GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2515, 17 July 1915, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

.(By "Kov.'SAi.ii) T-Swa notei are written solely for tho amateur fo-rdenor, far. the busy city man who hkeg to spend an hour or two in the garden after being Bhut up all day, f° r the woman who deriroß great pleaßuro from growing «, few plants to brighten her home, but to whom it would bo a wearinegfi to study garden books, and for all tao«o who ere endeavouring to ksep o> B nidi garden bright and attractive all the year round. To then© I gay do not attempt to grow too. much. Ohooao what plants you want for your garden and for supplying 'the house with cut flower®, and whatever you decide .upon grow tho best of its kind that is to be obtained. Bca4otß are invited to aek question!. ROUTINE WORK, Continue planting out perennials, floivenng slirubs, and roses whenever tho soil is suitable for their reception. Keep the borders free from weeds, and cut ft way all dead flowering stalks, flowers, and leaves. It sometimes happens that a very freeflowering climbing rose exhausts all the soil around it to such an extent that new soil is nccessary. Carefully fork out the soil from about the roots, taking cave not to'damage them more than can bo helped* wit oft with, a sharp knife any roots that are damaged during tho process, and any very large old roots. A clean out soon heals, and tho removal of any very strong roots will encourage the growth of fibrous roots. In place of the old earth, supply a mixture of good earth, decayed leaves, and ashes from a rubbish fire. Bam this new earth well "under and around the Toots. Proceed to cover all the roots, pressing firmly as you proceed. Firmness is most essential. The old rose, if tho old wood i is cut out, will take a now lease of life after this treatment. Geraniums should be cut right back and encouraged to make new growth. The °ld growth gets very woody, and scraggy. ? Violets that are flowering, well may do given an occasional; dose of soot water, varied at times by one of guano (2oz. to 1 gallon water). Apply the latter round the roots when the ground is damp. The soot water may be used «6 a spray for the leaves as nell as a manuTe for the roots. Pick oil dead leaves- off- rose ■bushes and 'other plants and burn -them'. ' Don't allow them to fall and lie about tho garden. To do so is to give ,a sure invita--,tion to blights. _ ' I always like to spray , rose 'bushes and other plants with Sunlight soap whether ■there are blights or not. Cut up one cake of 1 Sunlight soap (not a bar). into two' gallons of water, and boil till all the soap is dissolved. It is a good plan to keep'a kerosene tin with a handle .specially, for this, purpose. Syringe the plants while the soap-suds.are just hot-enough to put your . hand into. During summer spray 'late in the afternoon, during winter diir- ■ ing.the forenoon. Plants'that are sprayied: thus regularly ate very ;6eldom attacked T>y blights. - ■TWO METHODS OP EMPLOYING A . WET HALF-HOLIDAY. - ! I;' A, wet' afternoon may be spent in overhauling-and 'preparing stakes for the looming season.'. After the end of -this jmonth the garden work comes on with a (perfect rjieh, ;aiid it is a great help to' [have..the .stakes.sorted, and repaired.. The imajorityoosf s them are rotting at the ends-' ;when-they, are'pulled, out of .the ground at /tile end' of" the season!' These ends 'should be chopped off and a'new point made in readiness • for- use. Many a plant is spoilt through, not being etaked -at the light tune, aid'if Btakes are lying ready for .-use, it. takes but a, few minutes - to 'dime one in-where it is wanted.- '■ 11. A wet afternooa is a splendid op-portunity-for looking for' slugs.. Already they are making raids on -the young ileaves ; <)f-flowers or, A child's .pail half full of-salt water is : a-good receptacle, .for. them,. A meat skewer from the kitchen is a grand implement with which to 'catch them, ' ' ! ■• : COREOPSIS. I Coreopsis is one of the most -useful and most . Showy garden ;plants,lt is; really surprising what a- number of'ilowers-orio plant will produco during, the season.ihat m. if the flowers are kept nicked, and no seed-pods are allowed to form. Once, seed-pods are'.allowed ■ to' form the plant is doomed, for' it uses all its strength to develop its offspring the parent itself becoming, exhausted. Coreopsis will grow well in any well-kept garden as long as they are given a sunny position. 'Ihey are especially useful for town gardens. Coreopsis grandiflora pears large golden-yellow flowers on long stems. The best flowers are' obtained irom plants ; raised from seed each autumn. But they may also be propagated by breaking up each year the .old roots, and planting back small outside pieces, lhe plants from 6eed are the best, howe?re m- 9° r ?°psis Drummondi.and Coreopsis Tinctoria arei lovely shades of yellow, brown, and crimson. The flowering season continues throughout the hottest weather from early in. November till May. Those who intend purchasing plants, should get them- in as early: aspossible. ' BLUE EVERLASTING PEA, (Lathyrus, Pubescens.) It is surprising that this beautiful plant is not more generally grown. Once it is established it is so littlo trouble, and every year, towards -the end of the winter the bush, which grows to a height of six feet, is simply covered with the pale blue flowers. The flowers are splendid for cutting.' They-are long-stemmed, and they last a very long time in water. The pea flowers when the garden is full of low-growing spring flowers, and, when in full bloom a bush is most conspicuous by reason of its height and its excessive beauty. One plant will more than provide a large house with cut flowers. Being such a vigorous grofrer i

In Garden Notes last Saturday the accompanying illustration of pruning lxjsfs was given:—

the plant, is. a gross feeder. It lasts for many, yedrs; and should therefore be given a good start. Dig but a' hole three feet deep and about two feet square. Half fill the hole with a 'mixture of cow manure, leaf soil, loam, and grit.' Fill up the hole with admixture of loam; wood ashes, and leaf soil, and when the. whole mass has settled down plant your pea. I planted one thus six years ago, and each year the plant is a wonderful sight. During the flowering season (end of winter and spring) seo that the plant has plenty of water and a weekly, dose of weak liquid manure or soot water. As soon as flowering is over cut tho bush back to within a few inches of the. ground, and cover tho roots with a good mulcli of cow manure or of decayed loaves. If decayed leaves are used first fork into the soil some bo'nedust. .Have the ground thoroughly wet . before applying the mulch. New strong shoots will soon appear, and will probably produco flowers in the autumn. It is better for tho spring flowering if all autumn flowers aro cut off. Tho pea requires plenty of water during tho summer or.a good mulch. Othor requirements are a sunny position and stout stakes. VEGETABLES. A further sowing of broad beans May now be made. The soil for beans should bo deeply dug, and is all the better for having animal manuro or decayed vegetable rubbish buried about a foot below the surface. Sprinkle a littlo bonedust in tho drills at tho time of ' planting. Broad beans that were sown at the end <Jf autumn are already in flower. As soon as the pods show signs of setting pinch off the tops of the mam stems... Thus all the' strength'of'the plants will be thrown into the .develoiynsjiods., and they

will mature sooner. Earth up broail beans that are growing: up. Make another sowing of peas oil ground that lias been trenched and manured. As .with beans sprinkle bonednst in. Iho drills at sowing time. If the peas are soaked in water for a few hours they will como up all tho quicker. Mix wood ash with the soil, in. which peas aro to be grown, and ,dust soot over tho soil after sowing. . Do. not. wait for tho peas to come up before putting black thread along the rows. Sparrows are always on the look-out for a dainty meal, and will see the newly-sprouting peas quicker than you will, "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about etatice, flowering alu'ubs, and vegetables.