Garden Notes - Seed Potatoes

Seed Potatoes

Potatoes for seed should be well exposed to the light, until they are tinged with green. The selected tubers which should be fairly uniform, and of about 3 ounces in weight, are then stacked on end in rows in shallow boxes. These may be stored in any light outhouse where frost cannot reach them. When sprouting commences, rub off all sprouts except the two strongest, as shown at B. The buds C, have been rubbed off. The weakly shoots shown at A; are the result of leaving seed potatoes in a heap in the dark.

The Potato Clamp

Potatoes, beet, onions, apples and pears; and flower roots, gladioli, dahlias, &c.-may be safely stored in Clamps in the open. A layer of straw is placed on the ground, and on this the roots are stacked. The are then covered with 6 in. of straw (A), and a trench (D) dug round the heap, the soil being thrown over the straw to a depth of about 6 in. (B). A ventilation hole about 6 in. wide should be left at the top (C), and plugged with straw.

Leveling a Lawn

The simplest method of leveling up depressions in old lawns is to make two parallel cuts about a food apart across the hollow spot. In the center cut a line at right angles to these two, then roll back and turf on either side of this central line. Soil may now be introduced as shown to level up the ground, after which the turf should be carefully replaced, and beaten down into position. It should then be well watered, and in a day or two no trace of the operation will remain.

Disbudding Chrysanthemums

In April cuttings of Chrysanthemums; intended for exhibition should be transferred in 5 in pots, and as soon as these are filled with roots a final shift into 8 in. pots may be made. In some varieties the first stem is allowed to grow and branch naturally; in others the growing tips are pinched off at frequent intervals from the beginning of April onwards. If large blooms are required for exhibition only one or two shoots are allowed to develop each shoot being disbudded as illustrated the smaller side buds at; A. being removed and only the strongest buds; B. left.

Thinning Raspberry Canes

Newly planted canes should be shortened in order to encourage the growth of strong suckers the next summer. If more than two suckers are produced the first year, the number should be reduced to two. Even in subsequent years when the cases are well established and are bearing, it is a great mistake to allow all the suckers which come up in the summer to develop, as this practice wastes much of the vigour of the plant, as shown at A. If only a few of the strongest are left (B), the next sessions crop will benefits considerably.