HORTICULTURE.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 2, 26 March 1920, Page 14

HORTICULTURE.

We are now at that time of the year when there is not a great amount of seasonable work to be done although about a garden each week brings its own work in the way of weeding, taking out annuals that die off, cutting off dead tops, tying and tidying up generally. Keep all these things well up to the mark and a host of work later on will be s^ved. A little seed may also be saved from various plants at very small trouble and will be useful as well as give the pleasure that "own sown" seed always does when afterwards suecessfully grown and some variations from the seed parents obtained. This especially appiies to polyanthus, pansies, aquilegias, and various annuals. Autumn sowing involves a certain amount of trouble as it sometimes hinders cleaning up and digging, but the result in strong growth and early flowering is a decided advantage. Virginia stock will bloom very early and viscaria and schizanthus are especially useful. In the greenhouse good varieties of schizanthus make lovely spring pot plants. Baffodil and other spring bulbs may still be planted as recommended last week. Chrysanthemums require tying and attention as the buds form, and a little liquid manure in the case of pots that are fairly well filled with roots, but not too much or strong terminals are likely to start where crown buds are desired. Those grown as bushes for decorative purposes and cut flowers do not require much attention yet, but may be helped with a little liquid manure if the growth is not too soft. If Gladiolus the Bride (Colville aba) has become crowded, now is ihe time to lift and replant. If you have not got it, get it if you want good useful white flowers at about Christmas time, when it is especially desirable for ehurch decorating, etc. Good clumps will give abundance of blooms. Plant cabbages for succession and as those planted at this time come in for cutting green in spring, it is a good idea to plant them at half a distance so that every other plant can be cut and used as soon as large enough to be useful. As cabbages require earthing up to hold them against the wind it is a good method to plant them in a shallow trench, Sow some lettuee seed in short rows for thining out so that some may remain in the rows and others be transplanted which keeps up a succession — they love rich soil. A little spinach sown at about tbis time in good soil in a sheltered spot is a delightful change in the spring as well as specially wholesome.