GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 158, 23 March 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

TULIPS. In preparing a turn ioi- tulips Etrict atteuiiuii biiuiuu bu piuii lu tu'iuxiagc. miicu Wiiu uavo a lif.'iL weU-uraun.'ii toil nuud au<l ouly a iiiuo noiiouiisu \mcu puiutinii tuo bmus. AHenvarua a iifjii lumen oi uiorougniy neuuyuu manure may bu tsprea-u over t-iie ■ Biirlaee. I'Tcbu manure snoultt .never bo used where lulips urn oeing grown.. Heavy noil smiiud bo trenched, ami tlioula have aUuwl to it •Band or road grit ;iud leaf soil, Some growers follow, the plan of'.puuiug thenuulbs into rich soil one year, ami poor soil tho next. By rich soil I mean soil that was heavily manured l'or a previous crop of vegetables. Jiig bulbs that are lifted from rich soil and replanted in poor soil will split up and make considerable, increase. Tho . new bulbs. will be email ;ind 'medium in size, but if planted in rich soil. the following year will grow into nice-sized bulbs. Gross feeding results, as a rule, in worse ' blooms, Old gardeners sometimes used to speak of "starving bulbs into purity." When buying bulbs do not choose tho largest. It is the medium-sized sound bulb which generally produces the purest and -most refined, flower. Tulips aro wonderfully ■accommodating, - growing equallywell in tiny gardens in a smoky, town, and in country gardens where the air is I of tho freshest and sunshine is undimmed by fog or smoke. - They-are tho Jiardiest of -flowers,- and will grow quite well in the most ordinary soil, provided it is well dug. A little lime mixed with the soil helps to keep the bulbs healthy. Owners of town garden ttrips should en-, deavour to plant a few clumps of tulips in their "tiny front gardens. The-'colours of the flowers arc most .variod, some being positively gorgeous, while others are most clioite and delicate. The flowers are very sweetly perfumed, and their length of stalk and ability to :last for a long time iii water 'endear them to all who' love to .make their-rooms-beautiful with flowers. When -planting - the' bulbs, see that they are deep enough to have about three inches of soil above them. They should be four or five ■ inches apart. Place them' on a .layer of Bajid. ; andsprinkle' sand over them before "covering with earth

Tulips'arn divided iiU'o four classes:— Single (early and late), double, parrot, and Darwin. If fomo of each class aro represented in the garden, ono can havo tulips -in flower- over • a period;

DOUBL&FLOWERED 3SAEOISSI. Tlie old-fashioned double-iloivered daffodils are, \vell knowu to everyone.' One still sees, in small cottage gardens, these old bulbs,-, popularly known as "eggs and bacon,"--and "codlins aud- cream," but in large gardens they .have, been pushed back .-into tho wild'garden,'or into tho grass. For naturalising in grass 'o-. growing under deciduous shrubs they r splendid. Among tlie newer do\ible- r * . crcd narcissi are to be found -some lovely (lowers. rPrimrose. plioeiiiy".' :S? its beautiful lemon-colourcd flov * . one' Of the . best. : ' " ''. / ? r3 f '. 18

Plenipo boars large flowers o r , „ of white, yellow, and ?■ .'5? Golden Hose has light yello J^}£' T an orangi-gwlden centre. ' witli The.gardenia-flowered ~ • white poetic,us) is 'an ( f 0 " b ! 1 ' 18 still indispensable but - 1,1 -border.- Tlie doubl /JL Jate aßrlnswhite, and «ro aru t cream J Unfortunately it ; £ L-, cult to »rm?- a more diffiwill not do v/e5 hi oU; f r T ariet : ies \ xt well-drained so fl L dr ? S . OI J: A a Ol6l bul unlike moac, Mr c j,' V • ' enjoyß V an{! -' wcll-decavtrt t en J°y s a mulch of be spread ori :V/' ma -? Ul f' wl )iclt should soon as thrnr E . above the bulbs lis STtaffl £*> I'. lan + t f d - buds ciatcs ™-v",V ; ®i Bprms 11 ;apprc- • should (i, .weaV -liquid-, manure. • -Bulta' 3 ■ -about sis inches deep. ■ »t3SBHrmJMS AND PENT-STEMOIfS. l 'Anf?™w rr ?, imi i ns aud pentstcmons OS marker! haeßt llowera Bh( ' u!d are the onn, (n i b r ne cut back - 118 "'««» ?pr Ii??n . ■ "J 150 cuttings from.. Af!hh H, i. 01 oaeli ' young shoots will bo .thrown out, lrom the base of tho toT«X. thv rriP , ° : iohit wit£ g v 1 l lem JUBt bol °w & wL ~ i sharp knife; strip off tho iri rfr. ' A pi insert them Yery firmly Sow r2 B !° r th «y begin to ™ ■s-iir™^-r e ®_. !! aiu, wh!mims. taken win De \ OUnG: plants that will .begin (lowering early in the Bm-inir Botli''th tStelno ' IIS 0 Vi " floWer a ,atol '-' mnn, ?™ rrhin «™» and the pentstemons will keep up a continuous supply of Aeaptiful flowors throughout tho wholo -summer and autumn, provided seed nods .aro not allowed to formi • •. ■ ! r . CQRF.OI'SrS. If coreopsis seed bo sown -now in sped pans, tho seedlings will have timo, before the spring, to grow into fine bushy plants, and auite early m tho spring they will m 4i sseß ? J on ?' Btemn icd (lowers. By giving -the plants' a good long time to them io°f y -i/ Btrollß roots - wo in(luc<! 5J™, l)ul ' ( J UP sufficient strength to TL^ Cm a flowering period of manj months duration. Plants that rush- into flowering while thoy are still rnntl e a " ln , BUlHcl Gntly 'supplied with theif °l! y a .' few good lowers, and inoc (L? o£ BmaU short-stemmed ones tliat-are not worth having. Coreopsis .grandiflora bears large' rich golden-yellow• flowers .on very lone steins ca?dcn a lu ' illiant di6 D l!1 y 'n the p«hw f "nwors aro most useful for watPi" btm'+i 0> 1 lasl , a lon S t'mo In -J '• 10118 sl °®' 3 simplify (he work of Arranging. . ■ . >•

7 ' ANEMONES. 'J^na oM . 8 £? "/ anoffl(,ncs is already above ( ground, and f torn now onwards tho soil Wrnm 41? k F p,, ..' molFt llnii well worked, from tho Btai'tinp df'growth, niitil flowerSSJfi * ver ' J. lDem one 8: should nover bo nllorwed to oufffr from drought. Failure to Keep tho plants moist, cspccially durincr early stages of thoir growth, rcKuits m flowers of poor . quality, aud bob.tibly 1 in no flowers- at all. ■ :

liIIINANTHES. ■. Limnanthes is a hardy -annual, with (lowers: very much liko a butt-ercilp. The colours aro yellow and white. It makes a splendid springy edging' for gardens, especially as it flowers so easily, arid may bo pulled out in time (o malto room for the summer and autumn edging of lobelia., .

' ' ' LOBELIA. t Tho seed of lobelia should bo sown now in pans in preparation 'for planting out in the ; spring'. Where frosts are'prevalent the seedlings must bo given some protection at night. The most popular variety is Crystal Palace compacta—a ricli dark blue.

VEGETABLES. ' ASPARAGUS FOLIAGE. ; There is aTways a great temptation to cut the foliage of' tho asparacus and to put it in bowls with flowers. However, if thick succulent stems are looked for in the following: spring, 'tlie temptation 'must bo resisted, During the summer and early autumn months the leaves are busy manufacturing food, and the stronger the leaves are at present the fatter and more succulent will tho next crop of asparagus be.

SEED-SOWING. Seeds.that way be sowu LUis week ivhero neccesary 1 Carrots.—Sow thinly in drills : twelvo incheß apart. Turnips-Sow in -ground that was richly manured-for a previous crop. Make the ground very 'firm and thoroughly saturate it with water several lionr6 before sowing tho seed. Sow thinly in drills 12 ihches apart. Shade the drills from tho hot sun till the seedlings are up; then'hoe constantly. Matured rioot should, be dußted over the seedlings as uoon as they appear, for it, in the' first smooth leaves': that ■ "the fly attacks. Silver Beet.—Sow in deeply-due;'fairly rich soih in drills 18 inches apart. Thin out the Ecedlinse to one foqt apart. Onionß— Make the soil very firm' by treading on jl before sowing. Do this ouly when the sdil is dry. Sow the seed in drills 12 inches apart. Cabbage, flauliilowcr, and Lettuce.—Sow thinly iu seed-pans in moist, sandy soil. Keep tho pans under' tho shade of trees until the seedlingß aro up; the move them out, into the' sunshine. Do not. allow the seedlings to suffer from dryness at the roots, ROUTINE WORK. Thin out seedling carrot, turnip, etc. ' Keep ail. winter greens, supplied with water. Syringe the leaves frequently with clear water. ... Uemove all crops that are over, and at once, .prepare Hip . ground for the, n.oxt, Mako a : sowiilg of some crop to"'bo dug in for green in&iture where the ground, 'is not wanted for immediate use. Clear 'aivay . all rubbish, and elther' add it to the-rubbish-heap or .bum it, and save the "ash. Cut marrow's ' aVid pumpkins '■ as ■ they ripen.. . •> '... fiarth-up celery where necessary. Attend.'regularly to tho needs of tomato' plants, removing .lateral and basal shoots, and Ihinning'ont leaves where necessary. Dig. up and store potatoos.I'eed leeks once a week with weak liqu'rd manure',' Joss, of nitrate' of soda in-one' gallon of..water, .to be , applied after-a good' Watering or aftcf rain. " Harvest onions that are ready. Keep tho hoe soing. "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about--Ohrysnn'themumß, tritonia crocata, and vegetables. .