FOR THE WOMAN GARDENER

Wairarapa Times-Age, 6 February 1939, Page 8

FOR THE WOMAN GARDENER

OLD FASHIONED FAVOURITES. Although most women gardeners are keen to try out anything new in the horticultural world, old fashioned favourites, such as pansies and sweet peas, are always sure of a place in the gardens of flower lovers. When sowing pansy seed, be sure that the seed is procured from a reputable grower, for only the best seed is worthy of the labour you will have to expend on it. Shallow boxes with fine, free soil that will not form a hard crust after watering should be used for seed germination, and, if the soil is baked before being used, all danger of insect pests attacking the young plants will be eliminated. Water the boxes thoroughly, and after the moisture has drained away, scatter the seed lightly, then press it firmly into the soil. A light covering of peat moss is ideal, but failing this, place a thin layer of well decayed, powdered manure on the surface. Keep the surface moist, and, if glass is used to cover the boxes, remove it as soon as the seedlings appear. A hessian screen, which will shade the plants from very hot sun, and which can be removed to allow more moderate rays to harden off the seedlings, is necessary if a shed or bush house is not available for the seed raising. When the seedlings are large enough, transplant them to beds of light, rich soil, which have been prepared by placing a good layer of dairy manure about six inches below the surface soil. Sprinkle some good fertiliser over the manure before replacing tne surface soil. For Massed Bedding.

Avoid planting pansies near trees or shrubs. Set out the seedlings about nine inches apart and water each plant when it is set out. Leave at least a foot of space between the rows if planting for massed bedding, so that the soil can be cultivated easily. Nip off early buds until the plants are strong and bushy, and do not allow spent blooms to remain on the bushes. Worn out shoots should also be removed. .Bone dust forked into the soil when the blooms are developing will help them considerably, and a mixture of lime and soot spread on the surface soil between the plants will keep the soil sweet and counteract slugs. Pansies may also be grown from cuttings.

The Roggli type of pansy is extremely sturdy, with large, beautifully formed flowers, in shades of blue, gold, garnet, wine, and violet, and there are others, such as exhibition type, garden type, and bedding type, which will make a wonderful show in the garden.

Sweet Peas. No plant gives its blooms more abundantly than the sweet pea, but, apart from its prodigality of blossom, the varied colours and the fragrant sweetness of the flowers are qualities that make the sweet pea worth while cultivating. It is an accommodating plant, as it thrives well under almost any conditions. Grown in soil that has been thoroughly prepared, however, the plant produces an abundance of large, well developed blooms, on long, rigid stems —a result that is surely worth striving for. Two essentials in sweet pea growing are deep digging and good drainage. Dig a trench two feet deep and three feet wide in a position that is sheltered from strong winds. Place a thick layer of rubble at the bottom of the trench to ensure proper drainage, then fill it with soil which has a good supply of well decayed stable or dairy manure incorporated with it. Add some sweet pea fertiliser or bone dust, and leave the soil to settle before sowing the seed. If the ground has been prepared a few weeks before planting, so much the better.

Sow the seeds where the plants are to grow—from six to nine inches apart. (Half;an inch deep in heavy soil, and one inch in sandy soil). For Climbing.

Strong posts nine feet long should be driven two feet into the ground at each end of the trench, and a few strands of fencing wire should be stretched between the posts. (Many people use wire netting, but the flowers are apt to rub against-, the netting and get damaged in a gale of wind). When the peas are about six inches high, place pieces of brushwood (without leaves) about six inches away from the plants on either side of the rows, pushing them a foot into the ground. These are tied to the fencing wire. Tying of the plants is unnecessary, as the tendrils soon attach

themselves to the brushwood A few strands of black cotton twined round the plants will keep the birds away, and dusting with shell lime at night will keep away snails and slugs. Pieces of ti-tree, with plenty of leaves, should be placed round the young seedlings for protection from the sun, until the plants are established. Pinch out lateral growth, allowing only one or two vines, if large flowers and long stems are wanted. These must be kept tied to their supports.

Keep the ground free from weeds, but do not disturb the roots.

To water the plants, make a trench on each side of the rows, and fill this with water. An occasional spraying over the foliage in hot, dusty weather will keep down red spider and tlfrips. During the flowering period apply some fertiliser about once a fortnight.