GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3179, 1 September 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai")

SWEET PEAS. Autumn-sown Bwect, peas are rather backward this year. Take .advantage of every opportunity to stir tho earth about their roots. Tho ground is still oold, and by stirring the earth about one. allows the sun-warmed air to penetrate further and further. The roots quickly respond to th_e warmth that thus reaches them, and stronger growth is the resjut. Keen the vines well trained up the supports. Even though they naturally cling to their supports it is advisablo to tio them socuroly. but not tightly, hero and there as a precaution against strong windß. .., < ~.■• ■It Ts'still rather early to make the spring sowing. l of sweet peas, but tne ground where they are to be-grown should be prepared without delay. Bomovo the ;top soil, and thoroughly break up the subsoil, working into it plonty of weudecayed manuro. IE animal manure is not to be had. use well-decayed vegetable rubbish, ashes from a wood °r rubbish lire, and a dressing of bonedust. Mix all thoroughly with the subsoil, which should be worked to a depth of at least two feet, as sweet peas are deep rooters. Tread the soil firm as .the fork^ proceeds, for sweet peas-love a firm, though deeplyworked, soil to root into. • , Ab the spring-sown peas hare: to n ' end ™9 the hot summer.' weather, the deeper and cooler.the. root.:.run the more fit tbo plants will keep. . , . " _j Eetum the top soil, tread it firm, and thoroughly blaokeu the s" rfac f, !? t ° pl s , 00 i n After two or three days hoe this well m and again blacken the surface soil with soot, hoeiug it in as before. '■'~''. MICHAELMAS DAISIES. -The time has arrived for and ■ replanting large clumps. of Michaelmas daisy. vDuring tho last few weeks a fine lot of young growths have been .sent up from the roots. Strong young pieces from the outside of the old clump should be planted back again; Michaelmas daisies like a fairly rich soil, with plenty ot well-decayed manure, or well-decayed vegetable rubbish, mixed with it. Ola. bushes should be lifted and broken »n every two years. . • • •. ■ . Early in January a little bonedust should be pricked into the soil about the plants, and If possible a mnloh of welldecayed manure should bo spread round them. Miohaelmas- daisies, when well; grown, are aiporfect glory in the autumn, garden. The plants are very hardy and increase rapidly. Every year there is some addition to-the rankujrf these beautiful flowers, and gardeners ' can obtain now quite a collection of them. Almost every shade of lavender: and purple-is represented, the flowers varying also in size, and the bushes in height and habit. The following varieties are all beautiful:— Brilliant, bright .crimson; Climax, large 'olear blue; E. G. Lowe, largo pale blue; Hon. Edith Gibbs, pale blue, flowers, branching habit; Mrs. T. G. Day, rosy pink; Mrs. G. -T.. Wright, rosy purple; Bosy Morn, brilliant pink; St. Edwip. large soft pink;-William.Marshall, clear mauve. BEGONIAS. Tuberous-rooted begonias should 'bo started into growth now by placing them on a layer of leaf mould 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 shoots are an ; inch or two long -. they should be cut oil with ii "heel" and: treated as outtlngs, or tho tubers may simply be cut in half, care being taken to leave at least one Bhoot on each half. The cuttings 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 be planted out into their permanent quarters. Begonias are most accommodating as to soil and situation, and are moreover so lovely that they should be more generally grown. They will grow in tho sun or in tho shade; in a wet heavy soil, or in a dry sandy one. They are splendid plants for growing in a shady garden. But the ideal position for them is a semi-shaded one, and the soil should bo a mixture of good soil, leaf-mould, old decayed manure, and sand.'. ■ . The best way to obtain a good stock for- bedding-out purposes is to buy a few good-named varieties, and to inorenso' from theße-, In this way it is easier to ■ regulate ones colour schemes; and ono has only those varieties that one most admires. Among single-flowering varieties tho following are good :-OhaJlcnger, rich deep crimson; Oountess Brownlow, beautiful yellow; Lady 'Farquhar, salmon ■■ pink; Magnificent, scarlet; Dame Blanche, white. Double-flowering varieties:—Countess of Zetland, white; Princess May, white; Duko of' Fife,, deep-salmon; Duke of Portland, .rich crimson; Henshaiv Bussell, brilliant searlct;' Mrs.'.Fronch, pale primrose.'.

'•■' •■'■ EOTJTINK WOKK. Now that the flowering season of the blue everlasting pea-Lathyrus Pubcscensis,'beginning, feed the plants with"-wea* liquid manure, beginning with a. 'ycry wea,k solution, and gradually increasing tho Wength as time goes on.' A most useful liquid manure is made from cow menuro and soot. Put some cow manure in an oil drum or barrel, and fill up with /water. Tho-soot is put 'into a piece of sorim or sugar bagging, and thou thrown into the barrel. Stand tho barrel -well in tho sun, stir, tho manure occasionally, and it is ready for uso in a day or two. The liquid should bo diluted with rain water till it iB the colouiof weak tea. Always first water the plants well with pure water, and then apply the liquid manure. - Those who cannot get cow manure sliould buy some guano at a seed merchant's and :use. it at tho rate of. ioz. in one gallon of water. ..-This-.may be, gradually increased to loz. in one gallon of water.' Soot water could be used alternately with tbis. .- Plant ,out. ; seedlings as soon, as they aro ready. Sow iu seed-pans, seeds of:—Pansy, poppy, phlox-drummondii, nemesia, antirrhinum, stocks, niootiana, larkspur, clarkia. godc-t-io, linVia, candytuft, calliopsss, and coriillowcr. Sow in heat:—A«ters, cosmos, salvia, petunias, ealpiglossia, echlzanthns, lobelia, verbena, and dahlias (oactus and collarette). ■ ' VECETABI.ES. Comploto all digging and trenching,' plant early-potatoes, hoc at every opportunity, and earth up cabbages and cauliflowers. • . ■ • Seeds that may bo sown this week, weather and soil permitting are:— Badish.—French breakfast is the best. Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground, and in a warm sunny position. Short Horn or Santos Horn Carrot.— Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. . Turnip—Early Snowball or Early White ■Stone. Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous crop of greens, or in ground that -waa manured early to the autumn. JTako tho ground'very firm. Sow thinly in drilla, twelve inches apart. . Poas.—Sow in drills from two to, tbreo feet apart. : Ground should bo trenched and manured, and should have wood ashes mixed with it. Dust bonedust n tho drill? at tho time of sowing..,, Soak peas in warm water for a few liours before sowing;.' ■''.'• , ~ . ~ Parsnips-Sow in ground that was well manured for a previous orop. Work the soil to a ftno tilth for a depth of at least 18 inches. Any lumps may cause deformed and worthless rootF. Work into tho soil ashes from a rubbish flro, and bonedust (46z. to-' snun-ro yard). _ - ■ Onions.-Mako the soil yery firm by treading on it beforo sowing. «o Uus only- when the soil is dry. Sow the Eeed in drills 12 inches apart. Brown Spanish and Tames' Keeping are the best for keeping. „ „ ■ . , ' Sow in Sood Pans:-Colory, leeks, tomatoes, lettuces, cabbages, and cauliflowers. ■ Hoc whenever the foil is. in working condition. .

Garden Notes next woelr wjll contain seasonable notes about:-Pansics, routine work, and-vegetables.