GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2848, 12 August 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "A.B.ffi'" (Petone) -writes:—Can you inform me where the red kowhai grows, in order that 1 may procure some of the seed'? _ l'he red kowhai (clianthus puniCeus) is very rate in tho -wild state, being found, I beli&Te, oniy on the cliffs round Lake Waikaremoana, and on tho Great Barrier Island. .Any seed merchant will, however, supply you with seed. You ■will see it in seed catalogues under the heading "Clianthus Puhiceiis." PERENNIALS. (jaillardiai—These are almost indispensable in every garden. The plants flower for at least eight months without a break, and the flowers are splendid for cutting. Tho plants must have plenty of sun, and they like .a- light, fairly-rich soil, though they .irill growquite well in wry dry and quite soils. ■ ' • . -\ [ Coreopsis Gtandiflora.— I Coreopsis will grow well in any soil, but likes a sunny position. Coreopsis grandiflora has large golden yellow flowers. Drummondi . and coreopsis tinctoria are' shades Of yellow, brown, and Crimson. Gypsophila. — Gyp'sophila paniculata grows well in any w«ll-dg soil. The plants should not-be disturbed for years. Japanese Irises.—Japanese irises like a- cool, moist rooting place, but plenty Of Btinsliine. 'The ground' for them should be trenched, and should have plenty of decayed vegetable rubbish worked into the bottom, spit.. io tho, top-soil add. a supply of river sand. Those who intend planting should get the plants . without delay. • Bentstemons.' —Pentetcmons will grow in almost any garden, though they appreciate liberal treatment. They, ai e valuable plants for very hot, dry ch-mHollyhocks.-Thfi soil for ho.llyhocks must be trenched and •well-enriohed with decayed manure. It is only by * ec P"|v th«n growing freely that vro can off the hollyhock disease. Seeds may be sown now in heat. When t i the seedlings, fork into each hole a little bonedust., ■ . , „„ _„ii Daisies—Daisies will grow ut any weudug garden soil." Many oi tho are in bloom nearly all & 6 .J „ 00( i aeyoral bushes are growiij it is J- g° C( < E to out back different bushes ■ * different times, so that while some we cut back, others are in .bloom. • All bushes need to be cut right back once a year. They are then composed of new wood, and produce lnrgeaowersoplonS stems It is the greatest mistake to leave daisy bushes till they become old and woody. By cutting tack the bushes to within a few inches of thei grouna once a year,, one: can vigorous for many years. Ater <*«! wen-rotted a manwe C Tou^\^^^.^Good ridtoM'd'OrrTeflon; » (shasta daisy).

autumn-ixowering perennials. Michaelmas Daisics.-These irill $row. in any well-prepared soil, but, if E lrei J generous treatment m the way ot ti'enchiilg aid- manuring, will repay one by Bonding up branches quite six iWt in 'height, and literally a mass of lovely daisy-like lowers.' The colours are gonerftlly white, lavender, mauve, and pink* Good varieties are:—Diana, large palo lilac; Ericoides Alba, small Sinensis, large white; Perry s Pink, rose P Japanese Anemones.-These are ideal plants for a Ghady garden, lhe soil should be well dug and prepared, as, once the plants are put m the ground thor dislike being disturbed. The plants increase in size from year to year, and produce, each autumn, masses of beautiful flowers. The flowers are white, pink, or rose-coloured. , , lic Salvia.—Salvias mate a brilliant msnlav during the autumn months, naina splendeus has rich .scarlet flowers, and a bush in full bloom mates & vivid bit of colour, in bright sunshine. ,Another pretty .variety., is , paten.s, with blight but sa fa^ inacea is even finer, the coloui ljein delicate v/edgCwood blue, ®alvia.sare, unfortunately, very sensitive and should -be S>*wn where they can be protected from severe frost. Make the soil fairly Ticih, and add to it a little ri Mladoniia Lilies-No autumn garden should he without a- few of these e«W. Bis.'ws® &s;»2 bulbs without delay.

WINTEttnFLO'WERING PERENNIALS. Christmas ®° se A _Th *!li flowers are still " in the shadiest part of tig W&Hsa. '« ° UkTeround Kmter : SWEET SULTANS. The sweet sultan is one of the loveflowers are produced on long, straigns sS and splendid for cut flower • The colour's of the flowers are white, yellow, pink, silvery lilac, and purple. Seeds may be sown now in seed-pans in saidy soil, ,and the seedlings may bo put out into the garden as soon as they a-o hi- enough to handle. The plants, are very hanly. Plant tho seedlings in a sunny position. VEGETABLES. ' MANURE AND RUBBISH HEAPS. Heaps of manure and vegetable rubbish that have been decaying all the winter should be turned over in readiness for use. Fork, the heaps ow once or twice, each time giving them a good sprinkling of lime. AVell-rotted manui'e from & heap that has ed over several times is splendid for putting in the bottom of trenches when planting potatoes. August 19, in many parts, the month when a great manj vegetables are sown. So far however, the crtmnd'is too sodden with rain to work, and too cold to germinate seed. Those who were lunablo to dig and manure their ground during the autumn or early winter, should get it attended to as soon as possible. In preparing the ground for. sowing, it should be Seeply dug, but afterwards made quite I firm. It is useless to sow vegetable seeds in loose soil. If the digging is dome immedin/tely before sowing, the ground should be well trampled oyer )>V the heaviest weights in the family. The trampling must not, of course, ue done when the ground is wet. Wheie wireworms, millipedes, otc., have been troublesome, dig' in some vaponte oeiore sowing, tho seed. . Seeds that may bo sown this week, (soil being in suitable condition) are: I Radish. —iYench breakfast is about tho best. Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground, and in a warm, sunny position. ■ Short Horn or Nantes Horn CarrotSow thinly iu drills twelve inches apart. Turnip.—Early snowball or early wnitestone. ' Sow iu ground that was richly manured for a previous crop of greyis, or iu ground that was manured early in autumn. Mako tho ground very firm. Sow thinly in drills twelve inches ap.art. Peas.—Sow in drills, from two to. three feet apart. ' Ground should be trenched and manured, and, should havo wood; ashes mixed with it. Dust bonedust ill the drills at the time of sowing. Soak peas in warm water for a few hours before sowing. | Broad Beans.—Same treatment as fof peas.

Lettuce.—Sow seed thinly in pans or in a warm spot in the garden for transplanting later on. PARSNIPS. Parsnips like deeply-dup, finely-broken-up ground. If possible, sow parsnips in ground that was richly manured tor a previous crop. Freshly-manured .ground is not good for them, but.wood or .rubbish fire aelie9 may he added to the soil, and the surface may be blackened_ with soot once or twice before Eeed Sowing. RADISHES. Radishes like a richly-manured, deeplydug ground. Dig into tho soil plenty of thoroughly, decayed manure from a IVeap or decayed rubbish, from a rubbish heap, and. a dressing of bonedust or superphosphates, Mate the soil very firm, scatter the seed thinly, and just cover with fine earth. Thin out as soon as the seedlings are big enough to handle. A warm, sunny spot Bhould be chosen for radishes at this time of the year. Sow in seed pans:—Leeks, celery, and lettuce. Plant, as soon as the soil- is in suitable condition, asparagus. Buy three-year-old root*. Garden Notes 1 next week will contain seasonable notes abont seed-sowing, sweet peas, and vegetables. We have to acknowledge receipt of a copy of Messrs. F. Cooper, Ltd.'e, spring vegetable and flower seed catalogue. The catalogue contains 28 pages, profusely illustrated, and covers a monthly calendar of operations and much other valuable information to gardeners. Copies may be had on application to retail depnrtmcu';, Atorcter Street (off Willi/3 btreet). v