GROW YOUR OWN PLANTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 822, 16 November 1929, Page 30

GROW YOUR OWN PLANTS

PLEASURE IN PRODUCING Much of the pleasure one gets from the garden is in raising the plants that adorn the beds and borders from seeds. If we are in a hurry for immediate effects, seedlings are purchased. Xo doubt they give satisfaction, but there is the exciting anticipation i f watching the first flowers of our own seedlings unfold, somehow lacking in the purchased flowers. For masons often too obvious to thy more experienced gardener, seeds which the planter has gone to no end of trouble t<* set out, fail to show above the ground. The seeds of many annual plants are tiny things, and unless they are mixed with a portion of clean, dry sand or earth, are diflicult to spread. The ground which is to receive then: after being dug should be firmed down so that the seed has something solid into which to push its roots. After being spread all small seeds need to be lightly covered with some light, finelysifted soil, or with a thin dressing of well-rotted stable manure. This must be light, so that, as the seeds germinate. they will have no difficulty in pushing their heads through into the light. The seed will require both warmth and moisture to cause it to germinate, and consequently must be lightly pressed down into its bed to give it a hold. Any watering, as is necessary, should be through a flue rose, such awill cause no disturbance or float off the seed or its covering. A far pre-

ferable way is to water the ground to be sown the day before the seeds are sown. If this course is followed and the seeds are not sown too thickly, one may reasonably look forward to seeing the young plants above ground before many days are over. GIVE ATTENTION TO THE FLOWER BEDS As the different sorts of shrubs and herbaceous plants are now beginning to push and grow vigorously, and many of them being in flower, the beds, borders and shrubberies should be thoroughly cleaned from weeds and every other kind of litter. This will give an air of liveliness to the surface and the whole will appear pleasing to the eye. Neatness in this part of the garden should be attended to at all times. FREQUENT AND THOROUGH DIGGING IS BENEFICIAL In order that the constituents of the soil shall be made available for the use of plants, it is necessary that air be freely admitted. Without a plentiful supply of oxygen, many plant foods remain dormant in the soil, anti consequently are useless to the growing plants. But the admission of air Is not the only benefit derived by good cultivation. Digging increases the depth of good soil, and every inch gained in depth means a decided increase in fertility. ANSWERS TO PUZZLED GARDENERS Amateur.—. Spray your loganberries with arsenate of lead, 2 teaspoonfuls to a gallon of water to prevent the caterpillar from eating the foliage and fruit.