THE GARDEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 974, 17 May 1930, Page 32

THE GARDEN

“T/iere is to me a daintiness about 2)o* SOW PANSIES FOR MASSED BORDERS In some gardens the growing of pansies and violas from cuttings has disappointing results. It is, therefore, well worth noting that these delightful plants will thrive most encouragingly if raised from seed and be a joy to the eye during summer and autumn. The conditions favourable to success are ground which-has been enriched with manure, partial shade, and good seed. The seed should be bought from a reliable grower, for even the finest strains of pansies and violas do not come true to type or colour. Given good seed, however, one may rely on getting a show of bloom that will remain decorative for several months, though a certain percentage of the flowers might not qualify for the exhibition bench. Seeds should be sown at once in boxes of sifted sandy soil. Cover the seed with a sprinkling of fine soil and place the boxes in a warm greenhouse. Germination is hastened by covering the boxes with a sheet of glass, and the glass with paper. As soon as growth appears, remove the glass gradually, hut protect the seedlings from direct sunlight. When fit to prick off, the seedlings are transferred to other boxes and kept in a warm position until they are growing freely. The soil must be kept reasonably moist; and bright sunshine must

be excluded until the plants are large enough for planting out. Before planting out of doors, harden them off gradually.

When ready, set the plants in their final position—about 9 inches apart. Slugs have a weakness for the seedlings, and must be watched for during showery weather. In dry weather give the plants a thorough soaking now and then, being careful to use the hoe between the plants on the day after watering.

By LEONARD A. GRIFFITHS, F.R.H.S. early flowers that touches vie like try.” — Willis. PARSNIPS HOW TO GROW THEM Ground which has been well manured for peas, beans, onions or turnips is ideal for the cultivation of parsnips. Fresh manure dug into the ground is liable to cause the roots to “fork” or develop two or more large roots instead of one long tapering one. This spoils them for exhibition. If a rich piece of ground previously well manured for another crop is not available, dig well-rotted manure into the lower spit so that the roots will grow straight downward in search of it. Into the top spit fork the following mixture; One ounce superphosphate, half an ounce sulphate of ammonia, and a-quarter ounce sulphate of potash, at the rate of two ounces a square yard.

When the soil is in a friable condition, break up the large lumps and rake the surface into a fine tilth. Draw the drills 15 inches apart and one and a-half inches deep, and sow the seeds in groups of three or four, eight inches apart. A still day should be selected for this. Before covering the seeds, scatter a few radish seeds along the rows; these will germinate much quicker than the parsnips and prove to be a good catch crop. / Exhibition parsnips may be produced by taking out a trench 18 inches deep. Fork up the subsoil, remove large stones, and work in a layer of old hotbed manure. Sift the top soil, if it is stony, return it to the trench, and work in the mixture advised above. Allow the soil to settle, then sow the seeds down the centre of the trench.

Another method, satisfactory on very stony or heavy ground, is to boie holes with a crowbar. These should be at least three feet deep and six inches wide at the top. Place a tew inches of decayed manure in the bottom of the holes and fill the remaining space with old potting soil or good sifted garden mould, which should be enriched with chemical manure Press the soil firmly into the holes. Allow a few days to elapse and sow three seeds one and a-half inches deep in each place When the seedlings are two inches high, thin them to one each clump, retaining the strongest. A dressing of lime applied when the plants are a foot in height will assist in preventing canker.

GIVING THEM BEANS!

AMERICA IS INTERESTED IN AUCKLAND VEGETABLES A PHOTOGRAPH FROM THE SUN Some time ago there appeared in The Sun a photograph of giant New Guinea butter beans, six feet long, grown by Mr. C. N. Robinson, of Te Uku. When Mr. Robinson opened his mail one day last week he was surprised to find no fewer than seven letters from different parts of the United States of America asking for the seed of these “Jack-and-the-Beanstalk" beans. Mr. Robinson writes: "I would like to thank you for having published the photograph of those giant beans. The edition of The Sun containing it must have been seized upon by an American news syndicate. “Here are a few extracts from the letters I have received. One man writes that the beans have caused

quite a stir in his locality, where the longest beans on record are the Kentucky Wonder, growing from 15 to IS inches . in length. Another man writes: ‘if you can grow beans like that in New Zealand I’m coming oi| to settle on the land there next year.’ An American woman forwards three packets of garden seed and. one packet of water-melon seeds in exchange lor some seed of the ‘magic beans.’ Another American citizen writes: T have never heard of beans growing to such a length. Do you eat them or just keep them to look at?’ A doctor who is conducting experimental work writes that he would like to add specimens of this bean to his collection. A San Diego citizen says that he found a line drawing of the beans in the “Believe It or Not” column of a San Diego Sunday paper. Still another Californian writes marvelling at the size of the beans. He is under the impression, incidentally, that there are no Boy Scouts in New Zealand and is anxious to get into touch with someone who is interested in the movement. if any scoutmaster wishes to get into communication with him I will gladly forward the letter.”

GARDEN HINTS

It is usually better to start begonias, gloxinias and similar plants in shallow boxes than in pots. Transfer •them to pots when an inch or so of growth lias been made.

Lawn sand has a burning effect on grass as well as weeds, but subsequently the fertiliser it contains encourages the grass to grow rapidly.

Where soot is plentiful it may be raked freely into the soil when preparing seed beds for vegetable crops. It will act as an insecticide and a fertiliser.

It is not necessary to grow garden peas which reach a height of 5 feet, either for early or successional crops. There is now no lack of excellent varieties which do not exceed 3J feet.

ANSWERS TO PUZZLED GARDENERS

M 5.8., Takapuna.-d) Lilium Regale seedlings providing they were picked out sufficiently far apart, should be left alone and will probably flower this spring. Later, when the bulbs are larger, they may be lifted and given more room. (2) , d z. V ot , Poker seedlings should be planted when large enough into their permanent position. They are quite hardy and will thrive almost anywhere with the minimum amount of attention. Trench the ground well and, if possible, dig in some old leaves as manure. The plants may stand in the same position for years until they require dividing up.

T.J., Onehunga. —Your celery is affected badly with rust. You are spraying with the right solution, but probably the plants were well attacked before you started. The bluestone spray will help to keep the blight down, but may not kill out affected specimens. I suggest you cut away the diseased leaves and continue spraying. The new growth should then be all right.

CHARMING FLOWERS LITTLE GROWN

There is never much difficulty in filling the large vases with flowers in summer; it is those small things used for the decoration of the tea and dining tables which give trouble unless such flowers have specially been raised for the purpose. The most suitable flowers are found among the hardy annuals.

Viscaria. —This is one of the easiest and most beautiful annuals to grow, and for the purpose in question is difficult to equal. It is extremely freeflowering, and when sown thickly, makes a most effective colour patch. The flowers are in shades of white, carmine, rose, blue, crimson and primrose. The plant grows one foot in height and a mixed packet will give a pleasant variety to the table vases. Seeds can be obtained in separate colours, and a good effect can be obtained by placing two colours only in a vase. Blue and pink, or blue and white, make an extremely pretty combination.

Nemophila.—Another flower which provides a blue and white combination is nemophila, a hardy annual, -which will grow anywhere, and in any kind of soil. Nemophila insignis, a beautiful bright, clear sky-blue colour, is the best of the blue tints, which may be combined with insignis alba. Cornflower.—The annual cornflowers in shades of white, pink, and blue, are also indispensable, being easy to grow and thriving in any soil. An effective vase combination can be made by mixing cornflowers with dwarf coreopsis, a mixed packet of which will provide striking shades of yellow, crimson and brown-gold.

BULBS FOR SUMMER FLOWERING

Indispensable bulbs to plant in February-March are the lilies. Choose auratum, speciosum, tigrinumf tiger lily), pardalinum (panther lily), um bellatum and regale (Chinese regal lily). Take out holes IS inches deep and mix leaf-mould and sand freely with the soil before filling it in again. Plant the bulbs of auratum, speciosum, tigrinum, and pardalinum 5 or 6 inches deep and the others 3 inches deep. Gladioli planted now will begin to bloom in October. There are innumerable beautiful varieties of both the large-flowered and the small-flowered or primulinus sections, and some of each ought to be grown. The corns should be at such a depth that they are covered by about 2 inches of soil; dig some decayed manure into the soil and set the corms on sand at 8 inches apart.