GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2830, 22 July 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Red Oil," Hinakura.—Gargoyle Prepared Red Spraying Oii is already so prepared that it needs only the addition of the necessary quantity of water. Use rain water if you can get it, and follow the directions ou the tin. "5.R.," Parkvale.—Heather will grow in a heavy soil, provided it has been well prepared before the plant i.' put in. Trc-iich the soil to a depth of two feet. Remove the top soil and lay it aside. Break up'the subsoil and mix with it decayed vegetable rubbish and plenty of road grit. Return the top soil and mix •with it plenty ot coarse river sand and some road grit. Other shrubs that are not too tallgrowing are:—Daphne Indica, Rubra, Azalea Mollis (shades, orange-red, salmon, or yellow), Diosma, Lasiandra, Genista Monosperma Alba (white broom), Hydrangea, Lilac, Rhodudondron. Ciliatum, Ghoisya Ternata, Abutilon . (pale yellow). lull directions for preparing the ground for shrubs were given in Garden Notes of June 10. Roses.—Frau Karl Druschki, Hugh Dickson, Lady Ashtown, Lady Roberts, Mrs. John Laing, Mrs. David M'Kee, Pharisaer, Fisher Holmes, Papa Gontier (climbing). Get a rose catalogue from a nurseryman to see description of the roses. FLOWERING SHRUBS. One of the most charming of the flowering shrubs that is out at present is the Lasiandra. The. beautiful rich vio-let-coloured 1 .flowers: are produced over such a lengthy period, and at such a dull time of the year, that.the shrub is well worth growing by. all who can manage Hcn-v-y frosts are apt to play liavoc ■ with the Lasiandra, but if the plant, is kept to a shrub unci not allowed to grow into a tree, it can easily be protected by tin-owing a piece of scrim over it oil severe nights. Another shrub that is flow'ering very freely just now is the Abutilon. • Ihe dainty bell-shaped flowers are very attractive, making the trees look as if they have been decorated with innumerable miniature Chinese lanterns. The old variety with orange-crimson flowers is well known, but thero are also other varieties which bear flowers of the following beautiful shades:—Puro white, clear pale yellow, deep golden yellow, crimson-scarlet, violet-purple, and Biush pink. Any shrub that brightens our gardens .durin.g tho'dull month of July lias a very specitd value, feu* the herbaceous border is practically bare, at that time, and we rely ,to a great extent upon flowering shrubs, and shrubs that bear beautiful berries. Other shrubs that are in . flower at present are:—Brugmansia Knightn, daphne, scarlet japonica, jasmmuni nudinorum, laciandra, laurustinus, camellias, early rhododendrons, azaleas, ericas, 'hobrothamnus (gay-looking dark-red flowers), and hydrangeas. The hydrangeas; are wonderful just now, especially that are growing "in the shade. Flowers, of various shades may be seen all growing tps£ther on ono bush. Some of them are pure white, others green tinged with red some cream, and others again clear pale-blue. Gardeners should make a note of the flowering 6hrubs that do well in winter in their particular locality, for there is a great deal of pleasure to be derived from .shrubs that will flower well and look comfortably at home during winter.

ROUTINE WORK. During the past fortnight work in tlie herbaceous border has been practically at a standstill, for the ground has been very wet and very cold. A few sunny days and a dry.ing wind will soon, however, put the soil into workable condition again. In tho meantime, wo can employ our time most profitably in a number of ways. Perennials that were not cut back in the autumn-may be attended, to now, and they will then be ready for_ lifting and dividing as' soon as the soil is in a suitable condition. Sticks, that are marking, the position of bulbs should be examined to see if they need renewing. Labels should bo looked at to sep if [the .names of the.bulbs, roses, carnations, etc., havo become obliterated. Seed-pans may be prepared. : Benzine tins cut in half answer this purpose well. These should have the ragged edges neatly hammered in, and should then be thoroughly cleansed. Make holes in tho bottom fot. drainage, and about threeparts fill the pans with a mixture of fine soil and'river sand. If these are prepared now and stored in a dry place, the work at seed-sowing time will be considerably lessened. During the lf(ng evenings, seed and plant catalogues may be consulted, .and lists made out. Many a happy hour may be spent in planning out the garden for tho coming season. Stakes should be overhauled gnd the ends sharpened in readiness for driving them into tho ground.. Sweet pea fences should be put into thorough order. Once the next' few weeks aro over tho vines will make very rapid growth. Any decaying leaves should at once be removed from violets. Clumps of bulbs should be kept free from weeds.. Already paper white and polyanthus narcissi are iu flower, and, with the lyslp of violets and daphne, are filling the gardens with fragrance. Hyacinths need clpse watching just now. Already the earliest kinds are pushing their way up throiigh: their, mulch- of cow .manure, and they must' be carefully guarded from slugs. Slug-catching is a regular occupation at present. No sooner do you think your garden is clear than whole armies will arrive in a single night from the gardens of less careful people. Where cow manure is obtainable., a good coating should be spread over or around clubs of liliums And hyacinths. It is wonderful what d difference it makes to the future spikes of bloom. Koses and flowering shrubs may still bo planted wherever the soil is friable. Do not plant is very wet. The present is a good time to apply a dressmg of ground lime round plum, peacii, nectarine, etc., tre<es. Stone fruits appreciate tho presence of lime in the soil auout them., \ VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown this week are: leas, broad beans, and carrot (Eariy Horn). In the open ground a. further sowing of peas and broad beans may be made. Tho ground should be trenched, and should havo well decayed manuro or vegetable rubbish buried about a foot below the surface soil. .Where peas are to bo sown, wood-ashes or rubbish lire ashes should be mixed with the soil. Put a little bonedust in the soil at the time of sowing the seeds. If peas-are soaked in warm .water for a few hours before sowing they will come up all the sooner. It is as well to put threads of black cotton along the rows as soon as the seed is sown. This protects it from sparrows. Dust soot or lime along the rows at the first sign of a green shoot. Broad beans should 1m at least six inches apart in the rows. CARROTS. On well-drained soil a small sowing of carrot (Early Horn) may be made. Carrots should be grown in ground that was richly manured for peas or some green crop last season. The soil should be worked to a fine tilth to a depth of one foot.

It is a good plan to place a layer, (about half an inch think) of dry woodashes in the drills at the time "of sowing. Drop tbe seed into the ashes, and just cover with very fine earth. Press the earth lightly but firmly with tho back of tho hand after covering the seed. SEEDS IN PANS. Where necessary, n small sowing of cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce may be made in seed-pans. Those who have a frame or a greenhouse to supply bottom heat may make a sowing of tomato and Cape gooseberry. PLANTS. Plants of cablxige, cauliflowers, and lettuce_may be put in tho ground, provided tne soil "s in a suitable condition. The ground should lie trenched and manured in preparation for them. Mix a little bonedust in tho bottom of each hole at the time of planting. Cut the end of tho. tap root off cabbage and cauliflower plants to encourago the growth of fibrous roots. Press the earth very firmly round cach plant, ' ROOTS. Roots of rhubarb, horse radish, shallots, aud garlic may all be planted this week.

SHALLOTS. In preparing the ground for shallots trench the ground, mixing with the bottom soil plenty of decayed rubbish. With the top soil mix wood or rubbish firo ashes and a. dressing of bonedust (4oz. to the square yard). Before planting the offsets trample all over the bed to make the soil very firm. This must, of course, be done only when the soil is in a suitable condition. To trample over very wet soil would be disastrous. Blacken the surface with soot, aiid rake it lightly in. When all is ready, mark the bed off into drills twelve inches apart, and nlant the off-sets six inches apart in the" rows. Just press each offset into the ground till the bulb is half buried.

Garden notes next week will contain seasonable notes about: Perennials, mignonette, routine work, and vegetables.