them to help them over pcs sible dry spells. Liquid manure can be used with advantage with most leaf crops. In every case, however, frequent cultivation is necessary to stimulate root action, otherwise this form of manuring may be more injurious than helpful. At this time deep hoeing or light forcing is an important factor in maintaintain healthy growing, keeping the ground well stirred to an adequate depth so that no hard crust can form.

The planting of winter greens, drumhead cabbage, savoy and broccoli, should not now be delayed any longer. Green kale and silver beet should also be planted, as thev are used almost as extensively as cabbage and broccoli. They may be planted later with fairly good results, but the sooner tliey are in now the better. Tomatoes are now growing rapidly, and there are few crops in the garden that pay better for close attention to their requirements. All side shoots, and especially the strong shoots that often spring up from the base of the plants should be kept removed or they rob the* plants of much of the vitality required for the development of the crop. As soon as a bunch or two of the fruit has set, an occasional application of manure water can be applied with advantage and superphosphate, sulphate of potash, oi both may he used sprinkled along the rows and lightly hoed in, or applied in liquid form, they will have a stimulating effect, especially if applied before rain or before watering.

All ground required for future crop ping should be turned up roughly and allowed to sweeten.

Keep the onion crops free from weeds, but in hoeing special care is needed not to injure the bulbs. During the summer months, when the young cauliflowers begin to develop their hearts, it often happens that many of them are spoiled and rendered unfit for table use owing to the heads becoming dried up by the strong snn. Take advantage of a very well-known tin however, and you will adequately protect your vegetables from the effects of the summer sun. The tip is this: Break one or two of the outer leaves of each cauliflower and bend them over the “heart” of the vegetable. ibis procedure will result in your being . able to obtain cauliflowers with beautifully white “hearts” at the height of the season. , , , Caterpillar can be checked by using arsenate of lead, two teaspoonfuls per gallon of water. Scale on lemon and orange trees may be wiped out by using red oil spraying mixture.

Celery also should begin to show some good growth. New rows may still b« planted but the soil must be extraordinary well prepared or the result will not be satisfactory. , ~ , The pulling of rhubarb also should be discontinued unless liberal feeding with liquid manure is given. In such cases they may be pulled for a while yet. Brussels sprouts should also be planted Good land is essential for this vegetable. They really do best in a colder district unless the soil in which they are planted is exceptionally good Leeks may still be sown, but if plants are procurable so much the better, as the season is getting fairly well advanced« Carrots and beetroot may still be sown, bub onR small roots may now be expected. Turnips may still be sown. They may be sown practically all the year round, but as the summer advances more and more care should bo taken when preparing the soil. . 'Beans should be sown at regular intervals. The soil is in a good condition to start them into growth just now. Ine first butter beans should be ready to pick now in very warm places. As soon as they are ready they should be kept picked' to prolong their cropping period as much as possible. If climbing beans are well up. stakes should be provided for them. A. large range of stakes may be used. Manuka scrub is very useful for tliis purpose. Where the bed has been well prepared poles up to ten ieet Jon 0 * may bo needed. Where scrub is used it should be pushed into the ground enough to keep it firm. If polos arc used they may be tied together at the tops and they will support one another. ’MIDST THE FLOWERS

All Michaelmas daisies need pruning as they grow, especially the tall varieties or else they will cover everything within reach and that should be avoided. If the leach are troublesome use arsenate of lead. This is a sure remedy. The warm weather almost invariably brings forth green aphis. Spray with black leaf 40 if available. If not use some lather made of sunlight soap and water with a few drops of lysol added. Spray repeatedly until the pest disappears. Chrysanthemums should receive a surface mulch with well-rotted manure. Superfluous side-shoots should be removed. On the first appearance of any rust spots, immediately spray with a fungicide. Many plants do not shift well owing to the dryness. Here are some that should do with ordinary care and enough water until established: Miniature sunflower, African marigold, amaranthus, cosmos and penstemon. These are all tall growing varieties that will require plenty of room. Bengonias should be planted now, both the small regular bedding varieties and the large flowering varieties. Dahlias may still be planted but the

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blossoms will be laic. Plants already well up may be needing staking. If so this should not be neglected, as once they become broken they are very difficult to handle. Dahlias must be occasionally watered when the soil at the roots becomes dry. A timely spraying with nicotine or other insecticide will keep the foliage free from thrips. The bulk of autumn flowering shrubs are now over and the main floral display from now on will be supplied by annuals and perennials. They should therefore receive as much encouragement as possible. Most gardeners spend a few shillings every autumn buying anemone and ranunculus bulbs. Sow the seed thinly in fine sandy soil and keep well weeded. The plants will flower in the coniing spring nearly, as early, as the bulbs and may be used again the following season. Some gardeners think that this is a long process, but, after all, half the pleasure in gardening ls ’nroducing something. Hyacinths and tulips may be lifted. Hyacinths are best lifted annually. Tulips may be lifted every two or three years, but they should not be left undisturbed longer than three years or they may rot. Tender annuals may still be planted such as zinnias, salvias, celosias, etc., but as the season is getting well on the soil should be well prepared or the results may not be very satisfactory. Phlox, petunia, dwarf French marigolds, begonia, carpet bedding are dwarf varieties that are suitable for edging and borders. HYDRANGEA CULTURE Hydrangea propagation is readily effected from cuttings. They delight in a rich soil and abundance of moisture during their period of active growth and flowering. In addition to culture in the open ground they are specially adapted for growing in pots and tubs; when growing in this style they must be liberally watered. They may be propagated in pots annually to produce one large head of flower each, a method largely practised for house decoration. Artificial manures should be freely given just as the flowers are developing. As with all popular plants hydrangeas have been taken in hand by specialists, resulting in the creation of many sterling novelties in improved forms. Hydrangea exhibits of plants in full flower are a feature of some of the recent horticultural shows in Britain eliciting special encomiums. The problem of colour in hydrangeas has been a matter for investigation. It is commonly known that in some soils the pinks change to blue, and vice-versa. This has been solved; the white always reproduce true. In the matter of the blues and pinks, scientists advise that to obtain the blue colour it is necessary to have the soil i.n an acid condition, also that iron must be present in sufficient quantity to affect the change. In limestone land or where lime has been freely used, which is the opposite of an acid soil, the colour will be pink. Water in which alum has been dissolved is used artificially to cause the change. However, the matter of colour is not sufficiently important to worry over the chemical constituents of the soil to cause the reproduction of true blues or true pinks.