GARDEN NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 24, 27 August 1920, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES.

THE COOL GREENHOUSE. Calceojaria plants from last year's sowing will begin to move, and should be shifted into their flowering pots before the buds show. The 8in size is a useful one, and large enough for them. The compost should be prepared some days before use, and should consist of good rich and, above all, porous material, such as two parts" turfy loam, one of very old manure, one leaf mould, and one of sand, with a handful of soot and a good dusting of boije meal, well mixed. Fuchsias. — -Old plants from last year that have been stored away for the winter will soon be moving into growth again, if they have not already done so. As soon as this takes place they should be taken to the potting Bench and' carefully turned out of their pots, shakirig out all the soil from the roots, and lightly trimming them at the sanie time. Repot into clean pots, giving rich material, for the fuchsia is a hungry plant, and must have rich soil if good results are to be obtained. Repot into the same size pot as the one they came out of, so that they may be potted on again for flowering. Pruning back ot the old wood on these plants i,s necessary, and should be done at this potting. Shorten back to about the second joint on each small side branch, and talce a small piece off the top, and as soon as the young shoots have made four eyes pineri out the points to cause fresh growta This stopping may be continued until the desired size of the plant is obtained, then leave them to flower at will. To grow reallly fine specimens, say, from 4ft upwards, they must have large pots to flower in. ' From lOin to 12in pots »re necessary to obtain plants of size. They will require plenty of warmth an 3 moisture, and partial shading from the hot sun. Maidenhair ferns that are •. omvaciicinjg to throw up their young fromis should be repotted, and all the old brown and dead fronds removed. The proper mateiial forT maidenrhair ferns is equal parts turfy loam, leaf, soil, and clean, ?h&tp sajid, giving plenty of drainage. This is a good time for the repotting of most ferns, as active growth commeires in the spring. For most varieties of ferns a good open material is requwvd, with less leaf mould than with the maidenhair. Turfy loam and peat in equal pirts, with rome leaf soil and plenty of sharp sand and charcoal, well mixed and not too fine, will grow most kinds to perfection, but tbere are special and individuul that require different and special treitment as well as different material. " SPRAYING. However small a garden, its owaer js sure tp be troublcd more or less by some of the many ,'common pests which, if left unmolested, will quickly ruin choi-re plants and trees, and this is a very good time — in fact, from now on for the :«ext two or three waekg I consider the best- of a1' t.mes — for this operation. No douot the besc time is immediately before the buds eurst, so one must be guided.by the condifion of his trees, whether' in an early >j late position. To the sucking insects belong the aphides, and the green, black, an.i brc >vn flies, which attack nearly every kind of fruit and rose tree in the summer months For these pests there is nothing better, to my mind, for outdoo?1 plants than emulsion. Boil one quart of kerosene and 11b of soft soap in a little water in an > d saucepan, skim off the fatty mate. ul on the surface as it boils, dilute with 6 gailons of water, and stir well. It will then be ready for use. Woolly aphis (American blight) is destroyed by spraying with caustic alkaii wa-sh. Formula :• Dissolve separately 11b of ground caustic soda and 11b of crude potash, pour both into lOgal of water, add 11b of treacle, and stir well. When using this put on old clothes and gloves, ss it is of rather a burning nature. It ;s v.ry effective, and good for destroying nrossy growth, red spider scale, and eggs cf moths. Mealy bug is gen.erally found m hothouses on stove plants and in vineries. It makes sad havoc in the latter case it it once gets a hold. For hothouse plants spray well with the alxrve emulsion, r.nd fumigate occasionally with nicoticide. For vines, scrape off all old bark, and paint well in with a stiff brush. Thrips are small insects infesting azaleas and many other greenhou&e plants. The frequent use of the syringe is the best preventive of this. For small plants, dip them head downwards in a bucket containing some of "the above emulsion, or fumigate with nicotiode; this is a grand remedy for green fly and other insects that frequent greenhouse plants. For caterpillars, spray with paris green or arsenate oi lead. With the latter use

one teaspoonful ih a gallon of water. Where the caterpillars have a hold, and are curled up in the leaves, hand-picking is the only way to dispose of them.