GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2860, 26 August 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

HARDY ANNUALS, Hardy annuals, when well grown,' are both -beautiful and useful. But the majority of the annuals one sees growing are poor and stunted. Tho seed is so often sown in unprepared ground, and the seedlings are left, unthinned and ncgleoted, to produce poor flowers unci premature seed pods. Annuals, to be a success, must be treated well. The lirst step necessary in the successful growing of annuals is' the caroful sow/ing of the seed. 1 always prefer sowing seed in seed pans to awing in theopen border, for the seedlings are then more directly under one's control. Protection from'heavy rain or too powerful sunshine can be afforded, and seedling enemies enn be guarded against. Also, one can have the puns' all together, «nd so the seedlings, instead of being scattered in patches here and there about the garden, arc all in one spot, and it is easy to keep a watchful eye on them. The metlird of preparing the seed pans, Mid of sowing the seeds, lias already been dealt with i'n last week'a notes,- but I should like once more to emphasise the necessity of thin sowing. The soil in the pans should lie kopt fairly moist, but not too moist, or there may be danger of the- seedlings damping oil'. Once tho seedlings are -up in the pans they must be carefully thinned out where crowded, to allow- those remaining to make sturdy growth. It is better to have a few wellgrown plants than thr.es' or four times the number of weakly ones. Don't coddle the icodling3 at any stage of their growth.. While the seeds are germinating and tno seedlings are getting ready to be planted out, wo must be preparing their permanent home. In most parts of New Zealand spring-sown seedlings have to battle against very hot weather and drying winds. To help thenl to battle successfully against these odds, it is necessary to trench tho ground where they are to grow, working into tho suhsoil plenty of well-Totted mnnure, or welldecayed rubbish from a rubbish, ihcap or hole. A fair dressing of bonedust should, lie worked into the top soil before the seedlinjs are planted out. Where water is scarce during the summer, to-, wards' the' end of -November the plants should he -thoroughly watered once, and should thon 'have a e;nod mulch .spread ronnd them. If liquid manure is then supplied .to them at regular intervals, a wealth of beautiful flowers' will reward the keen gardener for his trouble. Autumn-sown annuals are- now beginning to look very promising. Keep tlie soil well stirred about them, and. at tho first sign of buds beginning to be formed, feed with weak liquid manure. Seeds of the following hardy annuals may bo sown now in seed pans;— Larkspurs, clark'ias, godetia, ten-week stock, poppies, asters,, violas, pansies, linaria, candytuft, phlox drumniondi, nemesia, calliojpsis, cornflowers, cosmos, salpiglossis, schizanthtis, sweet sultan, annual gypsophila, and sweet scabious. Mignonette and single shirlcy poppies are better sown where they are to grow. The seedlings should afterwards be thinned out to from four to six inches apart each way. Double shirley poppies (Tate's Queen) transplant easily. Mignonette appreciates plenty of road grit nnd coarse sand in the sbil. Fork into the soil a. little bonedust'before sowing the seed of mignonette and poppies.

CHRYSANTHEMUMS. . All cutting* should be secured now and planted out in a spare part of the garden. Chrysanthoniums strike very easily and Tory quickly, and the cuttings, it put out now in a 6imny part of the garden, will be ready for transplanting in a very short time, ■'■■.'ln. .taking .tlio cuttings choose strong young shoots from the. outside of the plants. Make the cut just below a joint with a sharp knife. Insert firmly in sandy soil, and shade from the hot sua' (if there is any) for a day or two. Get the chrysanthemum bed prepared as soon, as possible now. Chrysanthemums will grow well in quite ordinary garden soil, but it; must bo well dug and sweetened beforo the plants are put out. Turn the soil over now. .and leave the surface rough for n weekor two for the sun, wind, rain, etc., to work on. Directly the old plants are lifted, it is a good plan to sow a crop of oats in the chrysanthemum border. If these are turned in early, in the spring, the chrysanthemum plans need only a little bonedust added at tlie time of planting to ensure their good growth . w One of the most-important operations"~iii the growing of chrysanthemums is the application of a good mulch during December. It is ,as well to begin preparing the material for the mulch now. Begin storing, cither in a heap or in a hole, weeds, grass cuttings, dead flowers. an 3 wood ashes, >and rot down the materials with washing water, household slops, otc. Where animal manure cau be procured a splendid mulch can be made. Put a layer of freshly-gathered manure, about r foot in depth, in a secluded spot, and then-spread wood ashes or a little earth on top. Then add more manure andmors earth and, wood ashes, and so on. Don't have the heap too high! have it rather flat, and spread out. Pour over it water, soap suds, etc., from time to time. It is as well to make a little gutter round the heap. Into this the surplus liquid will run, and it can fee Bcoopetl up and returned to the lieaD. or used for liquid manure. Lime should be sprinkled over the heaps, from time to time. As soon as the heaps, both vegetable rubbish and manure, are wollrotted, they should be turned over once 01' twice,' and watered if necessary. They are then ready for use.

VEGETABLES. A. few rows of early potatoes may be planted «i any too now. Open out shallow: trenches three feet apart. Do this if possible in the morning on a sunny day. If you have some thoroughly decayed and well sweetened manure spread a thin layer in the bottom of tho trenches, and leave the trenches open all day. By the afternoon tho sun will have warmed the inside of the trenches, and also the soil that is to be put hack on top of tho potato sets. Where thoroughly decayed animal manure cannot, he had, try to get some good stun" from a compost heap, or some welldecayed and sweetened vegetable rubbish for the bottom of the trenches, and add also the following mixture.of artificial manures:—Superphosphate end sulphate of potash at the rate of two to one. That is two pounds of superphosphate to one pound of sulphate of potash. Work this mixture into the bottom of the trenches at 'the rate of loz. to the running yard. Potatoes crii do with plenty of potash, and wood .ashes or rubbish-fire ashes, which contain a large percentage of potash, should be added freely to the soil where they are to be grown. If the potato sets are about the size of a good lien's eyg, they should be planted whole. If very large, they must be cut. Leave only two strong- sprouts on each set, and choose only well-shaped potatoes. If the sets are planted during'the afternoon in sun-wanned trenches and covered with suii-warmed earth, they are given a really good start,, and strong growth soon commences:

ROUTINE WORK. Take advantage of warm, sunny days to utir the soil about growing' vegetables. Earth up cabbages, cauliflowers, etc., with sun-warmed earth. Remove, all decayed leaves from cabbages, etc. Thin out carrots that were sown late in the autumn. See that- peas are securely fastening to their supports. Watch for slugs at all times. Where-necessary the following seeds may bo sown when the soil is in a suitable condition-.—Radish, carrot, turnip, peas, braid beans, lettuce, parsnips, cabbage. Kow in seed-pans:—Leeks and celery. Plant asparagus, potatoes, and rhubarb. Take your hoe with you whenever you visit your vegetables., Garden Notes next w eok will contain seasonable notes about routine work, poppies, and vegetables.