MAKING THE PLANTS GROW

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 643, 20 April 1929, Page 30

MAKING THE PLANTS GROW

j There are two chief ways of mak- ; ing plants grow quickly and vigorously I and produce, an abundant harvest of | blossom. One is by using the hoe freely and frequently, thus aerating the soil and keeping the roots moist; the other is by “feeding” the plants. The value of hoeing in summer cannot be over-estimated; it certainly has a remarkably beneficial effect on the development of the plants, and is the cheapest of all ways of making plants grow. Liquid manure helps very considerably in the production of firstclass garden plants, and its use is to be recommended. Nothing, perhaps, is better than the liquid obtained by soaking a bag of cow manure, fowl or farmyard manure in a tub of water and using the solution once a week. It is especially beneficial to climbing | and rambling roses. j ANSWERS TO THE QUESTION BOX C.M., Pukekohe: (1) Wishes to know j the name of a quick growing creeper to I cover a dividing fence. (2) Why none of j his seeds ever come up. Answer: (1) There, are many very fine | creepers you may grow for your purpose, i Foremost among a great number are Tacsonia Scarlet, Bignonia Grandi, Orange Red, Honeysuckle, Kennedya. (2) The most important thing in raising seed is to be sure you procure your packets from a reliable merchant. Practice dealing with seed stores only as they are specialists who cannot afford to sell seeds of inferior quality. Never sow seeds too deeply. Tl»3y should be only covered about their own depth . Never allow the seed boxes to become dry after sowing, as the seed may be burnt up while germinating. Don’t use manures that are apt to burn at the time of sowing. A suitable fertiliser can easily be added at the time of planting out. Shrub, Herne Bay: (1) Sends samples of two shrubs to be named. (2) Inquires names of some hardy shrubs different from what he has already planted. Answer: (1) The prickly type of shrub is one of the Berberis family and quite hardy. The best one to grow is Berberis Darwini, which carries orange berrv-like flowers. The other specimen I cannot name and have never seen it grown in Auckland district. (2) Yes, Eunoriymous, Prunus, Surmack and Rowan trees’ do well here and berry very • well. Other hardy and attractive species are Clethrea (the Lily of the Valley tree), the Irish Strawberry Tree, Nandinia, Rhus, Hydrangea, new crimson shades, Viburnus or Snowball tree, Crab Apple, Acmena or Monkey Apple, Boronia, pink, yellow and brown, Genistra and Lantana.