GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2540, 14 August 1915, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(Br "Kowkai,")

I'iiMo notes are written eolely for tlio amateur gardener. for the bußy citjr m<ui who likes to spend an hour or two in the garden after being shut up all day, for the woman who derives great pleasuro from growing a few plants to brighten her homo, but to whom.- it would be a wee-Ti-neas to study garden books, and for all tuoee who are endeavouring to keep a email garden bright and attractive a.ll the year round. To these I say do not attempt to grovr* too much. Ohooso what plants you want for your garden and for supplying the house with cut flowers, and whatever you decide upon grow the best of its kind that is to be obtained. Headers are invited to esk Questions. "W.H." (Grove Road, ICelburn) asks for hints on the proper treatment of Kentia Palms and Asparagus, which are growing in a window, of a room. Kentia Palms should have their leaves and stems thoroughly cleansed with a sponge dippod in warm water. Theso plants thrive best when their roots are rather cramped in their pots. AVater only when the hall of earth looks dry, _ and then water by standing the pots in. a pan of tepid water till tho earth is thoroughly saturated. Do not allow water to stand in the saucers. Keep the palms away from draughts. Do not take tho .palms from a warm room out into a shower of rain. After watering, occasionally sprinkle a pinch of Clay's fertiliser on to the surface of tho soil. Do not attempt to water it in from tho top. Tho same rules apply to asparagus, but in place of sponging syringe tho fern occasionaly with tepid water. Do this on a warm day when you can take tho plant outside. Asparagus does better in a cool room, as it does not liko a hot, dry atmosphere. .. You'may trim the Ngaio, but it is' better when allowed to grow naturally. ROUTINE WORK. Sow seeds of hardy annuals in seed pans. Have all flower borders thoroughly weeded, and the surface soil loosened with the hop or the hand fork. Broak up and divide clumps of perennials that have not yet been attended to, planting back- the outside pieces. Work a little bqnedust into the soil around plants as you proceed with the work of clearing up borders. Just prick the bonedust into the surface soil. Spring rains will soon wash it down to tho roots. Bo sparing always in tho use of artificials. Proceed with the work of rose-pruning. Full instructions were given in Garden Notes on Saturday, July, 10. After pruning, prick into the soil round roso trees a sprinkling of plant food, such as Clay's fertiliser. , GARDEN STRIPS ON THE SUNNY AND SHADY SIDES OP STREETS. (Continued from August 7.) ■ ANTIRRBINUHS. Antirrhinums make a brilliant display for the best part of the year, and give bo little trouble. They revel in heaps of sunshine, and must Have any attempts at seed-bearing promptly . dealt with. 'As they flower so profusely antirrhinums are gross feeders, and should bo given liberal 'doses of weak liquid manure during the flowering sea- ■ son. A packet of Sutton's intermediate mixed, seed. contains many brilliant shades of orange and yellow, and dainty shades of pink. One would want with these a border of some pale colour—pale yellow or white violas, or dwarf stratum (pale blue). DAISIES. Daisies are always attractive and flower for so many, months of the year. The dwarf-growing double white daisy, is most suitable for filling a strip of garden. CARNATIONS. Carnations do well in towns, and a bod of miied colours is attractive to look at, and groets passers-by with a delightful fragrance. Othor suitable plants that have a long flowering period: are:—Sweet seahious (iniied colours), verbenas, :gaillardias, pyrethnmes,. cactus,,;.dahlias, • pclagoniums. I havo mentioned only the most common plants that have a long flowering period. All of theso are showy and easily grows. . (To be Continued.) VEGETABLES. Sow seeds of radish,, lottuce, short-horn carrots, ttirnips, peas, broad beans, and parsnips. Plant potatoes, shallots cabbages, and cauliflowers. The best kind of turnips to sow at this time of the year is Early Snowball. If tho plants are well . looked after from {fee'time of sowing until the time of gathoring,- turnips sown now should.he ready, about the • middle of October. A light, ', - rich soil is most " suitable , ; for . 'turnips, but fresh manure must, not be used. Ground that was . well 'manured for a crop of greens makes a splendid , bed for .turnips. Work the soil to a fine powder for a depth of' at least- a' foot. Lumps in the ground favour' an 'attack of the turnip fly. Work, into, the. soil' at the time of digging Borne .wood ashes, and allow tho ground to settle beforeVehwing the seed. .Turnips' bulb ,more quickly when grown

c-n fairly firm soil. Dust some Iwuedust into the drills when sowing the seed. Turnips will not grow when the ground is very dry, therefore the sooner the seed is sown now tho beimr. As soon as tho seedlings appear through the ground dust soot that has been exposed to the air over them in tho morning, while the dew is still' on them. ' This helps to ward off the turnip fly. It is the first smooth leaves that the fly attacks. As soon us the truo loaf appears, i.e., tho rough leaf, thin out tho seedlings and dust superphosphates along the rows. Tiiis gives the seedlings a good start. Subsequent treatment consists in weltering twice a week with soot-water, and in hoeing between the rows after each watering as soon as the ground is dry enough. A few pouuds of early potatoes may now be planted, though tho main crop may be delayed for a few weeks yet. In both cases, however, tho seed should be obtained as soon as possible. Potatoes about tho size of a good lien's eggs are tho best for seed. ' The potatoes for *eed should be well shaped. Bugged, lumpy potatoes do Jiot make good seed. Sot the potatoes upon end ia a shallow box in a pod light to sprout, and then cut out all j:, 0 strongest sprouts. Those at ™e top of the potato are tho best. \> hen planting take caro not to damage the sprouts. Ground that was sown with a crop of oats for green manure is splendid for potatoes, The oats should be well turned in now, and all lumps in the soil should lie broken up. The best way of planting the seed is to draw drills 3 or 1 inches deep with a hoe. The plan pf matin? a hole and dropping a potato in is not a good one. ■ With the drill the seed potato is covered over with uico loose soil, and tho now Toots easily penetrated this. Potatoes need plenty of potash._ Ashes from a wood fire or from a rubbish fire should be worked into tho surface soil. At tho time of planting work into the drills the following mixture of artificial manures:—Mix superphosphate and sulphate of potash' at the rate of two to one. This is, 21b. of superphosphate and lib. of sulphate of potash. Have the mixture ready in an old biscuit tui, and work it into the bottom of the drills at the rate of loz. to a running yard. Plant the sets one foot apart from each other, and with the sprouted end uppermost. Cut a slico off the part of the potato resting on the ground. Only two strtmg sprouts should be left on each feed potato. Tfco others should be well dug out to prevent their sprouting again when in the ground. Fill in the drill with fine, earth, and draw out the sext one 18 inches from the first. Do not plant tho seed more than three or four inches deep, as warmth from the sun. is absolutely essential to tho growth of potatoes. Large seed must be cut. Try to do it. so that a strong eye from the top of the potato is left on each piece. For the amateur with only a. small garden shallots are often more profitable than onions. Sets may.ba bought from seed merchants. The ground should be well dug and well manured. Tho bulbs do not need to ba buried. Just press them firmly into tho ground'. Plant the sets about one foot to 18 inches apart each way. Garden Notes next week will contain soasfonablo_ notes about chrysanthemums, garden strins on tho shady sides of streets, and vogotables.