GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3053, 14 April 1917, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

* CAMELLIAS. Camellias should be planted early in the autumn to allow the roots to become established while the soil is still warm. Camellias grow easily out of doors, but while heavy frosts are experienced, they should be planted beneath the shade of trees, or where they can 1)9 sheltered from the frost. Mark out a good epaco for each tree, aud remove the top soil. Thoroughly break up the subsoil, mixing with it well rotted manui'e and decayed vegetable, rubbish. Replace the top soil and mix with it decayed vegetable rubbish. Spread out the roots and cover them firmly with fine soil. Top dress the soil with well rotted manure, and water.the tree occasionally till it ia established. The young tree is especially susceptible to frost, and should have a piece of scrim thrown over it on very frosty nights. ", EOMNEYA COULTEEI.. Ronineya coulteri, often called the matilija, or Californian poppy, is a beautiful and stately flowering shrub. The poppy-like blossomß have glistening white, beautifully orinkled petals, and a central disc of shining golden stamens. These lovely flowers often measure six inches across, and are delightfully fragrant. Eomneya is classed among the iiali'-hardy subjects, brat it is not so tender as people imagine. Severe frosts will cut the growth back to the ground, but early in tho spring 6trong now shoots appear, and before long there are .woody stems five or six fitffc high, covered with prettily lobed/ glaucous-green leaves.

Komneya coulteri likes a well-drained gritty soil, and a sunny position. The ground 6hould bo trenched to prevent stagnant water lying about the roots of the shrub during winter. Opco established, tho plant does not like to be disturbed. As soon as frost spoils the foliago cut the steins right back to the ground, and cover the plant with a mixture of wood ashes and leaves, or some well rotted stable manu re. As soon _as new growth commences in tho 6pnng loosen the soil abouit the plant, and 6pread round it a mulch of half-rotted stable manure, or well rotted vegetable rubbish, mixed with sand. If the latter is used, a little bonedust should first be pricked into tho soil. Whore tho branches aro not cut by frost, it is better to prume them bard back at tho end of tie autumn. Plants may be put in at any time now. lhe earlier they are planted tho more chance there is for them to become established beforo the'cold weather sots in.

' GENISBA ANDEEANA. • Genista andreana, tho crimson-flowered broom, is a strikingly beautiful flowering shrub. Plants grow very quickly,, and during the flowering season aro simply smothered with pretty blossoms. During the first year or two plants should,be trimmed well back 'to induce ' bushy growth. A light, loamy soil 6uits tneni Genista Andreana is easily raised from seed. The ■ seedlings should bo transplanted ag soon as possiblo because the plants aro sensitive about being moved when they are older. LOVE-IN-A-MIST (NIGEL.LA). Seeds of this charming annual may be sown now, and the plants will flower early in th 9 summer. Choose a sunny, part of the. garden for .the seedlings, and have tho soil fairly rich. Love-in-a-Mist is a well-known old cottage garden plant, but its beauty demands for it a place in all gardens. If the 6eedhn«s are planted in' fairsized groups, the effect, when tho flowers arß but, is really beautiful. The rich blue flowers aro half hidden in a cloud of asparagus-liko^foli-age. Hence their, name—Love-in-a-Mist. Tho best variety to grow is Nigella, Miss Jekyll. Tho flowers are double and of a very clear cornflowor bluo shade, Loveis charming as a out flower. It is one of the easiest of flowers to arrango gracefully, for it I provides its own delicate foliage, and tiresofte gaps are filled up naturally and lightly. % ANCEUSA. Anchusa, or Cape Eorget-me-Not, is another plant, with beautiful blue flowers., it is biennial, however. Seeds may be sown now, and the seedlings'planted out as soon as they are ready. The plants are not particular as to soil, but like a sunny position. The best Anchusa is the Dropmore variety. The flowers aro deep gentian blue, and the plants flower over a long period. Increase is made by dividing up the roots during autumn. 1 PJEETHRUMS. Large roots of pyrethrums should be lifted, and divided up carefully with a sharp knife. Before replanting the pieces, dig the soil deeply and work in plenty of well-decayed manure, and a handful of bohedust. Keep the pieces well watered till they are established. The plants like plenty of wafer during the flowering 6eason, Icfccasional good doses of liquid manure. Pyrethrums begin flowering early in the summer, and should be planted as early a 9 possible now to give them a long period of growth. i. Named varieties—Fairy, soft pink; Kimberly, deep crimson; Neptune, Tosy cerise; James Kelway, crimson; Mirror, rich pink; The Swan, pure white. EEIGEEON (FLEABANE). /'. Erigeron, or the Midsummer Daisy, is a very attractive perennial. The flowers are like single asters,, and aro freely produced. Any. fairly good soil that has been well cultivated suits the plants. There are several varieties.: ' Erigeron Speciosu's, with largo, clear, pale mauve flowers, is the one most commonly known. Erigeron Plenum has beautiful lavender flowers,' and Erigeron Speciosum Grandiflorum has rich heliotrope flowers with yellow centre. All the Erigerons or Pleabanes. are valuable plants to have in the garden, for they flower throughout the autumn when flowers in many gardens, are not too plentiful. LILIUM CANDIDUM (THE MADONNA "- LILY). Bulbs of this lily should be planted early-in. the autumn, i Tho soil where they are to be grown should be deeply dug, and 6hould have mixed with it some river-sand. Lily bulbs, when once planted, like to be left undisturbed, therefore, the soil should be very thoroughly prepared for them. Spread a layer of sand for the bulbs to rest ft on. Many gardeners dust flowers of sulphur well in among the scales of the bulbs, as a precaution against the disease to which they are so liable. After planting 6pread a light mulch of well-decayed cow manure over the surface of the soil. , > The Madonna lily is about the first of the liliums to flower. The glistening white fragrant flowers are borne most freely on stems reaching sometimes to a height of five feet'. Bold clumps are very effective in the hrbaceous border, or among low growing 6hrubs. VEGETABLES, RADISHES. A sowing of radishes may be made in a sunny part of the garden. The sou

should bo deeply dag, well-enriched, and mode firm again. Moisten the- radishbed well several hours before the seeds are sown. It will bo necessary to protect the seeds from sparrows, etc., by means of threads of black cotton stretched across the bed.

ONIONS. A sowing of onion seed should be made now. The soil should be nice and friable, rich,, deeply worked, and made firm again. Just now the soil is warm, and the seed should germinate 'quickly and evenly. Ground that was richly manured for a crop of potatoes makes u suitable bed for onions, but it will be all the better for having even more .'.wellrotted manure forked in. A good dressing of bonedust'may be sprinkled m the drills at the time of sowing. '. The soil must be firm before the seed is sown,. and should be rolled or pressed firm again afterwards. As soon as the seedlings are up, hoe between the rows, and keep weeds pulled out. The thinnings may be used, as salad onions, or may be transplanted into other beds. • . , ,''■-'•■■ l' Sow, where necessary, seeds of carrot, onion, turnip, radish, broad beans, cabbage, and lettuce. Keep the: hoe at wofk. -..•-. "Garden Notes" next week will contain reasonable notes about:—Statice, Cape gooseberries, and vegetables. : -,