GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2818, 8 July 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowliai") FLOWERING SHRUBS. . ■ Arbutus Unedo (strawberry tree) is an absolute treasure, for it will flower arid fruit freely in the poorest and shallowest "soils. . Arbutus unedo , grows to:. a small, treo of most, attractive appearance. The : white flowers' are prettv, but it is thobeautiful orange scarlet fruit that follows that gives the treo its greatest charm. , . RHUS (SUMACH) COTINUS. : A? a rule tho. sumachs are grown for ti'eir foliage, ivhich colours . so brilliantly in .the autumn. When planting these'shrubs or trees for the purpose ot providing brilliant colouring in the grounds during, autumn, care should bo taken to plant them in' ground that'is not. too rich,, for,, as a.rule it is the bushes growing in rather .poor soil that colour best. -• Rhus cotinus, however, bears during the summer the most curious looking heads of fruit. These Loads aro not jinfike the fluffy, silky, seed-pods of our native clematis, but the colour is heliotrope, tinged with green. Not only they curious, but they are also most beautiful, and make special room decorations. The spikes of heliotrope fluffiness look very' light and gracefulwhen - arranged in bowls or vases, and they last fresh in water for a very long time: • . .' : , GARDEN MAKING. ".In making a garden - for 'flowers -'or shrubs the soil should be thoroughly 'worked at'least a-month before anything is. planted. It is usual to work the ground three feet deep, keeping the top -soil on top, as the-..sub-aoil is generally sour. Only when the soil has been deeply worked for a good many years is it sate to bring tho sub-soil to the top. It is of the utmost importance to do the work of preparing the ground thor. oughly in the first instance, especially where shrubs are to be planted, because these remain in the same place for many years. .A flower garden that has been well made may .also .bo left for a good many years befoi'o it is necessary to lift overythingand again thoroughly dig the) ground. Therefore, in jnakihg a new garden- it is always, safest to remove' the top soil and trench and manure the soil.-. Heavy ' clay soils should be ligljtened by having sand, road-grit, and horse manure: worked into the subsoil. Ycget- 1 able rubbish or any decayed vegetation may also be used. After, the .top soil has been replaced, work into it basic slag (4oz. to square yard). Light soils may also have decayed vegetation worked into the 6ub-soil, but instead of horse manure, 1 covr or pig manure should be used, and also plenty of dead leaves, soot, anu wood ashes., Into the top soil work 4oz. of boneduSt to the"square yard. Topdress the .gardens with ground lime : : in the spring, if the manuring was done" in the autumn. If . the .gardens are made and manured in tho spring, top-drcKa with lime the following autuiun. -By breaking up and tilling the sub-Boil- a greater mass of .good soil ' containing plant food is obtained. Tho more the food, ? tho better. the plants. Once 'a garden ' is. permanently planted with shrubs orVlierbaceous' plants it should not be dug ivith a spado or. doeply forked, This breaks or bruises the tender roots which are just below the surface of - the soil, and spoils them for flowering. If a garden has been well trenched and manured at first, all that is necessary for a good many years is weeding, loosening of the surface soil by shallow hoeing, or by the use of the hand fork, mulching, and stimulating with artificial manures. PRIMROSES..

. Thoso ivho wero unable , to "break, uri roots in the autumn may still do. .so with every hope of a good supply of flowers in the-spriiig. The old .roots, if lctt'iu,.tho b«uug '.jjlficc for.'inoro .tixau ; two or thrco yeara,- viel^l'suol^sborfc^" , stemmed unsatisfactory'ifowora. 'The-best' position for primruaeo iis n-semi-shaded qne. They will do-quite-well right'out 111 the sun, but. they. aro at their-.best iu the semi-shade. Especially is this so with the common pafo yellow varioty. When grown in tho sun tho colour of tho (lowers is apt to bo rather faded, but in "tno;-6omi-§ljadc (preferably where they., lose the - lnid-tUiy - - tin? ■- colour - is. ii" beautiful-clear pain ycjlow, just slightly tinged with grceri. The stems, too,-are much longer on the flowers grown in partial shade. By cureful cultivation one can have, quite, large flowers, <011 very long- steiiis. I'rimroat's, jjien, are much raore'valuHole M,,diit:ilowprs^f6r ; not only aro.,.they, more iU'autirulj'''but' also they are so much ieasiei - to arrange "in bowls. A. big ilat glass boivl filled with tiieso dainty fragrant flowers and a few of their own leaves is a sight that is absolutely satisfying to lovers of the beautiful. I'riniroscs nipy j»-a,variety..of ways. ; They inalte sjilendid spring edgings'for gardens, they'.'are .useful for'. tlie rock.'garden; they l may Le grown ~ingress, _or in-clusters round the roots of flowering trees, such js towering almonds, or they may be groivn on sloping banks, A bant of primroses of- every imaginable ailour is_ indeed a beautiful sight, especially if it be edged with a. narrow strip of well-mown green grass. Tho- primroses Should be planted In. groups or drifts of all one colour;- In preparing the- grounil, mix witli; .it a-good supply of, lent' mould,, or well-rotted -vegetable- master,- a- little well-rotted manure, nnd a sprinkling" of ashes from a vegetable rubbish Are. As soon .as ..the plants aro growing well;; -ji'rick. in- amongst them ;ii' slight dressing , of bonedust (about three or four ounces >to, the square.-, prim v roses- are even more showy than -primroses, and the treatment for tliwn is tnfl ■same as for'- primroses. .' Both; primroses and : polyanthus : primroses- are - easily raised from ■ seed. - Those who have a. 'frame;, or' & greenhouse ' could sow; seed now'jii shallow pans, or it may bV sown out of doors in September or October. The seedlings will flower ! tho following spring. Roots planted now will flower this spring. -

PERENNIALS. Take'every advantage of the.soil beingiu good condition l.t> puiii on witn the' work amongst perennials. Sew roots may bo planted now. of such tilings as herbaceous phlox. Oriental poppies, delphini. urns,- gypsophihi paniculata, coreopsis grandinora, gaillardias, pentstemons, pyretrums, antirrhinums, aquilegias, carnatious, daisies, campanulas, hollyhocks, michaelmas daisies, scabious, and verfce, nas. Old clumps that need breaking up ' may be attended to now, Lift the • old : clump, and- plant tack strong young pieces from the outside.of .the 'clump.. Where big clumps of perennials' have been lifted, work into., the. soil some•-well-decayed vegetable matter from a rubbish heap :oi holo, and a>little bonodust. Examine the loots before' planting,"rind"cut off with a sharp knife -any that are bruised or damaged. Tho gardener who has little spare time cannot do better than fill up his beds with perennials. The ordinary amateur gardener has no time to sparo for elaborate bedding-out schemes. His main object is to have his littlo : garden plot gay at all seasons of the .year, and this can best be achieved by"means of a judicious choice of .perennial plants, roses, and (lowering- shrubs, with the help of'a.few annuals." • -VEGETABLES. ' In tli« vegetable garden a further sow-, . ing' of peas may be made. Do not sow when the' ground, is sodden with rain. Wait- till the soil- is fairly friable. Before sowing soak tho seed in warm water ■ for a few - hours. Sprinkle a little bonodust and . w.oo.dash ; mthe drills at the time of sowing. Peas that are .coming on ehould'be kept well trained.up to stakes. Blaokon tho soil between' the rows with soot occasionally, for .it'is a grand fertiliser, and hoe whonever tho soil is in a suitable condition. BROAD BEANS. - Where necessary, a further sowing of broad beans'-may bo-made. Attend to tho' cultivation of those that are already growin* up. Staking is-most.important: Push the earth towards tho stems when hoeing between tho rows. - TUJtxrps. Another small sowing of turnips may be mado now. Work the soil to a fino tilth; .mixing'.with''it soot and woodashes, and . then make it very firm by tramping or rolling. Soil must bo firm to grow fino turnips. Store up all the

ashes from wood fives or rubbish fires now, for they will bo in great demand during the next'few weeks.' Garden Notes next week will. contain seasonable -iotas about .pruning roses, violets, and-vegetables.' Sutton's well-known catalogue of Garden and Farm seeds for. the coming season, just to hand, indicates a departure whicli.should.be of special interest,, to amateur,' and, indeed,, to all gardeners or owners.of gardens.' At the instanco of Messrs. Tothill, Ltd.,. the bit;. English seed firm, has undertaken to put up its garden seeds for the coming, season in. fourpenny packets. , In the past the lowest price packets -lia'v been sixpence, but to enable the New Zealand agents to cater, for small, as well as for large', gardens,' 'this' change lias, been ihade.' The "high quality of the firiu's seeds will of course-be maintained, Lut the economising in the get-up of the packets) etc!,-'the reduction'-'stilted' has been made possible. Messrs. Tothill," Ltd., of Christchurch, have appointed sub-agents throughout the Dominion, and invite correspondence on the-subject from all who may be interested. The firm's catalogue fi got lip in the customary attractive and informative style and should prove of interest and value to all who indulge in gardening" for 'profit or for pleasure.— Published by Arrangement.