GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2950, 9 December 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

BEGONIAS. Many people still look upon begonias as greenhouse plants, but the tuberousrooted begonias arc umong the finest ol our summer and autumn garden plants. The flowers arc exquisite both m colour and form, and the plants are most accommodating as to soil ami situation. They will grow in the sun or 111 tne shade, in a wet, heavy soil, or m a ury sandy one. They are splendid plants for growing in.a slindy garden, cut the ideal position for them is. a eemi-snadea one, and the eoil should be a inixturo of good soil, loaf-mould, old decayed manure, and sand. Tho best way to obtain a good stock for bedding out purposes is to buy a few good-named verities, and to increase from Incae. In this way it is easier to regulate ' ,!,e . s colour' schemes, and one has only those varieties that one most admires. Those who want only a grand mass or colour can raise, a nice lot 01. plants from seed. If the seed is sown m heat, about June, the plants will flower the first summer, but it will not be till the following summer that they will really bo at their best. Begonia seed is very fine and should be mixed with a littio silver sand before being sown. The plants very much appreciate a mulch of jvelldecayed manure during summer, and, in dry weather, plentiful supplies of vuler, As soon as frost cuts the plants, the tubers should be lifted and spread on a shelf in a shed for a few; days to dry. They may then lie stored in sand or dry earth for the winter. In September, the tubers should be stated into growth again by placing them on a layer of leafmould and sand, and constantly keeping them moist. A warm greenhouse is the best place for starting the tubers,. but a warm kitchen answers the purpose equally well. If it is desired to increase the stock, as soon as the 6hoots are an inch or two long, they should be cut off with a "heel" and treated as cuttings, or the tubers may simply lie cut in half, care being taken to leave at knst one shoot on each half. The cuUii'ps or tubers may be planted in boxes containing a mixture of soil, leaf-mould, and sand. As soon as all danger of frost is over they can then be put out into their permanent quarters. Among single-flowering varieties the following are good Challenger, rich, deep crimson; Countess Brownlow, litautiful yellow; Lady Farquliar, saliL'on pink; Magnificent, scarlet; Dame Blanche and Mont Blanc, white. Double-flowering varieties Countess of Zetland, white; Princess May, vj'tite; Duke of Fifo, deep salmon; Duke of Portland, rich crimson; .Henshaw Russell, brilliant scarlet; Jlrs. French, pale primrose.

ROUTINE' WORK,

The blue everlasting pea is, alas, over. Tho flowei'3 are such a glorious colour and so freely produced that o«e j;ould wish to havo them over a longer period. Unless seed is wanted, tho plants should bo out back to within about a foot of the soil. The surface eoil should be loosened, and tho ground thoroughly soaked with clear water. A mulch of cow manure should then bo placcd round tho plant. In preparing tho mulch it is best to soften the clods of manure in a bucket Off water/ stirring them till a thick mixturo is formed. If this is sproad round the roots any liquid will at once soak into - the wet soil, and tho insoluble, part will form a nico mulch. If eo\7 manure cannot bo had, work into tho soil <1 sprinkling of guano, and spread a mulch of decayed vegetable rubbish, etc. As soon as tho new shoots appear they should bo trained into nlaco up their supports. Sweei; Peas.—Keep Ike (lowers well picked, and cut off at every opportunity any seed pods that are formed. Laterals (tho littio shoots that come out by each leaf) should bo persistently nibbed out. Tlicy boar only short-stemmed unsatisfactory flowers. Keep the soil well hoed, othorwiso it soon becomes hard with being trampled upon, while flowers are being picked. Keep tTfo roots woll supplied with water, ami syringe the viiy>s and leaves in tho evening, after a hot, dusty day. Keep succeeding crops well attended'to, hoeing, watering, and tying in vines wliero necessary.

Liliums.—Gardens aro everywhere filled with tho fragrant scent of Madonna lilies at present. They aro particularly fir.o this year, tho flower stalks risiug to iv height of between iivo and six feet, and bearing great bunches of large, glistening, white, fragrant flowers. Tho stems are cosily broken down ,by .wind, unless securely tied to stakes. Attend to the tying up and mulching of all liliums.

Chrysanthemums.—As 600n as tho plants are about a foot high they should have tho tops pinched otf. .The new shoots that are produced should also havo their tops pinched otf as soon as they are about a foot loug. Provide a mulch for the plants as soon as possible now.

Pansies.—Where pansy plants have developed long shoots, leaving the middle bare, a littio sand should bo/heaped up right in the middle of tho' plant. If this is kept moist new shoots wiil soon spring up, and, as they grow and spread, the old ieggy shoots can be cut out. Pansies ljsay be kept vigorous for quite a long time in this way- Keep the dead flowers picked off, provide plenty of water for the plants, and, if possible, spread a light mulch about them.

Pegging Down.—Peg down verbenas, petunias, and phlox drummondi as they creep over the ground. If the shoots are inclined to become bare, heap a little moist 6and over the placo where the peg goes, and new roots will quickly be formed there.

Gladiole.—Tho pure white eolvillei gladiolus, the bride, is now over, but her coloured sisters have "taken up the running." The blushing bride and eolvillei rubra are now fully out, while tho pink and salmon varieties are fast opening their dainty flowers. Regular' doses of weak liquid manure, following a good watering with clear water are much appreciated just now. A light mulch should be spread about tho large flowering varities, childsii, gandavensis, etc. Canterbury bells, delphiniums, larkspurs, poppies, sweet Williams, antirrhinums, pentstemons, and many other flowers are now making a glorions show. For tlie next few months gardens will bo full of .beautiful flowers, and the amateur gardener will be busy cutting off dead flowers, staking, and tying, hoeing, syringing, and mulching. There is work for every minute of spare time. Those who havo carnation seedlings just coming into flower will bo watching day by day the fast swelling buds. It is only those who have been through it who know the intense excitement the raiser feels at tho first glimpse of colour. The plants seem to be provokingly slow about revealing tho full colour and beauty of their first-born flowers. Keep plants supplied with sufficient water, and regular doses of soot water. VEGETABLES. Early potatoes aro now being dug by most amateur gardeners. Fill up the empty spaces at once with winter greens, French beans, peas, tomato plants, or whatever crop is waiting for a vacant pmce. . , As soon as tlie first crop of peas and broad beans is over the haulm should be cut off, leaving tho roots in the ground. Rake the haulm into heaps and burn it. If tho ashes are 6pread over tho ground, and the 6oil forked over, the ground is then ready for the next crop. There should be no empty spaces in a vegetablo garden at this time of tho year. As soon as one crop is over, clear tho ground and prepare it for a succeeding crop. Keep the hoe at work among all growing crops. Tho weather is most favourable just now for tho quick growth of weeds. They are robbers who quickly, with their courser roots, eat up the good that is in the soil. If the hoe is kept going they haven't a chance to live. -

Ihe following seeds may bo sown this week, where necessary Savoy cabbage, broccoli, and Brussels sprouts, celeriac, scarlet runner beans, French beans, radish, carrot, peas, beet, turnip, and lettuce.

Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about phlox, routine work, and vegetables.