GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 87, 5 January 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

■ , DAillilAS. During tho no:;l few weeks those, who are interested in dahlia growing should make a point of visiting nurseries to sec the dahlias while, they are. in flower. Most amateur gardeners grow dahlias for lwi> purpoaes-to decorate Iho garden and tu decorate tho house. As a general rule they choose now varieties from blooms exhibited either in shop windows or on a show stand, it is then a matter of pure luck if thev get varieties that aro suited to their purpose It is disappointing to grow a dahlia to make a show in the garden, and then to find that tho habit of. the plant is to have drooping flower hbadsror Bowers that arc half hidden under foliage. -For both gardeu and house, decoration it is advisable to grow varieties that are frue flowering, fairly compact in growth, and that bear dowers carried on long, stiff stalks. By visiting a nursery during the flowering period one is enabled to see tho habit of the plants and their suitability. I need hardly add that it is an advantage to order early. Dahlias iu our gardens are at the stage when they need quantities of water. If you have a hose, turn it on, and let the water run gently over the roots of the dahlias for an hour at a time. The plants will appreciate being 6prayed with clean water in the evening after a hot pr dusty day. . . If the plants were put into deeply-work-ed 1 , onriched ground, they will not need liquid manure yet. An abundance of water will satisfy them for the present. I don't mean that you should be constantly watering them. Tho ground should be thoroughly saturated at one watering, and tho plants sjtould receive no further watering, with the exception of the overhead Bprinkling, until the ground begins to get dry again. The plants should then havo another liberal «m>nly of water. Those who aro obliged to water with a wateringcan ahould take the plants in turn, seeing that eaoh plant receives about three cans full at eaoh watering. Dahlias dislike firm Soil about them. This ground should thereford bo kept quite loose with the hoe. A good mulch of well-rotted stable manure may /be placed round--dahlias after they have been thoroughly watered. If this is done, and. plenty of water is supplied when necessary, very little liquid majnuro will' bo needed. Too much liquid manure may- oause growth of • the plants at the cinense of flower production. In the oase of dahlias that are being grown for Bhow, however, only a few very large blooms aro needed, and constant feeding is resorted to. . All side shoots-should he robbed out as soon as they appear, and a little disbudding m'ay : bo practised. Tho main branches ■ should be tied to stakes as they grow, as dahlias, aro very brittle, and are easily broken down.

Oaotus dahlias are very, beautiful, and are splendid for the house.if, as soon as the flowerß are out, the ends of the stems are allowed to stand In hot water for a. few minutes before the flowers are arranged in the vases. Flowers would last longer, also, if they were cut when not quite fully expanded, and beforo the warm sun has been allowed to shine on them. In the case of sihglS' and collarette dahlias it is.-better to out them when only half, open.-If theplantß are well treated with regard ..to ..food 'and water, tho stalks are long, and the flowers well formed and pure in colour. Single and collarette dahlias are also good for cutting. -■--'■-- ; -OELEEY: The season so far has been a splendid ona for celery plantß, for the frequent spells of wet weather have helped to keep tho young plants growing steadily, -.in. growing; celery-regular-and-soffioient moisture at the roots is absolutely necessary; otherwise the plants bolt. It is this need for constant watering that often prevents amateur gardeners growing a most usoful and delicious vegetable. During a dry summer, water iu many gardens ■is either very scarce or not to be had at all, and celery growing becomes such a labour that one is not surprised at tho vegetable being excluded from tho amateur's, garden. Once a dry spell sets in, tho plants, un. -less .sufficient, water' can- be given, will bolt, and all one's, work of preparing trepchea and raising sncdlings in the early part of the season is lost.'But those who are keen can generally ilnd a way out of Bvory difficulty, and those who arc keen about growing celery can overcome a dry season with tho ever useful mulch. •Whilo the plants aro still young, and beforo dry weather has set in, tho soil about tho plants in the trenches should •bestirred-thoroughly at least throe times » week; also the leaves and stems of tho plants should be syringed with water every evening.. This freatmont may bo kept up till thero seems a prospect of dry weather—tho t.itno'." vanes with tho season "—when the soil- in-the-trenches should bo glvenone thorough soaking,;using washing-day-'Water 'if necessary, and a mulch of short manuro should bo. spread over tho surface to a depth of about two inches. This will keep the moisture about the roots from evaporating. But tho plants raußt still bo. syringed with dear water every,evening if .possible, and for this' purpose all tho waato water from the'house, excepting greasy water, is excellent. An effort should be made to provide sufficient weak soot water for spray~ing the tops, twice a week. When feeding time arrives, liquid manure must, of oourse, be supplied to the plants, but by that time the hottest and driest part of tho season is generally over. . Bo far this season a. mulch has not been an absoluto necessity, but by applying- ono, one is, saved much work. Furthermore, every shower of rain washes food from the short manuro down to the roots of the plants.

. .BOUTINS WORK.; ; Continue -thinning out,.parsnipß, carrots, beet, onionß, and leeks til! {hoy are from uino to twelve:inches.apart,, according to their reauiremonts. After. thinning out, Arm tho Bbil; about .those remaining. Hou constantly. A sprinklijig.of.soot over the ground bcford hoeing will be beneficial to all of these crops.

When hoeing between the rows of onions, care should bo taken not to push the earth towards the bulb.s. Cabbages, cauliflowers, peas, beans, and potatoes are, on, tho other hand, all tho better for havinu the earth pushed towards them. Keep tomato plants well tied to Btakes. Pinch out all'lateral and/basal growths. Allow tho air to circulate freely among : plants. Syringe tho leaves and stems with clear water to keep them free from dust. Very weak liquid manure may be given after the frait has set. ,/ ■ ■ .Whore necessary, the following seeds may be sown:— .Scarlet Runner Beans.—Sow .m ground that has been trenohed and manured. Sow the seeds from six to eight Inches apart, and about two inches deep. Frenoh Bcans.-Sow in drills two feet apart, and have tho seeds six inohee apart in tho rows. Dust bonodußt in tho drills at the time of sowing the seed, and give a Blight dressing of superphosphate as soon ■as the" seedlings -,are a couple of Inches high." f. Radish.-Sow broadcast in rich firm soil, Mind in a shady position. Car'rot.-Sow thinly in drills twelve inohes apart. Dust bonedust in the drills when sowing, and sprinkle superphosphate along the rows as soon as the seedlings are a.n inch or so high. Peas.—Sow in drills from two to three feet'aparti -Ground should be trenched and manured, and should have woodashes mixM. with \it. Dust bonedust in the drills when Bowing. Soak the seed in warm water for a few.hours before sowing. Beet.—A light, sandy Boil is the best for beet. Sow the seed in. drills 18 inches apart, in ground that was manured for a previous crop. Fresh manure would bo harmful to the roots. Tho ground should be deeply dug and mado firm again before sowing the-Becd- Dust bonedust In the drills when sowing.' Lettuce.—Sow .thinly in drills fifteen inches apart,.and thin, out.to, nine Inches in the rows. The ground should be deeply dug and enriched with well-decayed manure. Dust bonedust in the drills when sowing the seed. Turnips.—Ground that has been U6ed for an early crop of peas is very suitable for turnips. Before sowing the peed, fork over the ground and soak it with water. Allow the ground toi settlo before sowing, as turnipß need a very firm bed. As soon as tho 'seedlings appoar, hoeing must bo strictly attended to. and whenever it is posslblo water should be given. Tnrnips need well-worked, firm soil, moisture, and quick growth. ' Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about,:—The soil mulch, routine work, and vegetables;