GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2729, 25 March 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

/ [BY "KOWIIAI.'M ANSWERS TO COH-RESVONDENTS. "L.A.K.," Northland, writes:—"Would you please 101 l mo when to lift and transplant belladonna bulbb? Also, could you say how to avoid club-root in cabbages'i" Lilt and transplant belladonna bulbs alter Iho fuliago has died down, any time during l)eceinl)tr or J miliary, Club-root is causod by a fungoid disease, and, unfortunately, the spores of tlio fungus aro present in the soil. All plants tliat aro attacked should bo pulled up and burnt. I'urk into the ground a good dressing ol' ground lime, and do not grow any of Hie cabbago family in tliat pluco for iivo yo rs. TIiEI'ISIAS. Frecsias aro among the most charming of tho early spring flowers. Their delightful fragrance. alone is sullicient lo endear them to all lovers of llowers, but their beauty of form and their ability to keep fresh over a lengthy period alsp contribute largely towards their popularity. By planting at different times, and in dilferont ways, one may have frecsias in bloom for nuito a long time. Coming, as they do, during the dull days of winter, they are especially welcome. In my mind, tliey aro always associated with violets and daphne. I'Ycesias, violels, lind daphne! Surely ihreo of the- most fragrant und most delightful out of thn grent host of beautiful (lowers. And wo lucky New Healauders have them filling our gardens with fragrance in the dopth of winter? '

The bulbs of the old freesia rcfracta alba, arc so chcap that they are within tho reach of everyone, and olio can still derive an incredible amount of pleasure out a box/full of this old variety. The hybrids are wonderfully interesting, and very beautiful, comprising, as they do, such delicate shades of pink, ; primroses, etc. Freesias may be grown in ' the open border, in boxes or pots on a sunny verandah, and in pots and bowls in ■» a sunny window. In tho gardon freesiis like « light, sandy soil, enriched with very well-rotted manure, thoroughly decayed vegetable rubbish, or leaf -mould, and a little bonedust. The bulbs should be placed on .a firm-bed, nnd should be resting on a layer of sand. There should be one inch of soil above them when tho planting is finished. Keroseno tins cut in half, and painted dark green, aro very suitable for growing frecsias in. Make plenty of holes in the bottom of the tins lor drainage. The soil should consist of a mixture of good garden soil, sand nnd wellrotted manure, or welWecuyed vegetable rubbish. Mix ttiese ingredients together thoroughly with tho hands beforo filling the tins or pote. The bulbs sliopld be planted fairly deep, and they should bo one inch apart each way. Keep the soil uniformly moist till growth heginn. Precsins must have a long period of growth beforo the flowering season, therefore, early planting is most necessary. To ensure irood llowers plant large, well-ripened bulbs. As soon as growth begins, freesias require plenty of sunshine, and plenty of water, especially soot-wator. SWEET. PEAS. Many growers prefer to sow sweet pea seeds in pots, and transplant the seedlings as soon as they have three or four pairs of leaves. This plan has several advantages, one being that the seedlings can be protected more easily from sparrows, slugs, etc. : Where expensive seeds ore being sown this is, of course, a consideration. , But, after trying this plan for several years, I have gone back to the old way of sowing in the!open. In th© first place it is a. great saving of time. The seedlings, too, seem to me. to be /stronger when sown in the open and .grown straight on, than when sown in pots and transplanted. Threads of black cotton should be stretched across the 6eed-bed as soon as the seeds aro sown, for sparrows are quite capable of digging up the seeds, without waiting for the sweet, juicy shoots to appear. Soot I hat has been well expose;! to the t air should bB sprinkled ■ about to ward off slugs. As soon as the first green shoot appears, tho seed-bed should be visited regularly just «fter dusk. Take with you a lantern and a sharp pair of scissors, and quickly cut in halves every slug you see. It is surprising how quickly slugs may bo exterminated if this plan is practised regularly. 1 . It is advisable that large stakes should be driven into the ground before it lie peas aro.sown. Before sowing the seeds, chip olf, with a .sharp pecket-knifo, a little of the outer skin, taking care to make the chip well away from the germ of the seed. Draw a shallow drill, and sow the seeds about four inches apart. Should every seed germinate, the seedlings may be thinned out afterwards to six inches apart. The seedlings so removed may be transplanted to another part of the garden, or may be used for forming clumps of 6weet peas in a shrubbery, i Tho following are a few well-proved varieties:—Agncola (rosy-lilac), Bertrand Deal, improvect' (gifliit rosy-lilac), Dobbie's Cream, Edna May, improved (white), Florence Nightingale (lavender),, Hercules (rich pink), King Manoel (maroon), Margaret Atlee (giant cream, pink), R. F. Felton (lavender), Elfrida Pearson (pink, tinged salmon); Mrs. C. W. Breadmore (rich cveain, edged pink), George Herbert (lavender), Lilian (pale cream, pink), Austin Frederick (giant lavender), Mauve King, and Royal Purple. The following require shade:—Melba, Edward Cowdy, Kiiw Alfred, Barbara, Edith Taylor, Robert Sydenham, and Thomas Stevenson. N A JIVE PLANTS. Many of our beautiful native plants are readily increased by layering, and this work may still bo done. When hunting about for young plants in the bush, I havo often found thorn already naturally layered. Only-last month I went in search of a young myrtle, and I found a beautiful little plant that had been naturally layered, and was then just ready to lift. The native myrtle is ono' of the most beautiful of our many beautiful shrubs. The reddish brown leaves aro swollen between the veins, and this gives them a most curious effect. The flowers are very like those of the English myrtle, but it is the beautiful leaves of the native plant that 'nako it so attractive. In transplanting it, I like to.bring away' sufficient bush soil to coyer the roots when planting. Mix a fa!ir quantity of sand with this, and spread a layer of the mixture in -tho bottom of--the hole for tlie roots to rest on. ' Spread out the roots, and' cover them firmly with bush soil and «nd. lioplaco .is much soil as is necessary, and keep the plant uniformly moist, and shaded from the sun, till the roots take hold and growth begins. Another beautiful native treo is the titoki (alectryon excelsum). This has sometimes been called tho New Zealand ash.' It grows into, a handsome spreading tree, and in the autumn is covered with a black and scarlet berry. Seedlings are generally pretty plentiful wherever it grows in the bush, and are easily transplanted. The kawakawa (macropipe'r excelsum), with its beautiful heartshaped leaves, is well worth securing. It , is attractive from the seedling stage until

[t prows into a-small tree. It is easily tiviiwplnnlcil if the roots are planted in ft mixture of loaf-soil nnd sand, and kept moist for a week or two. The pitloipontniH aro always attractive, but pittosporum cngcuioidcs is 0110 of the most beautiful trees it is possible lo grow. The bright green leaves aro delightfully crinkled at the edges, and, wlion bruised, hnvo a faint lemon scent. The treo should 1m; given plenty of room lo develop freely, and it is then a picnsuro to look at it at any season of tho year. Young trees and 'slirnbs that are transplanted now whilo liio earlh is still wnrm will have a chance to become established before the winter sets in. VEGETABLES, The soil is now in splendid condition for tho reception of seeds. Sow plenty of silver beet, carrots, and turnips for winter lisc, nnd plant ont plenty of cabbases, cauliflowers, and lettuces, etc. Earth up celcrv as soon as it is ready j that is, about three weeks or a nionlh before the crop is ready for nso. Givo thi' ground in the tiench a good soaking with weak liquid manuro a little whilo before earthing up. Cut marrows and pumpkins as soon as they are ripe, to givo those that aro coming on a chance ta develop quickly. ''Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Early-floweriiig gladioli, tritonia, crocata, Toutino work, nnd vegetables.