GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 127, Issue 21248, 19 October 1940, Page 14 (Supplement)

GARDEN NOTES

SEASONABLE WORK

(By "Nikau”)

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT Plant potato (main crop), early tomato, rhubarb, onion, herbs (thyme, nd chives), lettuce, beetroot, silver beet, cabbage, cauliflower and artichoke. Sow peas, also hardy vegetables such arsfiip, leek, spinach beet, beetroot and parsley. Thin it the can parsnips, turnips, beetroot, swedes and silver beet sown in August and early September. When p »tat< es have m th about a foot high, they should ery can ly witl B< rdeaux (loz. to 1 gal.) to prevent potato bl t fri m getting a hold. Tomatoes should be g en tl e ai »e re subject to the “potato blight ’’ as well as other fungoid diseases. r ible sulphur or lime-sulphur, to check mildew e bush marrows, cucumbers and p; mj kins, but it ii rather early for the main sowing of these in most districts. Scatter t genei i] fert lier und fruit-trees; four pounds is not too much to scatter widely round a large tree or grape-vine. Atten t t« • ees, and give them one good watering a week during a dry spell. Graft fruit-trees, also ornamental trees and shrubs. FLOWERS Give liquid manure to roses; if it is made from stable manure, it should be the colour of tea. but artificial fertilisers (such as nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia) should be used at the rate of half an ounce to a gallon. c best anemones now, and mark the best polyanthus primroses and ranunculi for seed. Divide and replant the strongest portions of helenium, Michaelmas scarlet lobelia, phlox, etc. Sow, in boxes, seed of zinnia, cosmos, salvia, French and African nd other annuals. Asters, however, do best when sown in their permanent quarters. In a clear part of the border sow a number of plants which do not transplant very well, or which are more simply sown in their permanent quarters; examples are viscaria, godetia, eschscholtzia, clarkia, linaria. cornflower and various “ everlastings.” Greet fly appearing on a number of plants, but especially roses. U e Bli ck Leaf 40, following the directions on the container. The usual strength is 1 in 800. Plant gladioli, to flower in 90 days. Plant gerberas in a sunny, well-drained plot of ground. Do not bury the crowns. Put pl( e around hydrangeas to make them pink; use a small quantity of alum or sulphate of iron on the varieties which arc to be “ blued.” The two latter materials can be dissolved at the rate of half an ounce to a gallon. Give liquid manure to sweet peas as soon as a few flowers appear.

CORRESPONDENCE G.A.R., Ngaruawahia.—The specimens of Burbank plums you sent show two distinct troubles. (1) The insects which are so numerous on the young shoots are black aphis or “black fly.” These often attack cherry, peach, nectarine and Japanese plum. The remedy is to spray with Black Leaf 40 (very thoroughly) as soon as the lirst pests are seen. These and other insects are best checked by the winter spraying with red oil. (2) The other trouble is a disease which causes some of the young plums to grow several times longer and wider than their comrades, but to become hollow at the same time. When they are cut open they look like little pockets, hence the name of the disease, “bladder plum” or “pocket plum.” The check on it is to spray with Bordeaux in winter, or else in spring just before the flower buds open. What to do now is to spray with lime-sulphur (1 in 150), and to pick off and bum the diseased plums. The worst twigs and shoots should be cut off and burnt. Bordeaux used in winter at winter strength is a better remedy than lime-sulphur in summer. but it would be harmful now.— Thanks for your appreciation. POTATOES No apology should be necessary for stressing the importance of growing sufficient potatoes, seeing that they are the most valuable crop grown in temperate regions, with the exception of cereals such as wheat, rye and oats. The following notes are based on the recommendations of a Southern firm that has probably the largest sales of seed potatoes in New Zealand. A few years ago the firm sold nearly 1500 tons of seed potatoes, and probably more in the last year or two. Soil, position, climate and altitude play a large part in determining the most suitable potatoes to grow. Early potatoes generally require a warm, moist position. Varieties subject to blight should be planted wide apart in open spaces or on hillsides. Two dressings of fertiliser are better than one. The second application should be spread previous to moulding up. Notes on Varieties First Group, “First Early.”—Jersey Bennes (white kidney), suits good loam and peat; a prolific cropper. yielding practically all table potatoes. Cliff’s Kidney (white), suit 3 medium to heavy and dampish peat; grows a large number of tubers, and needs plenty of moisture to ensure good size. Black Kidney (long, some curved and cylindrical, others flat, but all deep blue), suits medium and sandy loams; excellent eating when dug early. Epicure (white, round, slightly tinged with pink), suits good soil that retains moisture; suits districts with heavy rainfall; large tubers can be cut safely. Robin Adair (red kidney, some oval), suits almost any soil; a favourite variety; risky to cut tubers. Early Regent (white, oval and pebble shape), light to medium soils; a wonderful cropper; if planted on heavy land or in damp districts should be dug early; plant two feet apart. Second Group, “Second Early.”—

Sutton’s Supreme (a) Short Top (oval to kidney), suits medium to heavy soils; risky to cut tubers; (b) Tall Top (oval to kidney), suits light and medium soils, about three weeks later than Short Top; tubers larger, but less shapely than the previous. Great Scot (white, round), suits medium to heavy soil; forms many tubers, but needs considerable moisture. Findlay’s Majestic (white kidney, some oval), suits medium to heavy soils; excellent quality; good cropper, and on loose soils shape is perfect kidney; quite distinct from Iron Duke, which is sometimes called Majestic. Arran Banner (white, round to oval), suits almost all soils, but on heavy land it develops hollow heart; should therefore be dug in less than four months; a tremendous cropper, with excellent flavThird Group, Main Crop.—Arran Consul (white, round), suits medium to heavy land, good cropper; tubers a nice round shape and not too large. They keep as well as Dakota. Iron Duke (round to oval, white), suits medium to heavy land; hardy variety, stands up well to rain, wind and heat, and keeps well. Dakota Red. suits light to medium soil, and grows well even in dry conditions; first-class flavour and keeping quality. Arran Chief (white, round), suits medium to heavy land; a universal favourite; needs moisture to fill out tubers. Certified Seed The advantages of certified seed should be obvious. The crops are examined by Government inspectors at different stages of their growth, and “rogues” are detected, especially at flowering time. The tubers are also examined before the crop obtains a certificate. Most growers consider that certified seed gives nearly twice the crop from ordinary seed, so the extra cost is amply repaid. A point to note is that potatoes often take a year to acclimatise when brought into a different disj trict; accordingly, the crop in the | second season (from “one-year-off” ! seed) is often better than that from the certified seed. BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS The writer intended to mention* some of the finest displays seen in ! Hamilton gardens this week, but found that columns would be required to do this fully. Here are a few “highlights,” however: The various beds of flowers in Garden Place, but perhaps especially the ranunculi; the beds in Memorial Park, especi- | ally the polyanthus and the caleni dulas; the pink tamarisk (Tamarix ) hispida festivalis) in Oakley Avenue: | the Waratah in the Bridge Street ; garden; wistarias in Piako Street, ; Hill Street, etc.; the Japanese cherry j trees in the Hamilton East school- ! grounds and in River Road and Victoria Street; yellow azaleas in Piako Street, London Street, etc., and the Paulownias everywhere. Last, and ! not least, are the beautiful lawns in ; Oakley Avenue. Claudelands. ; -

ARRESTS IN INOO-CHINA COMPLAINT BY THAILAND BANGKOK. Oct. 18 The Thailand Publicity Bureau has charged the French with arresting in Indo-China. NOT CONFIRMED ARREST OF VINOD BH*VVE LONDON. Oct. 18 The arrest of Vinod Bhave, a disciple of Gandhi, has not been confirmed. A despatch from Madras says Wardha district and made a speech, ( urging the villagers not to support the AID FROM AMERICA FELP FOR SMALLER COUNTRIES I WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 The Czecho-Slo vak tan American delegation, aTter visiting President j Roosevelt, declared that Mr Roosevelt promised to aid the small countries, which had been absorbed, to regain their independence. The United States was working toward that end. ROTORUA RACES Rotorua Steeples B—7 Horn, D.O (J. Priest), 1; I—l Golden England, 10. S (J. H. Mcßae), 2; G—6 Imperial Prince, D.O (O. Evans), 3. Scr.: Gar Vaals, Floodlight, Conflagration, Et~ cctera. The winner paid over a quarter of a century. Flying Handicap.—2—2 Miss Te Koura, 7.8 (W. O. Ensor), 1; 6—€ Town Section, 7.1 (L. Ford), 2; I—l Maxam, 7.11 (A. Spinley), 3. Scr.; Llangollen, Merry Vaals, Foxsen, Konotta, Dinky Di, Baroscope, Jayola, TIMARU RACES Washdyke Trot.—3—2 Black Label, I 1; B—6 Swagger Jack, 2; 2—4 I Spangled Maiden, 3. Scr: Joe Perkins. j Toschemaker Handicap: 2—3 Swordstick, 1; s—B Wardress, 2; 3—2 j Passaform, 3. Scr.: Queen of Song, j Mungatoon, Chirp. STRATFORD RACES Stratford Handicap.—3—3 Winsome Lu, 1; 2—2 Ned Cuttle, 2; 6—5 Skyway, 3. Scr.: Royal Star 11., Sacony, Namara, War Lap. MASTERTON RACES Vallance Memorial.—The Ring, 1; Aurora's Star, 2; Master Cyklon, 3. AU startod. Spring Handicap.—3—3 Cheerful Lady, 1 ; 4—4 Acrobat, 2; I —2 Hasten, 3. All started.