IN THE GARDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 April 1939, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Put a few stakes and some strings around the asparagus beds to prevent the “grass” from getting broken by wind. Sowings of lettuce and radish can be made. Lettuce sown now, by transplanting will last well into winter. Endive can be branched by covering the plants with a piece of slate or flat board. A mixture of paris green and moistened, sweetened bran scattered where slugs are troublesome \ will assist in getting rid of these pests. Sowing of broad beans may be made from now on for spring supplies. Where the rhubarb foliage has died down, clear this away, fork over the soil and apply a dressing of manure. Remove .all grub-infested cabbage, etc. Yellow foliage on Brussels sprouts, savoys, etc, should be collected and buried. Fork over the ground between standing crops. Crops that have finished should be cleaned away and the ground either dug or hoed and sown down in a cover crop. Draw the soil up to the leeks as they grow. Both leeks and celery Will benefit by liquid manure. Onions should be harvested as soon as possible; do not allow the bulbs to lie about in the sun. Make plentiful Sowings of onions for transplanting later. Where the seed beds are likely to lie wet in winter,’it is better to raise the beds slightly. Sprouts form better oh brussels sprouts 'if the lower leaves are rerfiot/ed; do riot overdo it, but leave the crown leaves. Make plentiful plantings of cabbage; these are always useful. Beet and parsnips that are fully grown may be lifted and stored in clumps; ( they will not improve by being overgrown. FLOWER GARDEN. Plant aherhbries and rahunculi; . Seed of anemones arid rariuhculi can be sown now. Choose sandy soil, also as free from weeds as possible. Spring flowering plants such as myosofls, wallflowers, etc, can be planted. Sow seeds of pansies arid violas.’ Old plants can be taken up and divided when ground is moist. Plant hyacinths and tulips. Auturhh and spring are the best times for transplanting evergreen trees arid shrubs. Make firm after planting and water well. Many plants are rejuvenated by a topdressing of fresh soil, the heaths arid ericas especially. ClimßSrS arid creepers planted now will become quickly established if turned out of pots. Overhaul the rock garden, removing grass and weeds. Any kinds not in flower may be increased by division. Many of the herbaceous plants may be lifted and divided when the foliage is ripe; Shrubby calceolarias and perennial phlox may be struck from cuttings Inserted in a cold frame. Choose the unflowered shoots. Cuttings of leading plants isuch as calceolarias, gerahiufris, iresirie, aiternantheras, should be taken. Prepare! the ground for new rose beds; planting can be done as soon as soil is fridist. Sow sweet peas; prepare the ground at once. As soon as sweet peas are up or planted out, protect with short, twiggy sticks. FRUIT GARDEN. This is a good time to do any root pruning. Transplanting of large trees can be done as soon ps soil is thoroughly moist. Grease balding should be done; the old bands should be removed and new ones applied. The later varieties of fruit are mostly ready for picking. Plant out strawberry plants as soon as the plants are available. The old strawberry beds should be lightly forked over and given a dressing of fertiliser. Avoid digging too near the crovyns. Where it is intended to remove unprofitable trees, do this without delay and burn the diseased wood.

Leave no stumps or large roots in the ground from trees affected with silver blight. These only propagate the spores at the fruiting stage.

RHODODENDRONS

CROW WELL TN MOIST LOAM. Several readers have requested in- > formation on the treatment of rhododendrons, one of the most beautiful shrubs in cultivation. In a state of nature, rhododendrons grow under many conditions. Some are found among the trees in mixed woods; others cover hillsides as the most prominent vegetation. Some are found as epiphytes on other trees, while others grow on rocks. At one time the Himalayas were regarded as the headquarters of the rhododendron, but so many kinds have been introduced from Western China and Tibet that the claim of the chief home must be awarded to that region. With very few exceptions rhododendrons dislike lime, and will not thrive where lime is present in the soil in any appreciable quantity. Although it is often thought beat is essential to their well-being, that is not so. They will grow quite well in moist loam, and even on heavy loam, provided there is no lime present. It is always advisable to place a little peat or leafmould among the roots when planting in loam, but it is a great mistake to excavate large holes and fill them with peat. The peat becomes sour before the roots penetrate it, and the plants do not thrive. Use the natural soil, trench it two spits deep, and remove a little of the subsoil. In the top 12in mix a little leafmould. Make the soil firm and plant firmly. A surface dressing of leafmould will assist in establishing the plants and also help to keep the feeding roots near the surface. It is a good plan to allow decaying leaves to lie above the roots of both young and old bushes. Although the named varieties of rhododendrons will thrive in full sun and partial shade, most kinds appreciate a little shade from the mid-day sun. In the case of the very large-leaved kinds,' this shade is necessary, or the leaves will be burned. For this reason the best results are obtained when rhododendrons are planted in conjunction with other lightly-branched trees, giving the largest-leaved kinds the most shady places. During the summer months a heavy mulch of leaf soil and very old. decayed manure can be applied to the surface round the bushes.

THE CARNATION

SOME USEFUL HINTS. The flower should be large and symmetrically round. The calyx should be strong—that is, should be able to enclose and sustain the petals of the flower without bursting. Although it may be practically impossible to find a large-fiowered variety which does not burst its calyx occasionally, plants possessing a strong calyx are easily

distinguished from those having a marked tendency to ‘‘burst” and must always command a preferential opinion from -the judges. The guard petals should be large, broad. very firm. and absolutely smooth oh the edge, and should spread out above the calyx horizontally; any marked tendency either to incurve, or to droop below the horizontal being considered defests, detracting from the excellence of the flower.

The inner petals should lie regularly and smoothly over the guard petals,diminishing in size as they approach the centre. The centre petals—perhaps the last two rows —may be allowed more liberty of position and may stand up somewhat, thus affording a centre and crown to the flower..

The tendency of most large-sized carnations is to have too many rather than too few petals, and when undressed flowers are exhibited and the superfluity of petals may not be removed, this tendency is apt to give a rough and crowded appearance to the flower—a fault which must greatly influence the judges in their decision.”

How They Are Classified. ‘'FANCIES."—These are best defined as varieties that cannot be admitted into any other classes. They should be large, and their chief excellence lies in their quality of petal and brilliancy of colouring. Perhaps the most popular varieties are those with yellow or apricot ground, striped, flaked or spotted with various colours. “BIZARRES AND FLAKES.'— These are white ground carnations. The Bizarre must have on every petal stripes of two different colours. In the Flake those stripes must be of one and the same colour. In both classes the stripes should be clear and well defined, broad on the edge of the petal and gradually diminishing until they sink into the heart of the flower. The chief excellence to be sought for is the purity of ihe white ground, which should be absolutely white and free from spot or stain: but the highest standard of excellence has not yet been attained. ‘•YELLOW GROUND PICOTEES."— These should have a clear yellow ground (not apricot or buff). The, petals should be firm, flat, and smooth, and their edges well rounded and free from frimbriation. The line of colour on the edges of the petals may be light, medium or heavy, but should be of one continuous colour and entirely confined to the edge; any break in the margin or a running down of the marginal colour into the petal, being esteemed a grave fault; the main purpose of raisers of yellow-ground picotees is to secure for them the same purity of ground that has been achieved in the white-ground picotee. • "SELFS."—These should be of one decided colour. If the flower be in any way shaded, striped or spotted, it is at once disqualified for self classes.