GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2994, 3 February 1917, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

.(By ."Kowhai.") EARLY-FLOWEEING SPRING BULBS. Every second or third year it "Becomes necessary to lift narcissi bulbs. If left in tho ground too long the bulbs becomo overcrowded, and unless they havs room for full development cannot bo expected to flower satisfactorily. As a rule bulb 3 are lifted as soon as tho foliago ripens, and aro stored in a cool, dry place till planting', time comes round again. But' vory often tho busy amateur gardener has not timo to lift his bulbs just then, and they are loft in tho ground during summer. At tho approach of bnlbplanting timo, howover, his thoughts turn once more to tho bulbs, which are still awaiting a little neoeyary attention. Tho timo has now arrived' w.hen it is fatal to longer postpone work among the bulbs. It is a -H-ofl-known fact thai the longer bulbs are in the ground before flowering timo the bettor. They have then timo to make strong and plentiful roots, which will later be such a support to the flowers to be produced. Bulbs which have been undisturbed for two or three years 'snould now bo lifted with as little delay as .possible. Those that have already started to make roofs should bo replanted at onco. Those that are still dormant and dry may bo exposed to? full sunlight to bo Harmed through bofore being replanted. Thorough ripening of the bulba is necessary for successful flower production. Thß..bulbs that are being sunbaked should be covered at night, and then replanted next day. In the meantime tho grpund.tHey .its to occupy should be forked over, apd a 6upply" of leaf-mould or deoayed vegetable rubbish thoroughly mixed with it. Bonedust at the rate of 4oz. to the square yard may be pricked into the top soil. When planting the bulbs on the following day 6pread some river sand or fine road grit at the bottom of each! hole for the bulbs to rest on, and, if possible, surround the bulbs with sand before covering with earth. Press the oarth firmly round the bulbs. Alwaj-s avoid mixing fresh manure with, the soil in.. which bulbs aro to bo planted. If it is used at all it should bo dug in well below tbe bulbs, or a mulch of well-rotted manure may be spread over the surface of tho soil after the planting is finished. In preparing a. new site, for bulbs tho following instructions should -be carried out:—Mark out the space to be occupied by tho bulbs, 1 then remove a strip of topsoil from one end of the'bulb garden, and lay it aside'in a barrow. Now break up thoroughly the subsoil thus revealed, and mix with it decayed garden rubbish, or thoroughly rotted stablo manure, and ■plenty of road grit. Heavy clay soils should ■ have coal cinders, in addition to plenty of grit. Now-remove the top soil from tho next strip "of garden, and place it.on tho first strip-of-well-worked subsoil. Proceed to treat tho second strip of subsoil in the same way as tho first I ,was ! .treated;' and then place : the top-soil from the third strip, on, it. ;',The last strip ofi subsoil will -be covered by tho top-soil that is in the "barrow. Now work |into the whole of tho top-soil 6omo sand, a, little, wood ash or rubbish, fire ash, and some leaf-soil. Rub the leaf-soil to a fine tilth with tho 'hands before adding it to the-' bed. For manure the following is of bonedust and loz. of • sulphate' of potash to tho square yard.' A bed that lias been occupied by bulbs for several years may be treated in the same way. First dig up the bulbs, sort out the large and the small ones, and spread them ont for a sun bath (provided no growth has. started). -Any. that have started growth should be laid under, a shady tree, and should be covered with damq sand or wood ashes till their garden-bod is ready. ' When planting bulbs place a layer of river or silver sand for them, to rest on, and see that they are on-a firm • base. ■ Bulbs dislike standing in cold stagnant water during -winter; hence tho need for working the subsoil. Bulbs dislike being prodded with tho handfork during weeding operations; hence the need for neat .marking, sticks. Bulbs like leaf-mould, sand, nnd potash. Bulbs like to have a long time in which to make their roots; honco the need for early planting.; .Bulbs that require '',yery->early planting*are:—Paper, wliitb,polyahtluis, ' narcissi, crocuses, snowdrops, Bnowflakes,-' scillas, chionqdoxa, freesias, Roman hyancinths, grape hyacinths, ahdlilium candidum, '■'■ ,'■; CHIONODOXA..' . •■'-".■ ; Chionodoxa (Glory of : .the : Snow) ispno of the earliest of the bulbs to "come into flower, and .its beautiful bright blue blossoms make cheery spots in tho garden during the dull days towards the end of winter. The bulbs are exceedingly linrdy, and should be left undisturbed for three or four years. When planting, the plants should be given plenty of room, but, to he effective, should bo planted in fairly large groups.

Snowdrops, also, blooni very early, but unfortunately they are not as generally grown as they should ho. The snowflako. seems to have taken tho placo of the snowdrop, hut room should certainly he found for both. Tho snowdrop likes a fairly rich gritty, or sandy soil, and it dislikes being moved. Once planted, it should be left undisturbed, except for' an occasional topdressing after the leaves have died down. Crocuses are always favourites vjn tlid' spring garden, .and they are indeed very beautiful. Planted in groups all along the garden path thoy make a very bright show, and they arc splendid for naturalising in grass, or for planting in bold drifts;, on a rockery. One cannot ,have too many of them in spring. .'' Crocuses like a lurht rich .soil, and shallow planting. They flower well in sun ■ or in shade, and many a shady corner may be brightened in spring by being filled with yellow or lilac crocuses. FORGET-ME-NOT. The pale blue forget-me-not is 6uch a charming little spring flower th;it one finds it hard.to imagine a spring garden without it.,. Yet' there are . many such, alas! It. is a plant that is most easily grown, and when in flower it js literally a sheet of colour.'' The dainty shade of bluo blonds, so well with the pale yellow, cream, and white of narcissi, and when associated with nwscari ccnicum (grape hyacinth) the effect is wholly satisfying. The deep blue flowers of the muscari rise on long straight stems from a sheet of ' delicate pale blue.' ' . ' If a. few seeds of forget-me-not, are sown now the plants will during the coming, months grow and extend over largo patches of the garden. In very windy districts it is 'as well to peg down tho plants as they creep over the ground. Each plant needs plenty of room to allow it to develop.; If a little decayed vegetable rubbish ;(nd some gritty matter, such as road grit oiKcoarso sand, are added to the soil'so much tho better. 'Foi'get-me-no.t is a humble. little plant, bnt one that I 'never .fail to grow extensively. Tho flowers make ■ such : exquisite bits of colour in the garden while flowers in the mass are. still scarce. Another advantage'.of - this ' little plant'is that it is rooted .out so easily when the grouirid is wanted for bedding out annuals, ..'etc. i ; A bed planted with 'palo pink antirrhinums, and carpeted with pale blue forget-me-nots, makes a charming effect. Another happy combination is forget-me-nots and purple, pansies. The beautiful purplo velvety faces of the pansies are thrown into exquisite relief by the surrounding masses of pale blue flowers. VEGETABLES. Tho main work in the vegetablo garden at present is persistent hoeing. Winter greens must bo protected from the possibility of dryness at tho roots by proper mulching and sufficient watering. As soon as ground becomes vacant cleur away the rubbish and burn it. Tho "round should then bo forked over and mado firm again by trampling, and a fresh crop of some sort should be put into it. Don't allow ground to be loft to the mercy of .overy weed that chooses to seed there. If it is not needed for a further crop at present, sow a crop of oats, mustard, peas, or turnips, to bo dug in later for green manure. Runner beans should be kept well trained uip their supports. . Keep tho pods regularly picked oft French beans and peas. Even if there are more than can be used in the house pick them, give ■ them away, or even burn them, but don't leave them to ripen on tho plants. Onco plants begin to

ripen seed thir sacson of usefulness is practically over. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about carnations, scilla, nnd vegetables. v .