GARDEN'NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3197, 22 September 1917, Page 13

GARDEN'NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ANTIHB-HINTJII (SNAPDRAGON). The antirrhinum or snapdragon of today is a flower of such beauty as ;uf grand-parents never dreamed of. In their clay snapdragons ware chielly queer shades of rod, and although, the plants were largely grown in voltage gardens. I think it must, havo been moro for thoir extreme hardiness than for the beauty of tliciv flowers. Even to-day i'no eccs in some gardens these old-fashioned varieties with "washed-out" red-looking flowers, and when ono thinks of the c-xijiiisito cdours thai aro to bo had, one marvels at the lack of enterprise in some gardeners. As I said before, .snapdragons are to-day flowers of great beauty. One lias only to see tho exquisite colouring in the newer variotes to reaiise this. In tlio pink shades alone one can have them from pale shell pink through all tho shades of deeper pink and salmon to puro rose. There are flowers of vivid scarlet, .iraugo-scarlet, orange overlaid with-- salmon, dark velvety red, and clear yollaw; llowers with white throats and pink, salmon, c-rangc-■scarlct. and scarlet lips; flowers t'lataro beautifully striped or splashed with a. number of different shades. The.,i'!ents, too, are of three classes-dwarf, intermediate, and tall. Of the three the intermediate variety is the most useful. When massed, in beds or in uold groups, snapdragons are glorious. The jOants revel in sunshine, and arc invaluable for districts subject to summer droughts, for they do. well in dry, hot gardens. At present plants that were put out in tho autumn are in full flower, and the dainty shades of pink and the moro vivid shades of scarlet and orange-scarlet look enacting among tie -white and yellovf llowers of tho narcissi. From now until- well' JJjto next winter the bushes will flower contiguously, provided faded blooms are at once removed. As ■ the flowering stason ■ advances, doses of weak liquid manure should bo given to the plants, and the soil about them ehonld be kept well stirred. Seed may he sown now in seed pans, and ■ the seedlings planted out as soon as they are big enough. ■ Tho plants should bo pu.t into fairly rioh soil, though, they will do well even in poor soil that has been well dug, and should lie planted very firmly. Shading from the hot sun is necessary for a few days, hut once the plants are established!" they are little further trouble. AQuiIEGIA CHBSSANTHA. Aquilegia ohrysantha is a, teautiful pro!-den-flowored, variety. The plants Jast for soveraL years, each yca-v becoming moro beautiful. It is as well to raise fresh seedlings every year, however, as sometimes the .old plants go off quite suddenly. Seeds of a-nuilesia- should bo sown now in- seed pans, to have seedlines ready for planting out in t.ho bor- ■ dorß at the end of the autumn. Aquilegias grow equally well in sup or. .in shade, and are most useful for brightening shady borders during ■ the spring months. ' If seed-pods are .picked oft' every day, the plants may be kept flowering for <-omc time. The young flowering shoots are often attacked by greenfly, hut-two or three doses of soapy -water .applied vdth a syringe -will soon free r-hean. • ANNUALS FOB STONY' GARDENS. The following annuals are ell 'suitable for sμnny gaj-dens :—Phlox drummondii, godetia, mignonette, star of the' -veldt,' brachycome, zinnia, annual coreopsis, and Frcnoh and African marigolds. Seeds may bo sown now in seed pans. BfiACHI'COJIE,. V '.' Brachycome or Swan Eiver 'laisy ie a delightful little .dwarf plant, bearing lovely blue llowor-s very much like cinerarias. It grows splendidly in hot, dry soils,' niid looks quito at home in, the puro Band of seaside wharo gardens.' I have seen it looking equally happy in tho stiff clay of »■ newly-made hill garden, and in the wellenriched soil of my own gardon. 6uch an accommodating little subject, should not. be overlooked by any gardener. "Purple King" is much deeper in colour than the well-known blue variety: Planted in long lines, or in bold groups in the front of a mixed border, Swan Itvcr daisy is very effective. The plants are dwarf and very compact in thoir manner of growth. Those who have not yet prown this protty .flower ■ should try it, for it is a gem among dwarf plants. Seeds may be sown now. . . ZINNIAS. Zinnias aro most useful for providing a line display of flowers just at .a time when the Bummer flowers are over, and the autumn flowers aro scarcely out. For dry. 6uuuy gardens they are i carts as valuable as antirrhinums. To grow, zinnias successfully tho soil should be thoroughly dug to a, good depth. Special attention should bo paid to thos subsoil in heavy soils, as zinnias will not thrivo unless good drainage is provided. ■. Liko most annuals thoy appreciate a> little -lime in tho soil. Seeds may bo sown now, and the seedlings transplanted as soon as they aro big enough ta handle. Shade, them from tho hot sun for a dny or two. Pinoh out tho 'ops of the seedlings as soon as the plants mo a. few inches high to induce bushy growth: Dead ilownrs should bo promptly removed, and the soil round tho plants should be kept veil stirred. ' Double giant zinnias make a, brilliant show when mixed colours aro crown in groups or masses. Tho flowers last for a, long time in water when cut. STOCKS. Gardeners -will now bo mnkini; sowings of early Kromptoii stocks, such as"l3ca'ui.y of Mico," "Monte Carlo," etc. Stock seed 13 generally sown in very shallow pnns, tho idea being to discourn-gc the growth of :>. lone tap root. Should tan roots bo produced, they should bo cut off at transplanting time. Stocks should bo planted out in wellprepared and well-onrichcd ground. VEGETABLES. Lcoks ..may bo sown now in tho open \vhcro they aro to grow. The most satisfactory way to grow them is in trenches. Dig out a. shallow, but fairly wide ironeh, and fill it in with three or four inches of rich soil. Just before sowing tho Eecd prick in somo bonedust or superphosphate (loz. to ono yard run). As soon as tho plants aro big onough, thin them out to eilx inches apart. . Earth-up the plants as they grow. Constant loosening; cf tho soil with tho lioe, plenty of water, and later on weak liquid manure, are necessary to grow leeks successfully. ROUTINE WORK. ' Plant out, where necessary, cabbage ami cauliflower plants in richly-manured ground. Before planting the seedlings out, cut off tho long Up root to encouragetho growth of fibrous roots. Mix a little bonedust with, the soil in each I'ole at. planting time. Keep cabbage, oauliflowcr, lettuce, and silver beet growing -inickly. Hoe between tho rows constantly, and feed regularly onco a fortnight with a weak solution of nitrate of soda (loz. in lgal. water), or with -weak liauid manure mivdo from cow nwnuro snd soot. Hob between the rows of peas and broad beans, and attend to tho staking. As soon as the flowers of the broad beans show signs of sotting nip off the tops of tho plants. Attend to tho thinning-out of oarrote. Begin drawing the earth towards csrly potatoes as 6oon ae the tops show abovo ground. •Continue sowirur the following_ Etcds whero necessary:— : Beet.—Sow in drills, 15 inches aj.-art. The best soil for beet is a- light but rich one. As manure freshly added to tho soil may spoil tho roots, uso ground that was richly manured for a prevle-UB crop. 'The soil must bo made very firm reforo sowing the scod. Sprinklo a little bonedust or superphosphate: in the drills at, tho timo of sowing the, seed. Onions—Make the soil vory firm by trending on it before sowing. Do this only -when the soil is dry. Blacken tho soil with soot several time 3 before sowing tho seeds. Dust siiperphoshatc in the drills at the time of sowing. Sow the seed in drills, 12 inches apart. Brown Spanish and James's Keeping aro tho best for keeping. • . Radish.-fiow broadcast in rich, firm ground and in a warm, sunny position. Short Horn or Nantes Horn Carrot.— Sow thinly in drills. 12 inches apart. Turnip.—Early Snowball or Early V>luto fitono. Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous crop of greens, or in ground that was manured early in the autumn. Mako tho. ground very firm. Sow thinly in drills, 12 inches al> Pcas.-Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. Ground should be trenched and manured, anil should havo woodashes mixed with it. Dust bonodust iu tho drills at the time of sowing. Parsnips.—Sow in ground that was veil manured for a previous oro'p. Work the soil to a flno tilth for a depth of at least 18 inches. Any. lumps may couse deformed and worthless roots. Work into the soil ashes' from a. liu-bbish fire, and a dressing of bonedust. "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Dahlias, perennials for shody gardens, and vegetables. •