GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 8, Issue 2564, 11 September 1915, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "KOWKAI.")

Thfse notes ore written solely for tho a-mttteur gardener, for the busy city man ftho likes to spend an hour or two in tho garden after being shut up all day, for the woman who derives great pleasure from growing «, few plonts to brighten her home, but to whom it would be a. weariness to study garden books, find for all those who <u'e endeavouring to kees a small ga-vden bright end attractive nil the year round. To theEß I eay do not attempt to grow too much. Ohooso what plants you want for your garden and for Bupplying the hou6e with cut flowera, and whatever you decide upon row the best of its kind that is to be obtained. Headers are invited to ask Questions.

ANSWERS TO CORItESPONDENTS. "W.D.," Northland, asks: "Can you kindly tell mo what to do to grow beet successfully ? The roots grow to no size. Carrots and parsnips growlsatisfnctorily ion tho same land." Beet requires rich soil, but objects to fresh manure. It should, therefore, be grown on ground that was manured in the autumn or for a previous crop of greens. Tho soil should bo deeply dug, and well brokon up some weeks before sowing the seed. As soon as it has had time to settle down, choose a day when the soil" is dry and friable, and trample all over the ground to make it quite firm. Afterwards loosen tho eurface with a rake, and sow the seed in drills 18 inches apart. Dust a little bonedust in the drills at tho time of sowing. Thin out the seedlings to ono foot apart. Beet requires firm ground to make it swell, ■ "H.C.L.," St. Helens Hospital, write: "I enclose a sweet pea seedling, grown in a box, which I should bo glad to have your advice about. As you will see, tho head is apparently eaten right off. This has happened in a whole box full of seedlings; in another box they have not been touched. . Will you also tell me if it is timo now to put out tomato plants to grow in boxes on the verandah? We nave practically no frost, and the verandah is very warm. I should, be glad if you would include in your notes sometimes the names of plants , that do iiot mind tho wind." •

The tops of the sweet pea seedlings have been nipped oft' by sparrows. Protect all seedlings that, are so attacked by stretching black cotton, across tho boxes so that the threads are just a little above the tops of the seedlings. You may put out the tomato plants provided you can protect them from cold winds and an> trace of frost. lam afraid there are no plants that do not mind the Wellington winds. If .your garden is very exposed you must restrict yourself to growing only dwarf-growing things, such as dwarf ageratum, dwarf antirrhinums, calceolaria, violets, primroses, crocuses, irises, wallflower,- ten-week stock, violas, doronicums, French and, African marigolds, zinnias, carnations; arums, . Stnr of tho Veldt, and evon these will need staking. Flowering verbenas are good for a windy position, because they can be pegged down, and make ;a brilliant display over a long period. Phlox druinrnqndi also may be grown if pegged down, and pegged-down roses are very attractive. Ix)w brush hedges are a great help, and are not difficult to make. A of daisies or a closely-planted row; of flag irises make good protection, and they arc beautiful as well aa useful.

- PANSIES. Pansies naturally love a. cool, moist climate, but, with a little extra attention to the preparation of the soil, we can grow pansies quite well as far north as this. They are so beautiful that they are worth any trouble to have a fine display of them in our gardens. To counteract the drying up- influeiico of the northerlies,, we must give the -plants au extra deep' root ruin. It is astonishing how deep the roots wilL'go in dry weather. It is'best that pansies should have a southern aspect, with some taller growing flowers near them to shut off the northerlies as much as possible.' Tho ground must be very deeply dug.' Two feet is .not too deep. The top soil should first bo removed, to avoid - bringing to the surface the subsoil, which would be most objectionable to the pansies. ' Tho subsoil should then, be thoroughly broken up, and should liavo cow dung, vegetable rubbish, arid wood ashes mixed with it. If cow dung is not obtainable, then mix with the vegetable rubbish, etc., a good sprinkling of bonedust. The top. soil may then bo replaced, and should have bonedust and ■woo(l ashes miied with it. Tho soil should bo allowed to become thoroughly settled again before the plants aro put out. Constant stirring of the soil, and occasional applications of liquid manuro after a, good watering are neccssary during the spring, summer, ! and autumn. All dead flowers must be regularly picked off or the flowering season will soon'be over. Pansies may be planted out at any time of the year in out climate. In planting be sure to spread out the roots nicely. Pine earth Should then be spread over them and firmly pressed down with the hands. Pansies axe easily raised frcm seed. It is advisable to sow the seed in pans. The seed should be mixed in a saucer with a little sand before sowing so that it will be well distributed over the seed pan. The seedlings will then develop into sturdy plants, ready for planting straight into the garden. Propagation by cuttings .may be done almost at any time of the year. Keep the cuttings moist and shaded from the hot sun, and they will soon root.. In this Way we can increase, our stock of the finest pansies in our garden. When raising pansies from seed it is a good plan to plant out every seedling and allow it to flower. The common ones, of which there are bound to be 6ome even in an expensive pa/:ket of seed, may then be Tooted out, and their places filled by cuttings from good ones. Violas are grown in tho same way as pansies, but they can withstand heat and drought better. The majority of them

possess a fine tufted habit of growth. Tliey flower profusely over a long period, and are splendid for borders or for massing iu carpet gardening.

VIOLETS. Tho flowering season of violets is nearly over. Already tho flowers are smaller and the stems not quite so thick. Now is a good time to make new bottlers of violets. Ilmmers that were pinned down during the year w,ill now have quite a bunch of roots attaplicd to them. These can be lifted with the hand fork and severed from the parent plant by a sharp knife. It.is as well to provide ne\£ plants each spring. After their second or third year plants becomo old and woody, and do not produce such good blooms a-1 younger plants. Theso old plants should be dug out and burnt, and the eoil restored to fertility. The soil should be deeply dug, and should 'have, if possible, cow-dung mixed with it. If this is not possible decayed vegetable rubbish must bo dug in, and a good dressing of bonedust worked in. Heavy soils should have sand, wood.nshos, md grit, and decayed leaves added to them. The soil is then ready for the new plants. These must bo kept moist and shaded from the sun till they are established, and duriii" summer a mulch of ivnlWecnycd rubbish mixed witli wood-ashes will be. advisable around the plants. 'Borders that arc not' to be lifted this year should have their leaves and all suckers cut right oft' as soon as tho flowers become weedy. They should then have bonedust sprinkled round their roots and should be given a thorough soaking. As soon as the warm weather sets in (about the end of October) they should again be thoroughly soaked with water, and before the ground lias becomo dry again, should Jiavo a mulch of well-decayed leaves or vegetable rubbish- mixed with wood-ashes placed round rheir roots. During late summer and early autumn the leaves should be thoroughly watered occasionally to keep oft' an attack of red spider. Princess of Wales is the finest variety to grow. The flowers are very large and sweetly scented, and tho stems' long. Marie Louise, double lavender, is ' also very beautiful. California is another large (lowered pur-ple-variety, the flowers being quite as large as the viola cornuta which they very much-resemble. May .Tackson, a single palo blue violet, is a charming little flower.

LIME. Ground that was manured in the autumn should now bo top-dressed withlime. Sprinkle tho lime between rows of growing crops and ,thon hoe it in. Lime is a direct plant food, and is used in considerable quantities by some plants. It sweetens sour soil; and causes a richer and a healthier growth in plants. Turnips,. beans, and peas are specially benefited. by the addition of lime to the soil. Lime should not be used at the same time as manure. Ground- that is being manured now should not be given lime till the autumn. Ground that was manured in tho autumn should be ' given lime now. The following plants in the flower garden Should not have lime put anywhere near them Liliums,' pentstemons, sies, and violas. Also rhododendrons, heaths, and azaleas. Stake and tie up plants in readiness for equinoctial gales. Ga.rdeu notes next week will contain seasonable notes about dahlias, .hydrangeas, routine work, and vegetables.