GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2805, 24 June 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. 'L.A.W.," Keiburn, writes: "I should bo much obliged if you would giro me Bonie further information ancnt your arin.« 111 Sa ' H r da y' 8 Dominion (June 6, IJLb), ro potatoes. Your article says: "It is as well to get the seed in time to sprout before planting.' "Those who ha\o saved their own seed should look it over, to see that it is not already sprotuing. I have saved a few seedling's which are throwing off sprouts; do I understand I am to take these off or leave tnein on? I propose planting in lute August."

beeel potatoes that are stored in bags or heaps make long, weak sprouts. The sprouts that are desirable are the strong, sturdy ones that are produced R'hen potatoes are sprouted iu a strong light. Thence the importance of looking over ones seed frequently now, so that at the first suggestion of sprouting the tubers may be stood up on end in shallow boxes, and placed in a strong light, hnould seed potatoes have already produced weak snoots it is necessary to nip 1 li 0 ' an( ' re ' y "P Oll t* lo second-shoot. iu ? eCOII< l shoot is never 60 strong as tho first* you will see the necessity of constantly overlooking your potatoes in ca<*» they should attempt to sprout before being placed on end in boxes. In the case of buying new seed it is as well to buy it early (before it is possible ?! j "ave sprouted), so that you can attend to the sprouting yourself." ■ 'Prostranthera," Blenheim, writes: "I have a fence of prostranthera between three and four feet high, which I topped and trimmed just after flowering last spring, and it has made vigorous growth since. Would it be advisable to cut again now or wait till after next flowervngf

Leave it as it is till after the next Uowering. "J.F.K.," Khandallah, writes: "Will you luudlygive me information: (1) I ha\e several plants of Lnsiandra Macrantlia which i have promised to friends, but they "aro still 111 flower, and have boen for ithreo months or more. (2) I have a larger crop of keeping apples than ever this year, but they are not keeping. Have I gathered them too soon or. let them hang too long, or what may be the cause? 1 have never lost any in previous years, though I have stored them 111 same place and under same conditions.

(1) Ihe shrubs may be lifted any time now or during tho next two months. If they are lifted now with a good ball of earth and replanted immediately, . they will scarcely teet the move. Give them rrJ* watering several hours - before littmg, and they should be watered again « hen they are replanted. Tho soil should ! >e te P,t moist about tle;» for a day or two alter transplanting. (2) Without having seen your npplcs when von gatheied and stored them, it is difficult for me to say why they are not keeping. As a general Tule apples are ready for gathering it when cut open the pips are of a dark colour.. Apples aro more likely to be spoilt by gathering them too early titin by leaving them longer oil the trees. I lie greatest care is accessary when gathering apples that are to be stored as any that are bruised will decay and quickly affect all tho others near 'them. .Should tho fruit have been at all damp u hen stored it would decay. Some trrowcrs recommend laying tho apples carefully on a bed of straw in the orchard, and covering with the same material. If -V '•?. i? 1 ' , thcr6 lor aboul three \\eeks \t will finish "sweating," and any bruised or decayed apples may then b'e picked out during tho process of storing. IRISES. . Already the beautiful little iris stylosa is in bloom Day after day the dainty pale-blue buds may be seen pushing their way up irom amidst a tangle of gladiolus- !, ono wonders sometimes how the delicato petals escape being braised (luunjf the process Ueforo the suu has wen long above the horizon the exquisite iiowers open in response to its warmth. ■ L , J loweis uut in the morniug just before they open they will last in water tor two cr three .days. Thoy'look especially beautiful if'arranged in a rather flat clear glass bowl with, their own Milage. TJieir scent alwavy reminds me of palo jrejloiy primroses. Both have the same delicato fragrance. These delightful littlo irises are the first of a long procession of irises. Before they have finished flowering, purple and white flag irises will bo out in bloom. These are quickly followed by the beautiful Spanish irises. Tuoii come the English irises, and last of all the wonderfully rich coloured irises of Japan. Iris Sf.ylosa should be planted during sprnjg, after tho flowering is over. I fiml that they do well in a light sandy soil, and a sunny position. Japanese irises should be planted during this month and the next. Like all other irises, they like plenty of sand in then- soil. The position they like best ia a. sunny one, with a coot root run. Therefore, the sunny side of a stream or pond suits them well. Those who have not a pond or a. stream should prepare the ground for irises very carefully. .The subsoil should be well broken.up and should have mixed with it decayed vegetable matter; sa]:;l (.if possible), and road grit. Root moisture may be encouraged during the'flowering time by thorough watering and mulching. ROSE, "RAINBOW." This is a beautiful garden rose, and one that I recommend to those who have loom for only a few roses. The colour is an exquisite shade of pink,, the backs or the petals being splashed with red; the buds ore long and pointed, and very sweet-scented. But the greatest charm of this rose lies in its free habit of flowering. There is scarcely a time during tho year when one cannot gather a few beautiful blooms. It flowers right on till the time of pruning, and the few weeks succeeding this process is about the only timo when the tree has no flowers. FLOWERING SHRUBS.

Ceanothuses are very showy shrubs, which flower about October. Most ot tho varieties have blue flowers, and during .'lowering time the busltes are literally a sheet of glorious blue. Ceanothus Azureus is a very beautiful variety, bearing, as its name indicates, light blue llowers. The pink variety, Ceanothus Albert Pittet, is also a delightful shrub, and is a change from the many blue varieties. One of the most attractive varieties

is, perhaps, Ceanothus veitchianus, which bears bright blue flowers in the greatest profusion. It grows' into a very large shrub. Ceanothuses may be grown as shrubs, or they may be trained against walls or fences. They are showy and attractive however grown. A good rich loamy soil is suitable lor their cultivation. Pruning should be done as soon as the flowering is qver, CRATAEGUS (HAWTHORN). The hawthorns belong more to tho race of flowering trees. At least one variety should if possible bo represented in everv garden, for not only are they beautiful during (lowering time, but also in winter the trees are covered with very attractive berries. The common white hawthorn that is used for hedges is a lovely thing when grown as a specimen tree. Dujing spring there are ma&ses of fragrant white flow 7 cv»", followed in winter by innumerable dark red berries. The bare brown stems ablaze with their masses of red berries make a wonderfully attractive and cheery bit of colour all the winter. The double red hawthorn is a great sight in. spring, when the tree is covered with beautiful crimson flowers. Another attractive variety has double piuk flowers, VEGETABLES. In preparing the ground for asparagus it pays one to do it very thoroughly. The pround should be trenched at least two feet'deep, the subsoil being enriched with manure and bonedust. Where new roots uro to be plnijtetl this year the ground should be made ready at ouce August is generally considered to be early enough lo plant the roots. When planting is to take place procure thrce-ycar-old roots. Asparagus is grown now 011 the flat, and not in tlio old narrow raised beds. The rows should be from two to three feet apart, and tho plants in the rows two feet apart. Mark off a row and thou draw along it with a hoc a shallow trench. Draw up the earth from the

sides into the middle till a ridge is formed all along the middle of the trench. The plants will rest on this ridge with the roots spread evenly down the sides. When Jho earth is all filled in again the crowns should be two or three inches below the surface of the soil. LETTUCES. . Lettuces should be gently syringed with clear water occasionally to keep them clear of green fly. It quickly makes its appearance during a spell of mild dry weather. Young cabbage plants should have the soap-suds from the washing poured over them. Silver beet, cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, lettuces, etc., arc greatly benefited by the continual use of the hoe, especially 9.11 warm, suiniy mornings. Broccoli will take all the hoeing they can get at the present time. Don't neglect to remove all decayed leaves from cabbages, etc. When hoeing push the earth up towards the stems of cabbages, etc., thus gradually earthing them up. New roots will soon find their way into this fresh supply of earth.

Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about flowering shrubs, gaillardias, routine work, and vegetables.

In view of the extension of the applegrowing industry, it" is interesting to receive some very useful information regarding varieties Tccommended as being the most suitable to plant for the various markets, whether local or foreign; also particulars as to tlieJiabitof the varieties re time of ripening, whether summer, autumn, or winter. The latest and best winter sprays are also listed in the catalogue recently issued by Messrs. H. C. Gibbons and Co., Ltd., Lambton Quay, and these are obtainable from them free on application.