GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 152, 16 March 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowbai.")

EARLY-FLOWERIXG OIiKYSANTHBMUMii.. Many of tlio t-arly-iiowcriitj olirysajitlicmunis are already m nuwcr. Very uJ'tcu the first few Bowers are disappointingly small and lade very i;uiel;ly. but when we think of Hie hoc, trying weather that the plants have conie -through, we are not sutoKiither surprised. Sew; however, there have been Bnveral good soakings of rain, and liot days are followed by cool nights and heavy dews. Tho plants, being refreshed and invigorated, have made good growth with stcoug, healthy foliage, and aro fast swelling ratisfaotoiy-looking flower buds. Too much disturbance of tho soil about their roots is not advisable, at this period of their growth, but mulching Bliould bo attended to. Once the buds are set, several good soakings of weak liquid manure will make all the difference to the Quality of tho flowers. Staking and careful tying up of the branches are very important.

Severe disbudding is not nrccpsary in the early-flowering varieties. Just remove a few : buds here and there, -wherever they seem'to be-too crowded, and you will then havei dainty flower-laden sprays that, are ornamental in the garden, and moat satisfactory for arranging in bowlf. in the house. All chrysanthemum .plants must be searched daily for caterpillars. Handpicking is: tho best way of dealing with theso bud-destroying poets.

PRIMROSES AND.POLYANTHUS-PRIM-ROSES. Primroses have begun to Ehow signs of waking up from their long summer sleep, and every morning ono sees new tender green leaves peeping up from the dewdrenched ground. . Where old roots need breaking up, the work should )& dono now. Big into the soil some well-rotted manure or well-decayed vegetable rubbish and a dressing of bonedust, for both primroses and polyanthus primroses revel in a good supply. Keep the soil loose about the roots from now onwards, and see that plenty of moisture is supplied should a dry spell of weather set in. To get a good supply of large, long-stemmed flowers In tho spring, .we nust see that the plants have plenty of moisture during their grow-' ing period, without allowing stagnant water to lie about their roots, and also nourishment in the form of well-rotted manure or well-decayed vegetable rubbish, and a sprinkling of bonedust.

VIOLETS At this time of the year violet .plants begin to produce a great number of now loaves.. Old leaves that aro at all faded or inclined to decay should bo carefully removed before they aro covered by the rapidly-growing new ones. If they are allowed to remain they are a sourco of danger to tho plants, for they harbour disease, red spider, etc. Plants that have any trace of red -spider should bo attended to. The leaves should be cut off close to tho ground and. burp>, and the plants Bhould then be thoroughly soaked with clear, water, and sprinkled with flowers of sulphur,

WALLFLOWERS. I. Before moving wallflower seedlings into their pormanent places iu the beds, out off the'long tap root with a sharp knife. Press the earth very firmly round the roots of the plants when planting them, Mid work a little bonedust into the soil at tho timo. Give the plants a really good watering as soon hb they aro planted, and drive in a, hhort strong stake. Wallflowers are so lovely in the spring that room should be found for aB many plantß as possible. Their delightful fragrance 1111b the gardon, and steals into the house hy oyop- open window-and door. Moreover, their rich colouring is such a pleasing contrast to the prevailing shades of ycllow, oream, and.white of m many of tho. spring flowers. Plants Bhould be got into place as soon as possible now.

FORGET-ME-NOT. Wliat would the spring garden be without, its patches of clear pale blue forget-me-nots? As a carpet plant lor the spring it is without an crjuaJ, for. it creeps i" among plants, lilling empty spa<ies, and covering the bare uarth with sheets of hoavenly blue. Ab a.carpet plant for a bed of rich brown v/allflower it ia lovely. It blendß with nurotai, miowllakes, aquilegias, scarlet (,'eums, docp blue irises, and all. the dainty flowers that bring such charm to the spring garden.- Grape hyacinths conje, peeping up from underneath a., carpet, of forgot-mo-nots, and their pretty npikes of fragrant blue flowers look all tho richer when contrasted with I,ho pulo blue of tho carpet plant. A very pretty effect, can be obtained by associating purple Dimsics with forget-me-nots. ..The plujils iiitermingln an fii".v spread oycrllho'-ground, until at---flowering •tiincl.inn.um'orabic volvely purple. pansy ia,ocß peep up at cno from a dainty boil of clearest blue. Where they encroach too muoh tho plants may be cut away In haudfiiln, and they don't resent it one bit. but. hasten to grow again as a reproof in tho 1.00-trim-and-tidy gardener. Tlioro is ono other place -where forget-me-nots aro exquisite, and that is along the hank of a stream or pond, especially If they are planted among dnrk bluo Hag irises. Now ib tho time to -nlant out Btrong young snodlingß into their flowering quar'crs. Rcmeiuhor that, each plant, when fully grown, will fake up a. considerable amount of room. Any. soil suits forget-me-nots, hnt a. little sahr), decayed vegetable matter, and a drowsing of bonedijat worked into their soil wi'l .bo appreciated by them. GENERAL WORK; Keep tho hoe going constantly in the beds, for weeds are seeding wherever they get the chance. Continue to plant bulbs whero necessary. ,I'ako cuttihga of roses, jieuliilcnionß, daisies,"' antirrhinums,- verbenas, pansies, violriß, caxiiu,tionß, etc. , The . puttings of flowering Bhritbii, such as hydrangeas, lilacs, myrtloß, lorsylhias,. etc., or,, layer suitable shoota. Remember to use sand freely when striking cuttings, and to prosß tho earth very firmly about tho baßo of tho cutting. Sow seeds ot perennials and hardy annuals. Plant doronicutne, gcums, aquilegias, and 011 l npringflowerlng plants; also seedling perennials that aro ready Stake and tie up plants, for llarch gales will soon be upon us. Tansies''and violas that were cut back now have a fine lot.of strong young shoot? that • aro, fiuitablo for cuttings.. The oold frarao may be filled .to overflowing with pots of cuttings. I'rcoziaß, hyacinths, etc., that aro'"to bo- grown' in pots for. tho houflo should bo planted now. If the pots aro afterwards allowed to stand in wator till the soil is saturated, and aro then plunged into a bed of ashes, little further watering will bo needed. Tho bulbs havo a chnuce to make, good root growth when they are in tho cool shelter of a bed of ashes. Pots that, aro Btood on a dark shelf while- tho bulbs aro making their roots will need watering whenever the soil jb dn'. Stand-thorn• up to their rims in a., pan of water till tho soil is .saturated, and then lay them on their sides to drain before ctoring them away again on the dnrk pholf. Keep all garden beds trim and tidy. Autumnfloworing plants, such as dtihliaß. Michaelmaß daisies, snnflowors, cosmos, asters, and spcoiosa. and belladonna lilies aro malting tho garden very attractive, but there aro necessarily many bare spaces where bulbs have- boon. planted, or sum-mer-flowering annuals have been removed. Ilaro soil, however, can look quite attractive Tvh»n it. in kent clean and well hoed.

HYACINTHS. Tho hyacinth is perhaps the most fra. grant, and certainly one of the most beautiful of tho early Bp.ing-llowering bulbs. It is a pity that it is not. more generally grown, as the cultivation is eo simple, and the natural increase fairly quick. Hyaciiiths like rather rich soil A good quantity of well-decayed cow manuro should be dug in whero they are to bo grown, and a littlo bonedust should bo addod to tho soil. Spread a layor of river or silver sand for the bulbs to rest on, and havo them about five inches below the surface of the soil. Attcr planting, spread a layer of fitted cow manure over tho ground. SPRING CABBAGES. N.ow that winter greens aro growing wolf, and need only constant hoeing ami occasional earthing up to keep them satisfactory, our thoughts leap ahead to the most important following crop—spring cabbages. Now that tho soil, has been thoroughly saturated, and that life-giving dewß may bo expected, wo Bhould not liesitalo to get in a fow rows of spring cabbages. The part of the garden where potatoes have just been grown is most suitable for them, because if was richly manured last spring, and has just been deeply dug during tho potato-digging proce.-s. Rake it level, tread it firm, and then get in the cabbago socdlinga. Uefore planting them mako a thick porridge-like mixture of cow manuro and -water, and puddle the roote of tho seedlings in this, A good coating of tho mixture will adhere to the roots, mid will give the seedlings a twd start. Ono important point is to cut "IF the long tap roof when transplanting cabbage seedlings. Do this before puddling tho roots. Make the soil very firm round the seedlings' when planting, and give them 11 gnoil watering. See that thov we wittered or syringed daily till the roots "take hold" of their now quarters. It i» n. great advantage to havo the rows of cabbages wide apart, so that you can constantly dig deeply between them If manure can be dug inlo these intervening hiuiccb, tho soil there wilt become very rich. [ liter, when curl-It. ing up iB necessary. I his well-worked, wellenriched soil will be drawn up about t.b« cabbage plants, with real!)', amazing but wholly satisfying remits. -To follow out this plan, however, the rows of cabbnges must be wide apart, or the roots would be injured by fha deep digging.' Garden Notes noit, week will contain seasonable notes about :-Tullpe, routine work, and vegetables.