GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2681, 29 January 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

[By "Kowhai.'M

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Ono who Appreciates Garden Notes," fe'eutoun:—"Tho samples sent had been off the treo too long to be of .my use for examination. Please eoncl name of variety grown, and any further particulars." Inquiries must be accompanied by name and address of the correspondent. LAYERING' CARNATIONS. The surest way of increasing one's stock of carnations is l>y layering. Now that the first flowering of the plants is over, stronp shoots that have hot yet flowered will bo appearing. These are the shoots to layer, and the'work should bo done as soon as they are long enough to peg down. Having chosen tlie shoots to bo layered, strip off some of the lowest leaves, and then make a cut, about halfway through the. joint that will be, renting on the ground, beginning just below tho joint, and then continuing up the stem for about an inch.

To keep the cut open push a small stone into it, and then rani in a little ball of damp sand. Prepare a small heap of loam and sand to peg the shoot into. See that the pegging is very firm, and then cover the part pegged down with a little heap of damp sand and rich loam. Keep the placo, damp until roots aro formed. Carnation shoots so layered will quicklj root, and may then be separated from the parent plant, and put into their new quarters. Strong flowering plants are thus obtained more quickly than if they are procured from cuttings. MONTBRETIAS. ■ These beautiful flowers are now making many a garden gay with their 'bright orange and yellow blooms. They are very easily grown, _ and flower profusely if given just ordinary attention. Moutbretias like a sunny position, but a cool root-run. These two requisites are difficult to obtain naturally, unless one possesses a stream or pond with a eunny bank. But the sunny position can. bo obtained by everyone without any trouble, and the cool root-run can be had by taking the trouble to dig the ground deeply, and to bury a supply of green' manure for the bulbs to root into. The bulbs increase, so rapidly that they should not be left in the ground longer than two years without being lifted and divided. The growth of montbretias, as regards both flowers and foliage, is graceful in the extreme.. The plants look beautiful in the garden when grown in groups in a mixed border, or when planted on the edge of native bush, or along the banks_ of a stream or pond. If, left too long in one place the plants- become over-crowded, and the struggle for existence causes them to deteriorate, and'tho growth to become stunted and the flowers small. Under theso conditions montbretias are quite unable to display their wonderful beauty of flower and foliage. In ; stead of tall spikes of brilliant flowers and quantities of strong healthy-coloured leaves, one sees stunted yellowish green leaves, and poor little spikes of small palecoloured flowers that have discomfort «ad unhappiness written all over them. Some people little realise how cruel they aro to the plants they grow. Over-crowded plants not only nave not room to expand beneath tjie soil, but they must necessarily suffer, also, from semistarvation.

ALSTROEMEKIA. Another very beautiful flower that Is out just now is the alstroemeria, with its masses of dainty golden flowers. Alstroemerias, oncothcy become established, require very little attention from the gardener byond an occasional top-dressing of mixed loam and decayed manuro to keep the flowers up to the necessary standard of, size and brilliancy of colouring. The best time to plant alstroemerias is early in the autumn, and the thick fleshy roots should be planted fairly deep. The flowers may be small tlie first season, but after that the growth 'is very strong, and one's only fear with regard to the plants is that they may spread beyond their appointed space. The flowers are borne in clusters at the end of long straight .stems, and the colouts vary from bright orange with tiny red streaks to palo gold. A good olump of the plants when in bloom is a sheet of orange or gold. For cut flowers they are almost without an equal. They are easily arranged, and last.a very long time in water. Alstroemerias like a well-drained porous soil. Heavy soils should be well dug, ami should be made, more porous before alstroomerias aro planted in The plants grow equally well in sun or in shade, though tho colour of the flowers grown in shade is a little paler than of those,'grown iu full sunshine.

ROUTINE WORK. Plants that have -becomle quite exhausted should be pulled up and burnt. Any ground that becomes vacant should be dug over and' left rough until tho time arrives for planting early bulbs. Many plants may bo induced to prolong their flowering season if all dead flowers and seed pods are kept picked off. Seeds of pentstemos, aqm'Uegi.is, ppnsies, stocks, etc., may still be sown. Keep the beds free from weeds, and the ground well hoed. VEGETABLES. Before earthing up celery give the plants a good watering with clear water and a dose of weak liquid manure. Should the ground already be fairly damp the watering will not be necessary. Don't throw the earth round tho plants. Lift it into tho trench carefully, and then press it round the plants gently and firmly with your hand, at the same time holding the stems close together with the other hand. Some people twist a piece of pliable wire round the stems of each plant, and, as the earthing up proceeds, this wire band is pushed further up the stem. Whatever plan you adopt, the main thing is to keep tho earth from 'getting in among the stems. Earth up a littlo at a, time, and never go beyond the .heart , of the celery. TOMATOES. Keep all lateral shoots well pinched out from tornito plants. Feeding should commence as soon as, tho fruit has tot. If commenced then, , and continued steadily, one is able- to -keep to weak doses of liquid manure,, and this is much better for the steady development of the fruit than occasional strong doses. Guano and superphosphate are both good manures for. loiuatoes, and both may be obtained from a seed merchant. Half an | ounce of each in ono gallon of water is the strength required. Use the guano and superphosphate on alternate weeks. First water the plants thoroughly. As soon as the surface soil is dry enough hoe it over. Tho liquid manuro may then 'be given, and should be poured gradually into a little gutter made round each plant with a stick. As soon as the liquid has soaked down to the roots cover the earth over tho littlo gutters again. As tho ground round the plants will bo considerably trodden upon during the process, hoeing should again take place. Hoe the ground round tomato plants every day if possible.

ROUTINE WORK. Keep runner beans well trained up their supports. Keep tho pods of peas and Ircnch Weans severely picked to prevent the plants deteriorating. Keep a sharp lookout for caterpillars, slugs, snails, and any trace of aphis, or fly of any desenp}loe between lie rows of vegetables daily, and kosp the weeds pulled out. Water should be withheld from pumpkins and melons wheu the fruits are I'litfi'ilnS' ~ ft, If At. Ate

developing too quickly. Don't allow tie. caying cabbage leaves and stumps, and potato l haulm or bean stem?, to lie about. Coilect them all into a lieaj) and buTii them as soon as possible. The ash may be spread over tlift. vegetable garden ami worked in with the'hoe. Don't water at all unless you do it thoroughly. Keep the lioe going instead. Garden Kotos next week will contain seasonable notes about ngapautlms, Ihemorocallis, and vegotables. Quito a feature in Lambton Quay window exhibits this week has been the fine show of carnations, liliums, llowej'iiig pot plants, aiiu|/ palms in the window of H. C. Gibbons anil Co., Ltd., Seed Merchants, making tho display well worth a visit.