Page 30 Advertisements Column 2

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 684, 8 June 1929, Page 30

THE QUESTION BOX Any inquiries by our readers on the subject of gardening will be answered in our ‘'Question Box” column in the following Saturday's issue. All letters must be addressed to the Garden Editor and forwarded to THE SUN office on or before every Wednesday. Any specimen to be named must be packed securely in a strong box to prevent crushing in transit. THE BUSY MAN’S CORNER AMONG THE FLOWERS DAHLIAHS AND “MUMS.” —When the leaves and stems of dahlias have died down they should be lifted and stored away in a dry place until after the winter. Chrysanthemums may now be cut well back to the ground taking care not to bruise the young shoots springing away from the roots. Soil may be prepared and mixed with sand ready for taking the next season’s cuttings. HARDY SPRING ANNUALS.—Gardeners who have not raised their own seedlings and require plants for early spring flowering, may set the following quick-growing plants: Iceland popples, calendulas, primulas, beauty stocks, pansies, violas, anemones and ranunculus. Sunny, open beds are best during the coming wet weather. Cinerarias thrive well in a sheltered and partially shaded corner. HERBACEOUS PLANTS.—This is a good month to plant out perpetual carnations, lily of the valley, delphinium crowns, liliums and gladioli. Old stools of perennial phlox and Michaelmas daisy may be lifted, divided and replanted. If roots are to be set in the same ground, heavy manuring will be requii’ed. A SHOWY PLANT.—For bright, showy effects, and for long service, plant your borders with dwarf snapdragons. They can either be massed, grouped, or run out in rows. Firm the soil well around each plant so as to encourage sturdy growth. Snapdragons are wonderful garden workers, long flowering and brilliant in their colourings. The best effects are obtained by grouping the colours separately. ORNAMENTAL TREES.—These may be planted from now on and the selection is wide and varied. For stately specimen subjects the Norfolk pine, Cedrus Deodora bamboo gracilis, Rhus and Mertya take a lot of beating. Hardy trees for boundary work are acacia, Bailiyana, scarlet gum, jacaranda and grevillea. FLOWERING SH R U BS.—These are a great asset in any garden and care should be shown in selecting suitable varieties to suit both house and district. The ericas or heaths are quite hardy and a large range of colours may be obtained. Be careful not to manure the soil where planting with artificial fertilisers. Other worthy subjects are luculia, poinsettia, daphne, boronia, choysa, diosma, bouvardia and cassia. KITCHEN GARDEN AMONG THE VEGETABLES ASPARAGUS BEDS.—First-class asparagus can be cut from light, sandy soil as well as from heavy. Well-rotted stable manure should be dug in deeply. Plant the roots in rows loin, apart on furrows 2ft. 6in. between each row. Select three-year-old roots if possible, as they come into bearing quicker. Connovers Colossal is the best garden variety. RHUBARB ROOTS. —Now is a good time to plant out younrroots of rhubarb. Contrary to asparagus, young vigorous roots are to be preferred to old woody varieties. Topp’s Winter is the best early sort and Giant Victoria the summer variety. Plenty of rotted manure and frequent applications of liquid manure is the secret as far as rhubarb is concerned. PLANTS TO SET.—Cabbage and cauliflower plants should now be set for early and late spring use. Ground that has carried a root crop such as carrots, is the best for planting in. Clumps oC chives may be set for use in flavouring salads, etc. Strawberry runners may be planted at once. Don’t fail to set those bulbs of garlic, shallots and potato onions as. the season now creeps on. SEEDS TO SOW.—On light soils that receive a fair amount of winter sunlight, seed sowing may be still carried on. Carrots, beet and lettuce may be sown thinly in drills. Broad beans are hardy and may be planted in any garden. Early peas and potatoes may be set where there are no frosts. Prepare ground for the onion seedlings that are almost ready for transplanting. PRUNING AND SPRAYING.—Work in the orchard should be commenced as soon as the leaves have fallen. Remove dead wood and all branches that are growing inward and rubbing together. Spraying may be commenced, using Red Oil as an all-round winter tonic. Remove all grass clumps growing at the base of trees. SHELTER AND TREE PLAN Tl NG.—Hedging and shelter planting should be carried on at once. Trenches should be opened out and manure and leaves tipped in before planting. Round the fire on cold nights, get a nurseryman’s catalogue and select a list of the fruit trees you require. Apples, peaches, plums, guavas, lemons, pears, nectarines, etc., all may be set at once.