9 Dec, 1907.] Garden Notes. 727 



the pest with but little beneficial result. The insects are beyond the reach 

 of spray washes generally, and there seems to be no way to deal with them 

 successfully when the conditions suit them. The most promising of many 

 washes tried this season is " Soaperine," a locally prepared mixture con- 

 taining a large proportion of soft soap. This was fairly beneficial when 

 applied before the blooms were opening, destroying any insects within 

 reach. As a preliminary to any application of spray washes, all infested 

 flowers and buds, should be cut, and immediately covered with boiling 

 water, or burned. 



Beds for the reception of dahlias intended for the production of blooms- 

 for autumn exhibition should receive a final digging or hceing now. If 

 the ground was deeply worked and manured earlier, a light stirring of the 

 surface will be sufficient; if not, a moderate dressing of rotted stable 

 manure should be thoroughly mixed with the soil to a depth of about 2 

 feet. Light sandy soils should be thoroughly trodden before planting, 

 especially if they contain, as they should, a fair proportion of manure. If 

 the soil is too free and open a coarse heavy growth will follow with flowers 

 lacking quality. Dahlias require a fair amount of room, and when grown 

 in beds should be planted in rows three to four feet apart, with two to three 

 feet between the plants. When planting dahlias from pots care should 

 1)6 taken that the ball of soil is not broken by the removal, a likely con- 

 tingency if the soil in the pots is dry. The plants should be thoroughly 

 watered an hour before planting is attempted, when a sharp rap on the 

 edge of flie pot, held inverted, will detach the plant without disturbing 

 the soil. Plants should be set out slightly below the surface level, and 

 sufficiently watered to moisten the soil thoroughly. Tender plants should 

 be shaded from hot sunshme for a few days. The last fortnight in De- 

 cember is usually selected for planting dahlias for autumn exhibition in the 

 metropolitan district. Divisions of crowns are equal to green plants fox 

 all purposes. 



Chrysanthemums should be staked and the growths supported as they 

 progress. The shoots should be reduced to four or five at most if large 

 blooms are desired. Any lateral growths or suckers occurring should be 

 removed. Artificial watering will not be necessary at this stage, unless 

 the soil is of a very dry nature. 



Daifodils require to be replanted in fresh soil occasionallv. Three 

 years are considered long enough for the bulbs to occupy a bed or patch. 

 The bulbs may be lifted after the death of the foliage, and be immedia- 

 tely replanted, or dried and stored until February. Ground for the 

 reception of the bulbs later should be prepared soon. In very poor drv 

 soils a dressing of cow manure may be dug deeply into the beds or patches, 

 and a little bone-dust worked through the soil nearer the surface. 



Annual and biennial plants approaching the blooming stage should 

 receive sufficient water to thoroughly moisten the soil during dry weather. 

 Bulbs of gladioli may be planted for late summer flowering. Thev require 

 deeply worked and well enriched soil to produce good flowers. 



Kitchen G-arden. 



Ground should be prepared for future cropping as soon as anv crop 

 is harvested. A heavy dressing of stable manure should be worked into 

 the soil,_ and the surface be rolled or trodden firmlv. In addition if the 

 ground is not required for cropping at once, ordinary surface cultivation 



