GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2588, 9 October 1915, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(Br "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Bulbs," Waipukurau—"l have a bed on my lawn planted with anemones and ranunculi, which, when coming into leaf, and also when flowering, turn brown and die. off. I took some of them up and found the roots quite eaten away., and others nearly so, while worms were embedded in tho roots. Can you recommend me anything to kill the worms?" No application to the soil will kill the worms unless made so strong as also to kill plant ife. You might try trapping the-worms by half burying pieces of potatoes in the soil near the plants. If you examine these regularly you will probably find worms embedded in the potato. Burn any pieoes containing worms and replace with fresh pieces. Lime forked into" the soil makes things a little less pleasant for the worms. "Tulipa," Blenheim.'—"Will you kindly inform me what you think wrong with tulips sent by even mail under separato cover? -You will notice how the leaves are spotted. One bed ia very bad, and one adjacent bed is just showing signs, while other beds are flowering- beautifully and are, in fact, as good as in previous years. This bad bed was replanted two years ago and was good last year, and the year before." You must dig up and burn the plants affected, and those that are still healthy 6hould bB sprayed with sulphide of potassium (liver of sulphur), using loz. to three' gallons of water. This will help to prevent the disease from spreading. No bulbs or tubers can be grown on the infected ground for thrpe years. During next winter you should remove the ujjper two inches of 6oil lying above your remaining healthy bulbs, and replace it with fresh soil to which a little sulphur has been added. The soil you remove should be burnt on a good) rubbish pile. BUDBECKIA. One does not often see the rudbeckia in small gardens, and .vet it is "one of the most useful of the autumn flowers for a sunny part of thp garden. The flowers aro bright yellow with a high brown conical centre. They aTe splendid for cutting, ,as they last such a long time in water. In tho garden they make a great show, because the bright yellow flowers are borne in great profusion. Rud-beckia-newmunnia is perennial, and one of the prettiest of the rudbeckias. Rudbeckia golden glow is another most showy perennial.' It bears quantities of yellow flowers like small cactus dahlias. " They all like deeply-dug, fairly rich soil, and plenty of sunshine. Their greatest value, perhaps, is that they withstand dry weather well, and this makes them invaluable for districts that have hot, dry summers. I don't want you to think that they prefer a dry climate. They don't.. They prefer a sunny climate with a modcrate amount of moisture, but they will also accommodate themselves to dry conditions and flourish amazingly in them. | The perennial' kinds may bs lifted and divided each spring, and the outside pieces planted back again. Seed of the annual varieties tti&y be sown now in pans, and planted out as soon as tho plants are big enough. ; I have found that if the annual varieties are cut back after flowering, they -will shoot .up and flower again next year. _ .. DIANTHUS. This is another flower that does well in a dry garden, provided the soil has been well prepared before the . plants are put out. Dianthuses are among the most oharming; of the flowers for cutting. The colours aro so rioh and so varied, the habit of the flowers so graceful, and the scent;so sweet. A bowl of mixed dianthusc.'i is a beautiful sight. Provided the dead flowers are cut off, and no seeds allowed to form,, the plants will flower over ft very long period. The plants, too, will last tor several years if they are cut back each year and given a good topdressing. , The colours are scarlet, dark crimson,. irose,. -purple, salmon, orange scarlet, ' white, arid' even yellow (a novelty). Some are selfs, others are fringed with white, and the flowers are double or single. All are beautifully fringed. Seeds may be sown now in pans threeparts tilled with a mixture,of soil, sand, and leaf-mould. They should afterwards be planted out in soil that has been deeply , dug, and that has been enriched with well-rotted manure. If the manuro is not procurable dig in decayed vegetable ruttbish. A little sand and a slight dressing of lime may be added to the surface soil. Give the plants plenty of room, and' they will soon branch out into strong spreading bushes. Keep tho soil well loosened around the plants at all times. After they have bean out back at the end of tne season top-dresa the soil around the plants with a mixture of wellrotted manure or garden rubbish and wood ashes. Powder the mixture up with the . hands before applying it to the soil. The plants ivill soon put forth new roots into this mixture, and, as a result, they will be strong ana vigorous for the ensuing season.

MARGUERITE CARNATIONS. Carnations of every description are a sheer delight to everyone. The colours ore so beautiful, and the scent so exquisitely fragrant. Personally, I think there cannot be too many grown even in a small garden. It is only natural to hanker after expensive varieties, but Suite a large amount of pleasure may be erived from growing quite ordinary varieties. A good packet of seed) will supply a number of fine plants, very many of them producing double flowers. Marguerite carnations are easily raised from seed, and if sown early in spring and grown on without check, will flower during the summer and yield quantities of delightful flowers for cutting. Plant out every seedling and allow, it to flower. Very often the most backward ones make Ene best flowers. Then at the end of the season undesirable varieties may be rooted out, and the stock of the nicest varieties may be increased by layering, or by cuttings. A light sandy soil with a. little

cow manure dug into it suits carnations well. A heavy clay soil should he lightened isith horse ma mire and sand or road grit'. | When the seedlings are planted out they should be well watered, and should afterwards have frequent doses of soot water. Occasional waterings with weak salt water suits the plants well also. Seed sown during the next week or two vtill produce flowering plants in four months' time. The seed should he well scattered over the seed pan, because as a rule nearly every seed germinates. Marguerite carnations form nice compact bushy plants. 'As a rulo the plants break naturally, but should they fail to do so then the top should be nipped off as soon as it is_ three or four inches high. This will, without doubt, camse the plants to break and send out a number of strong Bide shoots. VEGETABLES. Turnips mil need : constant attention dry spells of -weather. Frequent dustings of- soot should be given to them, and the soil should be kept in as moist a condition as possible. Give a good watering every few days, and hoc every day between the waterings. Turnips are so subject to blight during dry weather lihat every effort must be made to. keep them in a fairly moist state. It is the quickly grown turnip only that is delicious, and soot, water, and hoeing are the essontials to quick growth. •Pumpkins- and marrow seeds may be eoVn in pans Teady for planting out when danger of frost is over. In the' meantime the beds may be made ready for them. The soil should be very deeply dug and 6hould have plenty of decayed rubbish and well rotted manure worked into it. If the manure is not obtainable, work in a good dressing of bone-dust. In dry climates the plants are a little trouble at first, but provided they are given a good dieep Toot-run, and plenty of [water and a little liquid manure for a start they will soon grow vigorously. As soon as the vines begin to spread, the big leaves shade the roots, and the plants are little further trouble. One of the best, pumpkins . for general -use is the ironbark. It is a splendid keeper, and is excellent for cooking. Among marrows the Long Green is a good variety to grow, and in very small kitchen gardens, the Long Green Bush marrow (nonrunning) is the best. The Custard marrow is a good cropper and makes a nice change, but in small gardens it is advisable to only one variety. • CAPE GOOSEBERRIES. • Cape gooseberries are easily raised from ssw-l, or young plants may bo purchased ana planted out after the manner of tomato plants. They grow splendidly in the North Island, and in Marlborough and Nelson, and yield a fine crop of fruit in a very short time. The plants begin bearing early in December, and keep -up a constant supply of fruit till the bushes are cut by frost. The plants should be given a north-west aspect, and should be well treated 1 in the way of manure. Half a dozen bushes will produce enough fruit, to make a large quantity of jam. The ground should be deeply dug in the first instance, and should be enriched with cow manure, or with decayed rubbish and bone-dust. Liquid manure and water are appreciated while the plants are bearing. When the plants aro cut down, a good mulch of well-rotted manure, or decayed rubbish should be spread about the roots. Should decayed rubbish be used first prick in a dressing of bonedust, and then apply tha mulch. It is best to cut the planfe down in Hav, whether they have been affected by. frost ot not. Tlio new growth yields better fruit. Garden notes next week will contain seasonable notes about routine work, annuals. and vegetables. Anderson's Now Nurseries, Wellesley Road, Napier, state that their new nursery at Napier South,' comprising 20 up-to-date glasshouses ia now the largest and most complete in the Dominion, and is now a sight worth seeing being fully stocked with pot 'plants and -beddingout plants, palms and ferns in great quantity, also a fine collection of orchids. TSffi pelargoniums are now in full bloom in stock and selling pots occupying two houses. Bedding-out i seedlings and tomato plants are specialities at this time of tho year. All seedlings are thrico and are thoroughly hardened off, and are now being dispatched to all'parts of the Dominion.