GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 52, 24 November 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(liy "Kowhai.")

I'ANSIES AND VIOLAS. Pansy and viola plants that have been flowering lor uome time need constant attention and liberal feeding if large flowers, with thick velvety petals of good colour, are desired. So of ton aniatour gardouers are eatiefled to have the first few flowers fine, and then to allow the others (o como small-faced and weak of stem. Pansies quickly form seed pods/if tho dead flowers aro not removed, and tho formation of seed is a severe drain on the strength of the plants. I'ansies, moreover, are gross feeders. This in a fact that in too often overlooked by pansy-growers. Not only inußt :they bo planted In well-manur-ed ground, but also, itftcr a fow weeks of 'flowering, they'must bo watered, and fed, and hoed in constant succession. Where water is. sca.rce, slve tho plants ono good watoring, and then apply a mulch of half-rotted manure. Whero plants show a tendenoy to bocomo lceey. lies down tho long growths with strong hairpina and heap a littlo Band over them, and, if necessary, in the middle of the plant. If tho sand.is kept moist, new growth will soon be produced, and .bare-looking pkoes will be filled in. ■ Weak liquid manure should be given to pansiea regularly during the flowering season. Whcrq . animal manure oannot bo had, guano'may be purchased from a seed merchant.' Begin by dissolving Joz. in one gallon of, water, and gradually inoreaeo tho strength to loz. in ono gallon of water. Pansies love a cool, moist, rich bed sheltered from north-west , winds. Violas, on tho other hand, faro better when they are placed right out in tho open sunshine. Their quaint littlo Sorters are produced bo freely that one must go almost daily to tSo borders to pick ■ off faded blooms. It, is a good plan occasionally to Dick off all flowers and tho buds ; showing colour. This givee tho : plants a little rest, and the now crop of flowers will be all tho finer for it- ' : Like pansiea, yiolaß love a good drink of clear fresh water, and, io dry weather, a comfortable mulch tnckofl under their shoots and well round their roots.

■ Where there are plenty of strong young shoots, cuttings of both pansiea and violas niay bo taken now. They should be planted firmly in very aandy soil., and kept moist till new growth begins. These cutting's will furnish strong little plants ready for planting out In the atitumn. Ono great,advantage of taking cuttings is that ono , knows the colours of the flowers, and can* arrange a border or bed so ranch moro effectively than whon using , eccdlinsts. *-; HAWTHOBNB. Hawthorne aro lovely whether they are grown: as ftfecimen' trees on a lawn or as hedges.' In spring th 4 trees aro covered with m'asßcs of fragrant, white, pink, or red flowers. , Untrimmed hedges nro then a sheer-delight.' Later, berries are formed, and ; ; all through the dull days of winter Iho 'bare brown stems of the trees aro bright with their coloured load. But ■ although it is a pity to sue tho trees'.trimmed and pruned in.to symmetrical 6hape, it is a mistake to go to the other extreme end neglect thorn altogether. As soon as the. flowering is well over, bushes and hedges should be overhauled. Dead wood and weak shobis should bo out -right out, and flowering shoota should be shortened and even thinned whero it is necessary to admit light and air. ■ " '■ '

CARNATIONS. •;. ...Plants, should,:bo..oarcfvljy. staked, and tho growths trained into place as they grow. The blooms are so hoavy when fully out that thoy must inevitably lie on the ground, unless staked and tied up. It iea great pity, if this jb allowed to happen, because: carnations' are Buoh very beafuv tiful flowers that every effort ehould be made to keep the. blooms nnbrtrised and free from dust and mud'splashes; Greenfly is apt to attack the young flowering , shoots. To foiep the pest away, syringe, the plajits regularly with warm soapy water. Birds, too, will often nip off tho points of the shoots, but black thread.. stretched just above the plants will keep them away.' ;T7af«r the plants regularly with soot, water. Disbud freely., ■DELPHINIUMS, .-' - The flowering stalks-of wo now two -or'- three feet high and very brittle. See'that the'growths afd well tied to strong stakes, but. in tying, them allow the plant to exhibit to the full its stately manner of growth, and ite wonderful beauty ,of flower. A littlo very weak liquid manure may bo given to the nknte after a good watering, and a mulch of well-rotted manure should, afterwards be provided, •■' CANTERBURY BELLS.' ■:' ; Canterbury belle 'are fast- opening their iovoiy, flowers. Weil-grown plants bear such a .wealth of gay and dainty blossoms ,that every effort should be ; maao to show the beauty of the plants to the best advantage. The stalks ; are very brittle, and may easily be broken by even, a- moderate wind or by'careless handling when being tied.to etakes. Seedling iplants should ba planted put to provide next, year's display.. :Seeds may still be sown. . The oap-and-Baucor variety is especially attractive, .though all Canterbury bells aro very ehowy. when well grown. Seed Should, be. sown regularjy every year, eo that there will always be a supply of plants ready to flo-wer at the proper season. VIOLETS. All violet borders should have been attondedto bynow.andnew borders should be planted out. Those who have not yet/ been able to do this work 6hould get it done with as little delay as possible. It takes a long time to .put one's violet borders thoroughly in order at the end of the flowering soason, but ono is woll repaid for doing the work thoroughly by a wealth of fragrant and large-sized flowcm all throngh the following winter and wring months.

VEGETABLES. Givo rhubarb plants liquid mennre every two weeks, and remove at onco any flowora that are formed. Push on with the planting out of cabbages, cauhflowei'3, broccoli, and sevoye whenever poesible. Plant if possible iust before a, shower of rain. Never pknt when the ground is very vret. Hake the earth Quite firm abont tho roots, and seo that the young plants d.o not suffer from dryness at anytime. The encouragement of vigorous grown from tho start in winter greens is 'necessary to bring thorn' safely through the summer. Thin out carrots, onions, parsnips, etc, as soon as the plante' are big enough to handle. Do not thin out too drastically the first time. It ia better to do the work gradually. The. thinnings of carrots and onions can be used in tho kitohen for soups, ete. Make the soil firm aboiit the remaining seedlings as the work proceeds. Clear away, at once all seed, have been pulled out, and also decaying cabbage and lettuce leaves They only harbour Deste if left about. ' Continue plantmc; out tomato plante rn well-dug;, not over-rich ground Celery may bo planted in prepared trenches. For gardeners with small families it Is better to buy a lew plants at intervals during the Bummer, thus haviug two or three small trenches with asuccession of plants. Some people use up all their space jn one big planting and then have no room for successive crops.

Hoe frequently between the rows of all growing croi).«, The following aeede may be sown where necessary:— Celeriac (turnip-rooted celory).-Sow in rows two feet apart, in woli-worked, -well enriched ground. Thin out seedlings to six inches apart in the rows. Celerioo does not need earthing up liku celery It ia grown for its root.

Scarlet Bunner Beans.—Sow in ground that has been trenohedi and manured. Sow the eeed from 6 to -8 inches apart and about 2 inches deep. ' French Beans.-Sow in drills 2 fcot apart and have tho seede 6 inches apart in the rows. Dust bonedust in the drills at the time of sowing the seed, and givo a slight dressing of superphosphate as soon as tho seedlings are a couple of inches high. Badish.—Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground. Provide an abundance of water for the growing crop. . Carrot.—Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Peas.—Sow in drills from 2 to i feet apart. Ground should be trenched and manured, and should have wood ashea mixed with it. Dust bonodust in tho drills when sowing. Lettuce.—Sow thinly in drills 15 inches atpgtrt, and thin out.to 9 inches in the lows.. The ground should he deoply dug, and enriched with wcll-decayed manure. Dust bonedust in tho drills when sowing. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about:—A blue garden, mulching, and vegetables.