GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2953, 16 December 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. ' "G.," Lowor Hutt, writes"Wliat is the matter with the sweet pens this year? I have been told it is a bad year tor them, but 1' do not know what particular thing my informant was referring to. But I, in. tlio Hutt, have noticed a certain fault in mine, which a friend in Oriental Boy has noticed in hers, and that is that tlio' little stem which attaches the flower to the stalk is fragile and' easily breaks, so that in' ever »u' many cases I pick a, stalk with one or two flowers on, and one or two places where' tlio other doners were until perhaps the wind or my toncli" in picking them, knocked them off. Have you noticed this in yours, or had other complaints about it? And can you tell me the cause? In my case the ground was well trenched and well manured, and the seed was expensive, therefore should have been good." Your peas are suffering from what is termed "bud dropping." This is caused by a sudden change in the cold night following a hof, irunny day, or vice versa—by too much moisture In the soil while tlio subsoil has not yet become warmed, and sometimes by an overdose of liquid manure. There ws a good deal of bud-dropping among peas that were flowering in October and November. No doubt the changeable weather and frequent Tainy Bpells caused this. The subsoil had not had time sinoe the winter to become warm, and probably became saturated with water. It needed only a cold night to follow while the ground wj still saturated to bring on a bad attack of bud-dropping. If serin; protection can be afforded at night and during cold snaps, bud-dropping may often be averted. , Also while the ground is cold and very v;et stimulants should not be given. PHLOX. Phlox Drummondii is one of the beautiful old-fashionad flowers that we have been, associated with ill our lives. The colours of the flowers are so .varied, some being pure white, others dainty shades of pink, salmon, and lilac, while others again, especially in the enmaun . and scarlet shades, are rich and velvety. The plants spread over tie ground, soon, covering bare spaces, with a wealth of beautiful flowers. The flowers are most freely produced over a long period'. One of the pleasantest memories of my childhood is of a round bed of bulbs, which was converted each. summer into a glorious bed of phlox drummondii, with a broad border of mignonette all round it. Of late years neniesia seems ™ have crowded out this beautiful but old-fashioned! flower.: • Nemesia should be in every garden without a, doubt, 'but not at the expense of our old friend phlox drummondii. As a rule phlox drummondii is sown in the open ground during November. If the soil is worksd to .a fine. tilth and can., be kept evenly moist inll the seedlings appear, success inay attend this plan. It is preferable to raise the seedlings, however, in boxes or i P ? ns J n Tery soil - one can "regulate the amount of moisture and simBhine the soil receives then. To get the best effect.it is bettor to buy. packets of separate colours. Knowing tlie colours one can arrange ,a, bed so artistically. Mixed seed never gives one such a good display, and there is ~bouiid'to be some colour that one would rather not have. Before planting out the seedlings the tops -should be pinehed off to induce \ u8l vr growth;,, The sail in the beds should be thoroughly good, but not too rich., A dressing of. bonedust and the addition of eome sand to the soil will help the plants. ;A shntiy position Should be given. During, growth; the shoots may be_ pegged into any -position desired. Seed may still be 60wn to provide. ft late summer, autumn, and, in mild oilmates,_ winter display. '"' Phlox Drummondu Grandiflora is the best to buy. Aurserymen generally offer paokets of from-four to six separate colours for. Is. 6cL , Seedling plants may bo purchased, also, and planted out at once. Keep the plants shaded from the Bun till they are well established. Nip off the tops when they are a few inches high. Perennial phloxes aro. lovely.. Plants i varieties should be secured, and planted -early in the spring, or seed may be sown now. Once the plants are properly planted, they increase, in beauty year by year. They like a deep, rich, well-drained soil. Perennial phloxes that are already well established should be ■Ren watered -and then mulched with well-rotted animal manure, or vegetation. They should be fed regularly from now on, with weak liquid, manure, aRI-ays following a good watering with clear water. They are greedy feeders, but well repay one for food supplied. The half-starved perennial phlox is not a pretty sight. Starvation is written all over it so plainly, that none can mistake it. It is dread-i ful to see plants suffering from hunger, thirst, or cold. They show their uiihanptness so unmistakaSly. Among named varieties, Jeanne d'Arc is a splendid white; Eclaireur has pretty rose-coloured flowers, with a salmon centre; Mrs. Kerslnke is delicate ,pink with a red eye; Coquillicot i 6 vivid scarlet. . • BLUE HYDRANGEAS. ' To get the beautiful clear blue shade in hydrangeas the bushes should be watered with a solution of alum, using one teaspoonful in one gallon of water, once a week, from the time the flower trusses first appear until they are well out. BULBS. The bulbs of hyacinths should btt lifted and stored as soon as the foliage has died down. . A good test for telling the right time to lift tulips is to twist the foliage, round.one's hand.. When this can be'done without breaking the foliage the time has amved to lift and store tho bulbs. The Dutcli growers cut' off the flowed spikes of hyacinths'and tulips as soon as they are past their best. This throws all the strength into tho foliage, and upon the successful growing o£ the foliage depends the next year's flowers. VEGETABLES. Earth up cabbages as they grow. They soon become top heavy, and wind blows them- about, loosening the-, soil, from about their roots; Keep' the hoe going constantly among growing crops Savory, broccoli, etc., that are to "come in" for the winter, must not be allowed to suffer from drought. . Where it-is possible, give the young plants, a good watering and then soread a light mulch about them. If this cannot be done, the hoe must be kept constantly at work/providing a soil mulch. Seeds that may be sown tliis week, where necessary, are: Celeriac • (turnip-rooted celery).—Sow in rows two - feet apart. ■ in - well-worked, well-enriched ground; Thin out tho seedlings to six inches apart in the rows. Celeriac does not need earthing up like celery. It is grown for its root.

Scarlet runner, beans.—Sow in ground that lias been trenched and manured. Sow the seeds from six to eight inches apart, and about two inches deep. ' French beans.—Sow in drills two feet apart, and liavo the seeds nix inches apart in tho rows. Dust bonedust in thn drills at the time of sowing the send, and give a slight dressing of superphosphate as- soon as the seedlings are a couple of inches high.

Radish.—Sow broadcast in rich, firm around, in a somi-shaded position. Simply the seedlings with plenty of water. Carrot.—Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Dust soot along the seedlings as soon as they appear, and begin thinning out as soon as they are "big enough to handle, _ G Peas.—Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. Ground should he tronched and manured .and shnnld hnve wood rihes mixed with it. Bust bonedust in the drills when sowing. . Dept.—A.. light, sandy siiTl ts thp host for beet. Sow the seed in drills JS inches apart in ground that was manured for a previous crop. Fresh manure would be harmful to the Toots. The ground should he deeply due and made firm again before sowing the soed. Bust bonedust in the drills when sowing.' Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about lifting narcissi, chrysanthemums, and vegetables.