GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2705, 26 February 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

$ al , [By "Kowhai.'M ANSAVERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "New Chum" writes"l should like to know a remedy for the leaves of violets turning yellow at this time of- tho year. {' Tho leaves in my violet bed turned yellow• v. in patches, and now are beginning to fall j? ofl.' K Gut all leaves off tho violet plants, and ? bent the plants as advised in note under . the heading, "Routine "Work." j[ ( CHRYSANTHEMUMS. ' \\ Chrysanthemums are coming on very J" fast now. .Already the bushes are quito , top-heavy, and, as each week's growth P 1 will not add to tho weight ol'the brunches, staking and tying up must be carefully attended to. Tho next five or six week's are probably the most important ones in ni tho iife of chrysanthomum plants. Al- .n ready the earlier varieties are busy male- tc ing ■ their flower buds, and tho later tl: varieties are showing signs of activity in r. that direction. n| A little weak liquid manure applied ei now will be a great help to the plants during the strenuous time of flower forming. Weak soot water is good both for feeding thf> plants and for syringing their „ leaves. Very weak liquid manure made from cow manure is also good. But at ir first it must be-very weak indeed. Those j r who are not able to get cow manure 0 < can purchase guano from a seed mer- K chant., Begin by giving the plants joz. a of guano in t gallon of water. Increase j this gradually each Week until tho fl i strength is loz. in 1 gallon of water. Use cow: manure in tho same way, beginning with very weak manure, and , gradually increasing the strength until «r it is that of ordinary liquid manure. Vary the manure by giving soot water alternately with it. . Attend to the renewal of mulches round ?, the roots as they are required. J Caterpillars are very determined this ?, summer.. Hand-picking seems to be in- : ndequate in exterminating the pest, and .in addition to constant haml-picking ■ some insecticide should be used/ for 0 syringing tho _ bushes. Syringing tho a plants constantly with clear water helps to keep them healthy anil free from blight. I' ' ' SPAR AXIS.' Sparaxis is one of the prettiest of ?ur spring bulbous plants. The flowers are very freely produced, and are very rich in colouring, some being rich crimson, while others are brilliant scarlet. Tho bulbs may tie" planted now preferably in. a light rich soil. Those who have a heavy soil should add to it grit, sand, f well-decayed horse manure, and leaf soil, j Those who already have a light soil need j add only leaf-soil, and thoroughly de- - cayed and crumbled up cow manure. The 1 bulbs should be planted three inches ' deep, and should be resting on a bed of 1 sand. Good-sized clumps of sparaxis • growing ali along the sunny side of a 1 'garden path make a very brilliant show < during spring. Although a sunny posi- i tion is necessary to their iwell-being, . thev also require plenty of water from j the time growth commences, and especially after the flower buds have begun ( to' form. • IRISES; ■ ' ■ English and Spauish irises should be planted as soon as 'possible to allow the bulbs time to . make, strong roots before they thrpw up flowering steins. Irises appreciate plenty of sand in the soil surrounding them, and Hhat is easily : obtained by most New Zealand gardeners. A little boneduat may, too, with advantage be added to the soil when planting irises. The Spanish irises flower just a little sooner than the English ones, and their colours are very dainty, the palo yellow olid white varieties being specially charming. One can't help a little feeling of regret as the flowers fade and die, but almost immediataly the English irises •open their beautiful and richly-coloured purple, blue, or lilac flowers, and, for a space, delight us with their exquisite beauty. The English and Spanish Irises are splelhdid for growing in clumps in a mixed or for growing in a welldrained position on the sunny edge of a pond or stream. Of" their value as cut flowers too much cannot be said. The delightful form of the flowers, their dainty colours, their long stems, am! their ability to keej) fresh in water, all 1 make them very desirable as cut flowers. 1 ■LILY OF THE VALLEY. Beds of lily • of the valley should be top-dressed now with a good layer of wel-decayed manure, followed by a good .watering. This is the only attention that lily of the valley asks of the gardener-, the annual toji-dressing with manure—and it repays him- by giving a fine number of beautiful flowers towards the end of the spring./ It is a very hardy, little flower, and although it naturally likes a position, where it -is shaded from tho mid-day. sun, still, it will succeed' even where it gets no shade. It must have, however, its '■ annual mulch of manure, and plenty of water and weak liquid manure during the growing season. Every gardener should find a place for this dainty and intensely fragrant little flower. , ROUTINE WORK. Keep a sharp lookout in violet borders for any trace •of red spider. The leaves should be kept well syringed with clear water, and should occasionally, while damp, be sprinkled with sulphur. Should red spider have obtained a hold of the plants before it is observed, tho leaves should be out off close to the ground and — burnt, and the plants should then be 1 thoroughly watered with clear water, aud 1 sprinkled with sulphur. A little weak nitrate of soda solution (loz. in 1 gallon water) will soon start the plants into vigorous growth. Tho new leaves will be freo from red spider, but must be kept free by diligent inspection, and ~| prompt treatment. Keep the runners cut off'violet plants. They are thrown out very rapidly at this tinio of tho year. Should it bo desired to keep some of the runners on the plants, they should be ' trained into place and pinned down. Remove the dead stalks from early-flowering gladioli, ixias, and liliums, and see that the marking sticks are in place to indicate the position of these bulbs. Keep all faded flowers cut off antirrhinums, pentstemons, geraniums, pelargoniums, scabious, gaillardias, and coreopsis, and a wealth of continuous bloom will reI .\vard|you. Give ai stimulant'in the form of weak liquid manure whenever the plants seem lacking in vigour. Keep tho soil well stirred round all flowering plants. Dahlias must have plenty of water sup- —, plied to them. Only poor stunted plants can be grown without it. It is as well ™1 to practice a little disbudding also, Dahlias produce such a number of flower buds, and the plants cannot possibly perfect them all. Cosmos require a good watering now and again. See that plenty of stakes are provided, three or four for each plant. ' The branches can then be tied

out to the stakes in a natural manner, and the bushes will have a chance to display their wonderful beauty of flowers and graceful habit of growth.

VEGETABLES. Al ARROWS AND PUMPKINS. Many gardeners aro complaining this year that pumpkins mid marrows aro producing such a number of non-fruit-bearing flowers, and scarcely any fruitbearing ones. Where this is the case tlie vines should be promptly stopped by nipping off the ends. Side groyths will at once lie thrown out, and most df these will produce a fruit-taring flower. These'again should be stopped just beyond the first fruit-bearing flower. While the pumpkins, etc., arc still growing plenty of water should be supplied lo tho plants. As sopn as. the fruit is beginning to ripen, witfer should be witnheld. FRENCH BEANS. French beans aro not as a rule giyen nitrate of soda, but at this time of the year a weak dose will lie very beneficial to them. First water them thoroughly, then apply the nitrate of soda at the rate of Joz. to 1 gallon of water. Hoo ngaiii ao, soon as the ground is dry enough, and keep on hoeing. SILVER BEET. Sow now seed of silver beet for winter use. Beet likes a deeply-dug, fairly rich soil. Mako tlie drills about eighteen inches apart. Sprinkle a little bonedust in the bottom of the drills at tho. time of sowing the seed. As soon a£ the seedlings are up thin them out to about a foot apart. Keep the plants well hoed, and feed regularly-with weak, doses of nitrate of soda. Garden Notes next week will contain 6:asouable abliut:—Sweet peas, bulbs, and vegetables. We hav,e to acknowledge receipt of a handy illustrated book that should interest the amateur or professional gardener who delights in sweet peas and bulbs. -Amongst the novelties mentioned arc winter flowering sweet peas and a handsome new hybrid freesia. The book is procurable free on application to Messrs. H. C. Qibbons and Co., Ltd.,