GARDEN NOTES

Chronicle (Levin), 8 July 1946, Page 8

GARDEN NOTES

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Aitnough there are plants wnose natural lilooming time is during the winter, there are others whieh can be coaxed aiul persuaded to flower at this jieriod and are very mueli apprec-iated \yhen they do so. Foremost in this group is the leeland poppv wliieh has such a long-flowering time to its credit. Seeds which were sown in January have developed into good plants, and those who established them in good time in well-sheltered corners will now be having their reward. It sliould he remembered that: Ihe orange coloured ones are the first to come out and no disappointment need be felt if all the flrst blooms in a collection of mixed colour plants should prove to be of this shade— other colours will. come later and keep tlie succession^ going. = ^ . \ y . v > " ' Keep the-* sdil fligHH^ ;.priklc'ed!' up amoug leeland poppv plants and give lliem a pinch of superphosphate occasionally to encourage them, as wet. henvy earth round their roots will keep lliem back.

Aneniones respond very quickljr to a few warm days and they also must have the ground constantly aerated round them — they will also appreciate a dusting of lime now and then but. •heavy applications are not desirable. Pansies and violas will start to bloom early in warm and sheltered places — some fresli soil from the eompost heap should be lightly priclced in round them, and as their roots are near the surfaee they quickly assimilate any food given to them. Sieve the soil if possible and see that it is erumbly and^ not wet and sticky when put on. Sometimes slugs are troublesome at this time' and eat the buds as they form. A ring of sawdust round eaeh plant will dis-: courage them. ' Perhaps the greatest treasures in the garden just now are the s-tray summer flowers which appear now and then. Now we value a belated rose bud or. an odd carnation cven if the petals are; nipped by wet or cold, and blooms areby no nieans perfeet. When we are able to pick a small vase full of these special favourites we somehow feel we have cheated and "got aw.ay with if,-" but the gardener should not spend too: much time in trying to achieve these' oddments — better to concentrate energies on bringing on plants which are becoming due to flower soon. Fowl uianure is a very good "tonic'" for violets. It must uot be used fresli, as it is then too strong, but if it has been ■ kept dry under cov.er for some mouths it can be powdered up .and sprinkled over the violet plants now,1 and again about six weeks time. Rain will wash it in suffieieutly and clean the leaves — ithere is no need to fork it in which svould disturb the roots. Violets treated in this way will produce lar,ge blooms on good long stems. The first pramroses are comdng ,out' now and as the plants will ?ontipue to.

bloom jEor a long time they should be given some extra feediug. ^Ri'ch soil from the eompost heap pricked in round them is good for them and they also appreciate Jeaf mould — light applications of lime oceasionally are also , necessary,