HORTICULTURE.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 3, 1 April 1920, Page 14

HORTICULTURE.

We are now past the Equinox and into the last month of autumn, and i.f wise in tha affairs of our gardens will make every effort to keep our autumn work well up to the mark as it is so difficult to overcome if neglected now. Clean up regularly and cut and remove all dying tops and dead annuals. Keep the surface clear so that the seeds of any weeds that have escaped and f'allen on to the ground may have a chance to germinate before being dug in. Seeds turned in get mixed in the soil at varying depths and become a nuisance for years by growing when brought near the surface by future working of the soil but as soon as they have germinated the seedlings turned in are gone for ever. In the green house cut back any soft wooded plants that you wish to get an early start so that they may break before winter, as if . cut back lat-er there is a danger of the cut stem dying back before shooting, so that it is best either to cut early or have till the end of winter. Watch Cycla-men and water them with care to avoid damping off which often happens if the crowns are allowed to remain wet. Keep Cinerarias and Calceolarias free from green fly by fumigating or dipping in a solution of suitable insecticide. Sweet Peas, Gillardias, Carnations, Coreopsis,- Caucasian Scabrous, and other autumn flowers are now going off, but can be retained greatly by keeping all dying blooms and seed. pods cut off. At all times the question of providing suitable foliage for use with cut flowers is difficult, but especially so . as flowers get scarce and we wish to make a few go a long way. Gypsophila paniculeta is always delig'htful with sweet peas and carnations, and can be retained and used even when dry, with good effect. Common garden asparagus is especially charming with sweet peas and suitable for almost anything. Those who grow it as a vegetable can draw their supply from their asparagus beds, but those who did not should certainly plant a short row, the best course being either to raise orbuy seedlings and plant a fair number in a double row, about six inches apart each way, to permit of selecting, as the foliage varies greatly, some being . graceful and lovely, whilst others are stiff and useless, others again seed freely when "the scaTlet berries become such a thing of real beauty which is enhanced when the foliage takes on its autumn tints firsts a mixture of pale yellow and green a-nd then rich pure yellow. Then there are grasses, especially the perennial agrostis, which is useful from early summer to well into winter continually throwing up abundant tall feathery plumes. Divide it yearly at any time from May to October, never leaving it for more than two years at the most, and use it also for foliage in flower beds, planting roots from very small to medium, and it gives charming effects with any flowers, axxnual- or perennial, and there is in it beauty when they are over. The foliage of the wliite perennial linum is also good all the year round, also periwinkle, both the plain green and the variegaied, and for a grass like leaf the foliage of Iris Stylosa is excellent and can be had at any time of the year. There are also many shrubs with suitable foliage which will be referred to at another time.