GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 134, 23 February 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

fßy "ICowliai.") ROUTINE "WORK. At tho timo of writing a most welcomo rain is falling steadily, anl the moisture is being sucked in greedily by the thirsty ground and drawn right down to the roots of plants. Leaves and steins are being cleansed and refreshed by the steady downpour, and tender shoots arc being freed from aphiß. In bpite of persistent efforts, violet plants have been attacked again' and again- by red spider. however, they wilL be so thoroughly clcanßed, and will probably make such vigorous growth, that the peat will be more easily dealt >vith. Asters, Michaelmas daisies, liliums, chrysanthemums, and dahlias, arc having a glorious drink that will carry them well on into the autumn. Lobelias, pansiee, and villas that were looking very tired are already showing a fresh interest in life. If the .plants are trimmed back a little they will still make a good j show before cold -weather sets in. ■ This is a splendid chance to give lioiud manure to all plants that reouiro it. inic?e are: Michaelmas daisies, asters, , chrysanthemums, liliums, uerines, dahlias, cosmos, roses, and any plants tliat have been flourishing for some time, such as pansieß, sweet uea, lobelia, heliotrope, etc. Where animal manure cannot bo had. guano may be used at the rato of Joz, in 1 gallon of water. Guano is obtainable from seed merchants. Once the rain is over the hoe must be kept at work, loosening the soil and keeping down weeds. On no account must the soil be allowed to cake, or all the ,gocd of so splendid a rain will be undone. ; Weeds will be sure to Bpring up on all sides, but constant hoeing is the most 1 effective method of dealing with them. ! As soon as the soil is in a friable condii tioii again, seeds of perennials and hardy annuals may be sowP' . Present conditions are favourable to quick and successful germination. Cuttings of most plants may be taken now, and will root quickly if planted firmly in sandy soil. Carnations, flowering fiTimhs, veTbeiias, petunias, violets, climbing roses, etc.. may all be layered. Buiob tlint are already in the ground will'probably be started now into root action. This will giv-e them the necessary long time of growth before flowering. "Whenever it is possible push on with all bulb planting. Chrysanthemums need constant supervision. Already caterpillars are. at work eating out the newly-formed buds, rh© rain, unfortunately, has not'much e|f G ct upon thein, for they are-snugly enfolded within- a leaf. Hand-picking is the ouly reliably way. of: getting rid of them. '• Where roses, verbenas, etc., are showing traces of 'mildew they should be sprayed with liute sulnhur. or should have flowers of sulphur dusted on the foliage early in the morning. ' Stakiug is a very, necesary operation at tho present time, Spccioßa lilies are making a glorious i?how, but they aro easily. sooilt hy wind unless they are well stalied. Chrysanthemums, dahlias, cosmos, and even asters all need suitable stalioß. : , ... Some of the earlier Michaelmas daisieß are already showing . .colour. _ These are such lovely flowers, and, can be used so effectively in the gaTden. for'-the plants are naturally graceful, mid lend themselves readily to artistic 'arrangement The greatest mistake tliat'can bo maao is to tie them in a bitnclvto a-few upright stakes. A few branches mayi ue trained upright, others may, be pulled out sideways or even bent right over to tno ground. The moTe room each brancli has, tho more chance lias ttoe_ busli V) allow its exquisite beauty when in (lower. Always use neat stakes, and have them so placed that they will, ho, effective, but hidden by the plants as they grow. Belladonna lilies are slwot'ng up from the bare ground long naked stems that have the quaintest appea,ranee, until the slowly-opening buds crown t-lieni "with ■bunches of glorious fragrant, flowers. Bulbs of nerines have been resting ami ripening in the sunshine'-all though tho hot days of January. Now. however, the red-tinted tins or flower buds are peeping out from the dead-looking bulbs. This good soaking-of rain and a-little liquid manure will send the red-tinted buds shooling up on long stems till they too open out into bnnches of beautiful scarlet flowers. Verbenas, phlox drummondii. petunias, and all creeping plants i'ged pegErinir down to the ground■ .litre.aiyl there. Dead flnwers should be IpTonriiuy' removed from all plants unless, seed is wanted, and dead leaves should be cut 0"l- ---. Gaillardias. those most useful o£ flowers, have, been flowering freely ail through .the hottest and driest weather. A little liquid, manure given > reirular'v after rain or after a good watering will help the plants to keep un the size- and quality of their innumerable flowers. Seedpods must be. very promptly removed. The old shoots of rambler roses should be cut out. and.the new shoots trained into nlace. A few good.soakings of liquid or a mulch of well-decayed manure will be •beneficial to the plants. Watch all ramblers, for any trace of mildew on Ihe lei'-cs. If necessary, sprav the bus'nes with concentrated lime sulphur (procurable at'all seed merchants), using one-nart of lime «ulnhur tn 141 or 160 parts of water. Mix thoroughly before using. CUTTINGS. Cuttings of various plants may be taken now. Big up a spare part of a shady border, and then, tread the soil firm. Make drills several inches deep for the cuttings, placing in them about one inch of Band on a, firm bass for the .ends of tho cuttings. to reßt on. ' ■ Cuttings of geraniums, pelargoniums, .Diost. flowering shrubs, pentstcmons._ antirrhinums, roses," calceolarias, carnations, Dinks, fuchsias, lavender, petunia's, verbenas, and marguerites may all be taken now. -

In taking cuttings, cut just below a joint, and see that the base of the out- ! -ting rests in sand op a firm foundation. -Pentstemons, antirrhinums, marguerites, carnations, calceolarias, and lavender mako new shoots at tho base of the flowering stem. These are tho shoots for cuttings. For roses a shoot that has flowered makes the best cutting. Remove- the dead flower and the lower leaves, cut just below a, joint, and insert the cutting very firmly. Pelargonium and .geranium cuttings should bo allowed to dry for an hour or two before being planted; all other cuttings should bo planted as quickly as possible. . Be generous with the sand in striking cuttings. Keep the soil just moist, (not sodden)' and the cuttings shaded from the sun. Press the earth very firmly round cuttings, especially round the base of the cuttings.' VEGETABLES. Now that the soil lias been so thoroughly soaked, seeds of lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower may all be sown without, fear of t-lie .resultant plants bolting through -boing'. too dry at tho rents. For this autumn sowing r liko to nw> .ail wrly variety of caobagc and cauliflower ttut will begin to "come in" about Joly-a time tvhen greens aro most acee.ptabic. Carrots so.far have_not been a great success in nianv districts, lint a sowing mfd'i now should have better results. Onions and peas may alei be sown, ana a last- sowing of French beans may bo "Broccoli, Brussels snrouts. etc. that have been nil a eked by anhis have been washed by the good rain, and a little nitrate of s->da, one ounce to one .gallon of water, will help them to make vigorous growth. -Tliev must be kent- eromnnr hv eoiißtant- and el-nn by frequent wringing with elear water. 'Don't allow runner beans to -trow t<;o hig'l but off tho, tins of f.he Fboo s to keen them within ea?y_ pickine reach Turnins mav he sown in ground, t-'a-f irnt richly manured for a- previous Mflt'o ihe' ground <-<>ry fli"™' ,nw 1110 seed thinly in fl*™" n inches apart.

CELERY. i Before earthing up celery give tho plants a good watering with clear water and a dose of weak liquid manuro, hliould the ground already be fairly damp the watering will not be necesary. Don t. tluw tiio oarth round the p ants. Xjift it into the trench carefully,' "nd then pres- it round tho plants gently and irmly n\ith your hand, at the same timo holding tno stems close together with the other hand. Some people twist a piece of pliable wire round the Btcm of each pin nt, and, aB the earthing-up proceeds, this* wire band is pushc'l further up the sleni. Whatever plan you adopt, the main thing is to keep the earth from getting In among the stems. Earth up a little at a > time, and never go beyond the heart o" tho celery, , „ t , . Garden Notes next week will contain •seasonable notes about:— Sowing seeds of perenninlp, routine work, and vegetables.