GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2408, 13 March 1915, Page 11

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

These notes are written solely for tho amateur gardener, for the busy clty_ man who likos to spend an hour or two in his garden after being shut up oil day, for the woman who derives great pleasure from growing a, few plantß to brighten ' her home, but to whom it would bo. a weariness to study garden books, and for nil those who ere endeavouring to keep a small garden bright and attractive all the year' round. To these I say do not attempt to grow too much. Choose what plants for your garden and for supplying the house with out flowers, and whatever you decide upon grow the best of its kind that is to be obtained. Readers are invited to ask questions, . SEEDS Continue sowing seeds of perennials and hardy annuals. SCABIOUS. Few flowers are more beautiful both for garden decoration and for out flowers than tho scabious. . For one thing one can get suoh <a wonderful varioty of shades, such as lavender, crimson, cherry, pipk, yellow, and pure while. Also tho plants stand dry weather well,,and if th® dead flowers are kept well picked off, they flower .continuously from -November till May. Steds. should'be sown as soon as possible. CUTTINGS.' Cuttings taken in the autumn have a chance to make root before the cold weather sets in. Pentstemons, antirrhinums, marguerites and carnations make now shoots at the base of the flowering stem. These are the shoots for cuttings. Bemove the dead flower and make the out just under a bud or joint, and have the cuttings from four to six inohes long; Remove the lower leaves from about three buds, and insert the cuttings in a compost of soil, and sand—the more sand the better. Make 6ure that the base of the' cutting rests on firm ground. Press the- earth firmly round the cuttings and keep them moist and well shaded from the 6un.-

Geranium and pelargonium cuttings on the other hand should be planted in the full glare of the sun, and kept moderately dry.- The cuttings should he left for an hour or two for the cut to dry • before planting, as they are so liable to "damp off." All other cuttings should ,be planted as quiokly' as possible. At this: time of the year .there is a good deal of sappy growth. Take'your cuttings from nicely ripsned wood. DAHLIAS. Sea that all dahlia plants are well staked; keep the surface of the coil well 6tirred and give the plants liquid manuro once a fortnight to enable them to maintain the quality of the blooms. Pick off all dead* flowers and rub out side shoots, CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Attend' to the staking' of chrysanthemums as especially high winds may be expected this month. In dry • weather keep the leaves well syringed with clear water._ Examine the plants regularly for any sign of a small caterpilfar which works much havoc at this time of tho year by eating the newly formed buds. The best means of getting rid of the pest is by hand-picking. It is an unpleasant method, but most effective.' Tho cater-I pillar betrays its presence by folding a loaf, over itself. This is easily seen. Exercise great care in catching caterpillars as, at the least jar to the branch,they drop to the ground- by means of a spun thread, and hide in the earth till danger is past. , SEEDLING PERENNIALS, , Wherever Toom can be found in the ? begin planting out seedling per'ennials. They are muoli mors oitcctivo when planted in groups than Vhen grown singly.- \ • . Canterbury bells, wallflowers, stocks, verbenas, coreopsis,- scabious, pentstemons and carnations may all be planted during the next few weeks.' -Those' who have not rawed seedlings themselves should obtain strong young plants from a nnrservnunili- 7 ? P'? nt Tnll then become well established before winter. Pork a little bonedust into the soil before planting tho seedlings, and shade 'from the sun for a ■day or two. ■ . ..

CANTERBURY-,- BELLS. " C A nto l b ? ry - beUs -tiiafcare planted-out £.1; 9 '■£ utlu P n , taye time to produce central'smkea and plenlty of side flowering •shoots before'the- flowering • season. These .plants, do .splendidly in .'town gardens, -«®. Piil 0 . tj ' ■ oan k® Pknwd where a : -little old rfiortar (powdered)' ftas been added to the soil. m6s '' lall^some variety to grow is •. tha cup and saucer" Canterbury belli ' BULBS. The busy tiine of: bulb planting has now arrived.' No garden should be without.a,brilliant show of bulbs in the early spring. . The bulbs can be bought cheaply.; they increase rapidly, and. they ivfll grow anywhere—in sunny . .borders,' ia shady borders, under trees, and hedges, and certain kinds ' in. the grass. In the notes next week a list of well-tried kinds will be given. In the meantime, prepare their quarters for them, for it will •Pay to give, them the treatment they like bwt. They are particularly fond of three things—leaf. mould, sand,, and potash (wood ashes or rubbish ashes contain a fair percentage of potash). If the bulba are to be planted in clumps in the border, mark out the space each clump is to occupy, .then dig out the top spit of earth and lay it aside in a barrow. Break up the earth in the second spit with your fork, and mil 'with it decayed garden rubbish, or stable manure,' and plenty of grit. Heavy clay Boils require more grit than light, Sandy soils. Now mil with ■the earth from' tho top spif a good supply of leaf-mould, Band, and a little wood ash. For manure use the following:—Bonedust and sulphate of potash. .The quantity of man.ure is d0z...0f. bonedust and loz. of sulphate of potash to the square yard, bo you rnuat' judge the quantity for-your hole accordingly. Always be sparing : rather than generous with artificial manures..' Replace the top soil, and .when planting '.the bulbs spread a layer of Band for them to rest on; and see.that "thfly are on a firm . base. Bulbs eo planted need not be liflted again for three years. The method of trenching, a whole .bed for bulbs will be dealt with in 'my next ■notes. VEGETABLES. After a shower of rail is an ideal time to apply liquid manure; or nitrate of soda may be sprinkled round the plants and forked in before a shower of rain. Tho rain will then wash it down to tho roots. • • • LETTUCES. ■ " ; ; •:• : ' Lottuceß'for winter, use may. be sown on a well-drained. sunny, bed.. In most parts of New .Zealand rain, has been fairly plentiful during the past week, and the ground is now ready for seeds. . Don't sow just after .a shower on very wet ground. Wait till the soil i 6 friable. Sow the lettuce seed broadoast,. and afterwards thin out tho seedlings. Lettuces n.ake excellent borders for kitchen gardens where space is valuable. Take advantage of the moist condition of the ground to make small sowings of turnips, carrot, and winter spinach as recommended in last week's notes. ONIONS. Make a small sowing of onion seed, Giant Eqcca, on ground that has been cleared. : Sprinkle some bonedust and wood of rubbish ashes over the ground ■and then- hoe ithem in. Onions need a firm b«cl. Have the drills far enough apart to allow the hoe to be freely worked between them. Onions that are ripe should now lifted and dried, as, if left in the ground, they will start a second gronlth. Should the weather be dry and sunny they may be spread out 011 the paths to dry. If showery weather provails they must be dried in a shod or room. Aff-soon as the baulm has quite withered the onions may bo tied in bunches and hung up to tho roof of u slicd. STIMULANT FOR LEAKS. A good stimulant for leaks is Joz. nf nitrate of soda in one gallon of water. This should be applied once a weak after rain, or after previously watering with • clear water. Leaks require an abundance of water aild liquid maDure. TOMATOES. ' Keep all' side shoots well pinched out. By the TRrn&Viil of theaa t.hp .utrcflgtb Is •Mijcsuttfttsi lata the »ais etme mul*

'si into the fruit. In dry weather keep tho leaves well syringed witli clear water. Tho tops of tho mam stems should have lieen nippod off some time ago. / Those who have ncglected to do this should nip their plants without delay. Continue to giTe liquid manure twice a weelf, hoeing round the roots as soon as the soil is dry enough after each application. Continue planting out cabbage and cr.iilifloirer plants 011 firm ground. When transplanting the seedlings it is a good plan to cut off the long top roots to encourage the growth of the fibrous roots. French and runner beans and late peas should be k«pb well picked. Don't allow any of the seed pods to mature. Thero will bo a fine crop of weeds after the recent rains, so kep the hoe going. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about roses, bulbs, preparing ground for sweet peas, and liquid manures.