GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3065, 28 April 1917, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

FLOWERING VERBENAS. •Verbenas flower, bo freely and over such a long period that tney must be given liberal supplies of liquid manure and water during the .summer and autumn. Dead flowers must be regularly picked off, because they so quickly run to seed, and in doing so eshaust the plant very much. Now is a good time to increase one's stock of these beautiful bedding plants. Those who liavo been pegging down the runners during summer will have plonty of nicely-rooted pieces which they can now lift, separate from tho main root,'and transplant into permanent flowering quarters. Those who have not theso Tiinnera may now take cuttings, and insert them in a box iof soil and Band to strike. Keep the soil uniformly moist. Tho old. roots may be cut right back to within a few inclies of the ground.. The ground should be well forked round tho plants and a little bone dust worked in.' New shoots will soon appear, and the plants will begin blooming again early in the spring. Those who can get it should spread a good layer of well-rotted animal manure round the plants. This is much appreciated byi.them and will ensure a neverending succession of good blooms from spring to the following winter. Verbenas are easily raised from 6eed. Seeds sown in the autumn will produce flowering plants in the following spring. Those who wish to bow seed now had better make sure of germination by using fairlv deep boxes for the seeds. Half fill these with fresh animal manure, and fill up the* remainder of the box with earth and sand: The manure will give bottom heat, and the use of it is aafer than trusting seeds to, ordinary 60il at this time of the year. Keep the box shaded from tho sun till tho seedlings appear above the soil. Bracken fern laid across the box, or even trailers of periwinkle, make a good shade for seeds. Don't use anything that would press on the surface of the soil.' Guano can be bought at'seed merchants, and makes a''good liquid manure for those who cannot otherwise got animal manure. Use }oz of guano to one gallon of water. Soot also makes a good manure, and is obtainable in most households. . When the leayss of verbena plants have a whitish appearance, they 'should be well dusted with flowers of sulphur while they are damp with dew or with 'watering. ROSES: PREPARING THE GROUND, AND .PLANTING. The ground where roses are to be planted should bo prepared some time before planting takes place. Those who have a heavy clay soil tihouid proceed to prepare their ground in -the following way: lioaiove tho top .soil and thoroughly break up tho subsoil, mixing with it horse manure, half-decayed leaves, roaa grit, saud,' and aahes from the rubbish lire. Too much grit cannot be added, as it is such a splendid thiu» lor keeping a heavy soil open. .Remember that this is your only "chance of attending-to the subsoil, and do the work thoroughly. The top soil can bo improved from above ground at any time. Roses cannot thrive in a soil that keeps water lying round their roots during winter; hence the importance of breaking up a clay subsoil and of making it porous. Roses that are made to endure tho hardships of stagnant water about their roots become.so chilled that they never recover from the shock, and the growth in summer is sadly lacking in vigour. There is nothing to be gained by making the subsoil too rich, because roses are shallow rooters, and goodness never comes up, but always washes further down, and 60 away from tho roots. As long'a3 the subsoil is in good heart and well' drained, that is all that ■ is '.necessary. Ashes from the Tubbish fire and'decayed leaves may always be mixed with .the top soil, and when brought in contact with tho roots of roses will encourage the growth of fibrous roots, l'resh manure should nevor bo allowed to touch the ropts, but, at the time of planting, a little bonedust may bo mixed with the soil that is to cover tho roots. A light sandy soil is, on the' other hand, too porous, and steps must be taken to mako it retain a certain amount of moisture. Remove the top 6oil and bury cow or pig manure li to 2 feet below the surface of the soil. If a little clay can be mixed with tho soil that is to cover tho manure, so much the bettor. This will, make a nice foundation for the-roots'of tho roses, and the clods of manure 'underneath will prevent tho water from draining away too rapidly. The treatment of the top soil is the same as for heavy soils. I cannot impress upon amateurs too earnestly the importanco of thorough soil preparation before attempting to grow roses. Roses should bo planted only when the soil is friable. Should tho ground bo'very wet or sticky, planting 6liould be deferred till'it is drior.. Some gardens are always hopelessly wet during June and July, and the owners should make a point of planting early in May, or of postponing tho planting till spring. Autumn planting has an advantage over (spring planting in that the bushes will flower Gooner.V But if tho soil is a cold wet one, the planting sbould be done early, while thero is still time for tho roots to become established before the cold weathor sets in. Thoso who have a well-drained soil may plant at almost any time during tho winter. In planting roses mako the holes wide enough to allow the roots, to bo evenly spread out to their full length. So often the poor plants have their roots thrust into a hole far too small for them. Howcan they search for and obtain food for the plant when they aro so sadly cramped? Before planting tho rose trees liave a good look at thy. roots to soo if they will rest on a flat base. Sometimes it is necessary to mako a'little mound-of surface soil in tho middle of the holo for the base of the stem to rest on, and th& roots will-.go-down the sides of the mound and out on to the bottom of the hole. The size of the mound will depend upon, tho requirements of the roots. Tho noxt point to be observed is the condition of the soil that is to surround tho roots of the rose bushes. It is important that tho soil should be fine. A layer should bo placed over the roots and pressed firmly 'on to them. Then another layer should be added, and pressed firmly down, and 60' on till the hole is filled. The depth of planting, can be regulated by tho junction of the stock and the rose proper. This should be, when planted, about two inches below tho surface of the soil. The roso itself has a chance to make roots then, and may even in timo becomo independent of tho stock, in grafted roses this junction is the most vulnerable part of the plant, and if exposed, a 'heavy frost may do untold damage to tho plant.

RASPBERRIES. If the old canes of raspberries have not yet been cut out, the work should be done new without delay. Thin out the new'canes to about half adozen of the strongest. Clear away all weeds, and mulch the ground all round the clumps with 'half-rotted manure, or decayed rubbish from a rubbish hole. Do not dig tho ground between tho clumps or raspberries. ■ • '■■~' RHUBARB. Wintor-bearing rhubarb should have some well-rotted manure worked in among tho crowns and all round the plants. Supply water' and liquid manure as soon as growth commences freely. Keep the dead leaves cut off sum-mer-bearing rhubarb. Leave tho leaves to dio naturally. "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Sweet Scabious, winter-flowering shrubs, and vegetables.