GARDEN & FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIV, Issue 7277, 3 October 1933, Page 3

GARDEN & FIELD

Specially written for t. A Lesson From Wordsworth. “God made the flowers to beautify The earth, and cheer man's careful

mood, And he is happiest who has power

To gather wisdom from a flower And wake his heart in every hour To pleasant gratitude. ” The busy month of October is with us again. ‘Recent frosts have proved rather a set-back but a few warm sunshiny davs will' quickly influence so.l conditions. Weeds at least are growing rapidly and all the borders calling for a general loosening of the soil. The autumn sown sweet peas call for attention in the way of training and restricting the growths. Tulips have benefited largely by recent heavy showers and a. little Clay s fertiliser worked among them will bo of grfcat benefit. , Complete plantings of all perennials as quickly as possible. Bulbs may with safety’ be lifted from the borders and trenched in, in the reserve garden m order to make room for summer flowering plants. Prepare sites for carnations, dahlias, and chrysanthemums. men setting out plants use about a teaspoonful of blood and bone manure in each hole, working it first among the soil, this little attention makes a wonderful difference to both quality and quantity of bloom. For those who like yellow flowers, the perennial ceoropsis gives a good display in December. Place conns of tuberous rooted begonias in sandy soil to sprout; dahlias may be treated in the same way. Continue to take offsets from chrysanthemums. Sow seed of all half hardy and hardy annuals. Plant cinerarias in shady spots. October is a, good month-for the planting of ferns. Prepare soil in readiness for a.sters and treat the plot with a good sod fumigant. ■ Plant cannas in deeply dug, well enriched soil.

The Vegetable Garden. Almost all varieties of vegetable seed may be sown now- in the open ground. ” Sow seeds of leek, celery and bntssels sprouts. Continue to plant lettuce, cabbage and caulifio'wer.

Sow more peas and broad beans. Keep a little hay or straw on hand to cover the first early dwarf beans and potatoes on cold nights. A little nitrate of soda dusted around the growing greens will hasten their growth, but it must always be very carefully used. The strawberry bed will also benefit from a light application, keeping it well away from the foliage.

Preparo all vacant land as quickly as possible in order to sweeten it.

Bone 3 as a Manure,

Bones, although of animal origin, are generally classed under artificial manures and fertilisers. They contain quantities of lime and phosphate and in certain forms they yield a percentage of nitrogen on. account of organic matter present in them. Bono manures thus supply plants with tho phosphates they need and are of particular value to fruit trees, flowers and seeds. Crushed bones are mainly used among fruit trees and shrubs as they decay into plant food very slowly and thus provide something more in the naturo of a permanent, food. Tho further crushing of bones provides us with bone meal and bone Hour. The iineT the powder the more quickly does the fertiliser become available for plant, nutrition, the effects of bone meal arc apparent for some three years whereas bone flour is of value for one season only.

Birds in the Garden. Although most birds are helpful to the gardener, destroying large quantities of grubs and other pests, some are capable of doing much harm, especially in tho spring months. Steps should first, be taken to prevent damage to trees and plants, rather than to destroy the birds. Sparrows are particularly fojid of pecking off the flowers of the primrose and polyanthus. In some gardens they' arc never known to touch them, whilst in others they destroy every bloom as it appears. A few stout sticks about a foot long should bo placed between the plants and black cotton passed from one to the other, to form an inconspicuous entanglement in which the birds will catch their, feet and be scared away. The same method should be adopted if they prove troublesome to gooseberry and currant bushes as they' often peek the buds off and the crop is ruined. It should be remembered that whereas any petty mischief done by birds is at- once evident there is nothing to indicate the immense good they are doing throughout the year. The much maligned sparrow is as industrious in his insect-hunting as any bird during late summer, and nearly all wild birds feed their young on insect life. Many destructive acts are caused through hunger, and experience has shown that where food is provided daily ; the garden does not suffer so very much, and large growers find, that in providing food and water, they secure the benefit of their 'insect-hunting habits, while keeping them out of mischief. A bird

he Times by “Lorna.” table can be made very attractive by making a stout cardboard pillar and filling with a concrete mixture, fixing a -wooden table with roof attached on the top. A little crazy paving makes a suitable finish for the base, or, the pillar may be finished oft* with a bird bath. This can also be fitted on to a concreto drain pipe. The Large Flowered Clematis.

Beautiful beyond description are the great loose, overhanging waves of colour supplied by the various varieties bit large flowered clematis. Over pergolas, arches, walls, and among trees they furnish a glorious display. A note of distinction is added to any garden where these are included in the list of plants, and they are not at.all hard to manage, providing a little care is taken at planting time. It pays to dig out. the soil to a depth of two feet and then work in some'well decayed manure and broken up limestone or other rubble. Firm ramming of the soil is very essential and plant on the rimdv side of the tree, pergola or arch or whatever it may be. Among the most striking varieties is Crimson King, a brilliant clematis, the large flowers arresting the eye immediately, bright rose red shading to rose. Ville dc Lyon is a glorious carmine Ted flow r er, the colour being intensied at the edges. In the .lacksmannii. group our eyes are gladdened by the rolling waves of purple, white crimson, blues and rosy shades belonging to their section. IV. E. Gladstone is a remarkably beautiful variety, a flower of exquisite beauty eight or nine inches across and the blue of the sky above. Most of them commence to flower in November and bloom over a long period, and if properly planted a single plant will often cover an area of ten yards and six feet in height. The Culture of the Gladiolus.

It is given to few flowers to rise from comparative obscurity to be a flower 'of fashion in three continents, to have societies and journals established in its interests, not to say anything about a host of admirers which is continually increasing as the years go by. The glories of the flower itself and its continuous improvement in the hands of plant breeders will always assure its popularity. Modern varieties will come as a great revelation, from brilliant, gorgeous colourings to those of soft, exquisite loveliness. Its great adaptibility is another of its assets growing iu almost any soil and cornis may be held in storage for months after the natural growing season begins. The best soil for gladioli is one that is naturally rich aud deep, but they can be grown successfully in soils varying from light sandy to heavy clay.

Owing to the vast difference iu soils and in materials available, the question of manuring must bo settled by each grower for himself, preferably by ex periment.

With the help of an abundant supply of rich natural manures in tho soil and on the surface, together with plenty of water as required, giant flowers aud spikes may be obtained, but often with the result that tho corms contract some disease. Modern rich manure or vegetable refuse where they can-be grown without. A rich virgin bed will need no manuring and a bed which has been well manured for a previous crop will suit well. Whatever manure is used should be well decayed and as a- precaution use a handful of sand around the corm to prevent contact with any manure. The only artificial manure in general use is superphosphate about one ounce to the square yard. Partly decayed turf from good land is a valuable ingredient to any soil and where decayed animal manure is unavailable. Clay’s fertiliser is a wonderful substitute. Regarding situation, most gladioli show a dislike for too much shade, although it is a temptation to grow in partial shade as the heat, of the sun often spoils a few blooms. But when growing for exhibition it is best to plant in full sunshine and provide moveable shades, using these only- when danger threatens. When planting choose a day when the soil is moist, but not sodden. For dry w eather planting., it is preferable to give the soil a thor ough soaking a day or two beforehand, rather than to water heavily immediately after, unless the soil be of a light nature with no danger of setting hard around the corm. Large corms should be planted four inches deep and smaK norms a little less and at least six inches apart. Constant 3oil tillage is one of the essentials to snuccess and is one of the best safeguards against disease. It is very desirabls that a fresh site should be chosen or fresh soil given for each succeeding year’s planting, but where this is not possilbe, the old soil may b 6 broken up roughly between the lifting and next season’s planting, exposing it as much as possible to the sweetening action of the air and sunshine, Corms planted in mid December flower in MaTch and April after the summer heat has passed, but many corms have to be planted earlier as they refuse to abide the owner’s time When cutting, cut no unnecessary foliage as it is needed for tho corm’s de velopment and if desired the spikes may be cut and placed in water when one or two flowers are open, as all tho buds will open and develop perfectly.