THE BUSY MAN'S CORNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 631, 6 April 1929, Page 28

THE BUSY MAN'S CORNER

AMONG THE FLOWERS IDEAL PLANTING TlME.—April is an ideal month in the garden as the weather is neither too warm nor cold and the ground is occasionally damped by light showers. It is the month when extensive schemes for spring displays should be put into action. The sowing of hardy annuals and the more important planting of bulbs. BULB PLANTING.—Make haste while there is still warmth in the ground to plant your spring bulbs. The sooner they are started off the better as growth will be much slower next month. If replanting into ground that has carried bulbs for several seasons, a dressing of bonedust is strongly recommended, 4ozs. per square yard. Manures with a burning tendency are not advisable <is they harm the dormant bulb. Sometimes liquid manure may be applied during growing period. SPRING BULBS.—Anemones and ranunculus may be set in open beds for massed display. Lachenalias, freesias, tritonias, babianas, scillas and sparaxis are splendid for borders. Tulips and hyacinths give dainty effects when dotted about the borders in groups. Narcissus that have been lifted early in the season should be replanted without delay. All bulbs require well drained ground and a sunny position. THE DAINTY VIOLET.—EarIy violets are now showing buds freely. If the weather continues warm these may be picked off for a while as the blooms will not last until cooler days. Keep the ho© busy along the rows to allow the moisture and air to circulate freely. Weak liquid manure will help things along if growth is backward. PREPARING GROUND.—PIots should be selected and prepared for planting later with carnations. Lime the soil and dig deeply burying rotted manure and vegetation. May is a good month to commence planting. Sites may be selected for the setting of a few more ornamental shrubs The gardener who plans these things ahead always has the most success. Pot grown plants such as scarlet gums, acacias and pepper trees may be set now if required. SEEDS TO SOW.—The garden stores are now offering hosts of reliable seeds to set for early flowering. Here are a few that should be grown in every garden:—Beauty or winter stocks, Iceland poppy, carnations, cinerarias, nemesias, antirrhinums and pansy. The above are best sown in seed boxes or pans and transplanted when large enough to handle. IMPORTANT WORK.—Liberally feed chrysanthemum plants that are showing flower buds. Continue disbudding varieties that require it. Dahlias that have finished flowering should be trimmed back and tied up until they commence to die down. Don’t fail to make a sowing of winter sweet peas. They always look effective. Cut off the finished flower heads from the herbaceous plants and tidy up the borders. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN IMPORTANT CROP.—The most important kitchen garden crop of the month is the sowing of onion seed. Every houscshould grow his own plants, loz. of seed will produce about 1.000 plants. Sow thinly in drills in a specially prepared bed for transplanting later. Straw and brown Spanish are the two best all-round kitchen varieties. Those who require a large onion tor show may grow Ailsa Craig, but this- variety is not a great keeper. TUBER CROPS.—Potato and tree onions are now available These are always scarce and gardeners intending planting should secure stocks at once. Schallots, brown, yellow and silver may bo set any time and are useful for pickling purposes. Garlic is a vegetable of which every plot should grow two or three bulbs as they are invaluable for colds and flavouring purposes. All these crops are fond of potash which should be freely added to the soil. CABBAGE FAMILY.—The colder nights have just about exterminated the cabbage fly and gardeners may now plant with safely. Plants of Enlield market and drumhead are now offering and should ue set before the soil loses the natural warmth. Older established plants that the tty has attacked will pi’obably send forth new growth from the hearts. FOWL RUNS. -A sowing of ryegrass and clover may be scattered about the fowl run to produce new feed and make ii firmer under foot. Planting of silver beet and spinach in sown corner will prove very useful winter feed. Seed sown now will mature very quickly and is easily cultivated. IMPORTANT WORK.— Continue to earth up celery crops they grow to keep stems well blanched. Force leeks along will aquid ammonia and nitrates. Cut back the old leaves of rhubarb and top-dress the bed with liquid manure. A humid crop oi nustaid and cress may still be made even if the sowings have to iQ confined to boxes. Soil infested with wire-worms may be sown dOW Liw a ||« CUl A tU : aI mustard and dug In later as green manure. LAWNS. Autumn sowing are always better than spring as the grass has a longer period in which to establish itself. Before .-.owing new lawns the ground requires to be well rolled. Three lb ot grass seed will sow from SO to 100 square yards. Rake well in and carefully roll after. Soils that are inclined to be very heavy and damp may not be rakeable. If this is the case, loose clean soil may be scattered over the seed.