GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 6, 11 February 1925, Page 53

GARDENING NOTES

FEBRUARY. The Vegetable Garden. —The present is a suitable time to plant out a square of autumn giant cauliflowers tn mature before Ibe winter brocoli; also a square of early, medium;, and late brocoli. Borecole or kale is a very desirable vegetable, and should be planted now to provide for a supply of greens during late winter and early spring. Sow for a supply of lettuce, spinach, and turnips; together with a line of French beans, and, if required, broad beans and peas, although it is somewhat late now for the profitable culture of the latter. A bed of silver beet, if sown now and thinned out to about 6in apart, will provide a good substitute for winter spinach. Where a good supply of water is available the hose should lie used frequently on the vegetable crop; plenty of water and well-manured soil are essential to successful vegetable growing. Give a good supply of liquid manure to vegetable marrows, cucumbers, and pumpkins, and also to rhubarb. Keep the Dutch hoe constantly employed amongst growing vegetables. Plant celery and leeks in wellmanured trenches and water them occasionally to encourage sturdy growth.

The Flower Garden.—Lawns require to be mown at least once a week, and during dry weather water frequently to ensure a green sward; roll after each watering. Cut back herbaceous plants that have finished flowering. Dig up bulbs, sort them, and plant back sufficient of the largest; the remainder can be planted out later. Stake and tie up dahlias and chrysanthemums, sow seeds of herbaceous plants, and put in cuttings of carnations, pinks, and picotees. With regard to the latter, pull them off the parent plant by the heel and insert firmly in a bed prepared in a shady spot, using plenty of sand and watering well. Now is a good time to cut roses, which should be done on a cool day if possible. Amateurs would be well advised to take lessons from a professional gardener on the process of budding, as it is not an easy matter to explain it fully by writing. Cut back old foliage of violas and pansies which have finished flowering and thus encourage a new growth on the old plants. The many seedlings to be observed growing in the bed will be useful for planting out later on. Gather the seeds of sweet peas for future sowing.

The Fruit Garden.—Continue the summer pruning away of all superfluous growth from apple and pear trees. Prune back young growth on currant and gooseberry bushes. Dig away all useless shoots from the raspberry plantations, leaving about six strong shoots for bearing the next year's crop; the old canes which have finished bearing should be cleaned away and burned. Spray with helibore powder to destroy the leech which attacks the foliage of cherry, pear, and many other fruit trees.