GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 169, 6 April 1918, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By; "Kowliai") ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. '■'Solanum."—Please forward me a few leaves of your lirio-dendron. IXIAS. Ixias or African corn lilies are most Useful garden subjects. They come into flower towards the end of the spring, when narcissi are over and eatly-flower-ii>K gladioli are scarcely out. The habit Of the plants is exceedingly graceful. First come the thin blade-like, loaves, to be followed almost at once by long, slender stems of flowers that bend gracefully beneath their 'dainty load. The old green variety, Ixia viridl flora, i 6 very well known, but during the last few years many new varieties have come upon the market, till now wo can have ixias in almost every gay or dainty shade. As cut (lowers they are splendid, for they aro easily arranged and last a bug time in water. The bulbs should lie planted about three inches deep in deeply-dug, light, rich soil. Some gardeners recommend lifting the bulbs every year, but. I leave mine undisturbed hr many years, and the clumps are more beautiful every year. In faot they aie only lifted when tho bulbs become so thick that they crowd up above the soil. ' Towards (lie end of the autumn 1 spread a light mulch of thoroughly decayed manure over each clump. Weeds arc always carefully pulled out, and, when the flower-buds appear, tho stems are encircled with a hoop of thin wire attachca to a few neat- stakes. This is really necessary, for the flower stems aro so long and the load of flowers bo heavy that they are bent to the ground unless upheld by this unobtrusive device. And with this, the scantiest of attention, the bulbs thrive splendidly and produce each spring a wealth of beautiful bloom. They are certainly ideal plants for the busy gardener, and one wishes that their flowering season could be longer. MORPHIXIA PANIOULATA. This charming plant is closely allied to the ixia, and hus the same graceful habitof growth. The flowers aro Boft rcd-bufr in colour, and although fragilo in appearance are quite' hardy. Like the ixia, morpliixia likes a Bunny position, and well-drained, light, rich soil. FRAGRANT FLOWERS FOR WINTER. As cut. flowers become scarcer and scarcer one's thoughts turn once more to flowering plants for dcorating the rooms in winter. During the spring, summer, and autumn cut lio-wors aro -so plentiful for vases and bowls that- ono is spared the bother of attonding to pot , plantß, but during the winter, especially in towns, one ifl only too glad to grow anything that will bring cheer and fragrance into the house. At present wo are revelling in Michaelmas daisies, dahlias, and autumn-flower-ing roses, while chrysanthemums and all tho gloriouely-tiutcd autumn leaves have yet to come. "What need,, then, to be bothering already -about winter?" cry tho inoxperiencod. - Jlut the experienced ones know that unless an early start is made, and ■unless plants and bulbs are given plenty of time to make good roots, successful flowering cannot be expected. VIOLETS IN POTS. Violets in pots have three filings to recommoud them, 'i'liey aro ca6ily grown, they flower, with care, over a- long period, and they arc intensely fragrant-. Who does not love tho tcciit ol violets anywhere? The plants that are to be potted should be selected in Ihc bolder now. Chooso healthy, well-grown plants with good crowns. Cut off all suckers and feed the plants with good doses of soot water for tho ncxi few wcekß. If there is any traco of red spider on tho leaves, dust the. foliage with flowers of i-ulphur. Beforo tho plants are to be liftod giyo thom a thorough watering. This will cause a good deal of soil to cling to tho roots. Provide good drainage in tho pots, and have the soil faitly rich ajid rather dry. Press tho earth very firmly rouud tho roots, and water thoroughly immediately afterwards. If tho plants can bo placed in a, cold frame for a. few weeks so much tho better. Synnge tho leaves every day, but do not give water to tho roots, unlit' it- Is-', necessary. As soon as the flower-buds appear, the plants may be moved into tho rooms with sunny windows MIGNONETTE! IN POTS. Provide good draiuago in the pots, and ha.vo them threo parts filled with a sandy, gritty compost. Sow a. pinch of seed in eaoh pot, and afterwards thin out to one needling to a email pot, or two or three well spaced'ones-to a.-largei' pot-.Afi soon ■as-tho Hecdliugs. aro. abon l , an inch high pinch 'off the tops to encourage busily growth. Keep tho pots ou«. in the open m a sunny position till it is timo to move tho plants indoors. BULBS. IN MOSS FIBB-E. It is now some years Binco Mr. Robert Sydenhamintroduced the method of growing bnlM 'in inoas tibVo without drainage, and every year -file nlethod is more widely adopted. Tho following ■ directions . are quoted from his own book :-"'\Yhen growing bulbs in vases without drainage, it iB first vertf necessary to water the fibre lo prevent tho dust (lying about. This is best dono with a watering-can. Then rub the moss flbro until it iB freo from lumps, arid well mix the elioll with it. Add "water a little at a traw,. i.sing it at the rate of four quarts to oach half bushel ot the moss fibre uutil tho necessary quantity has been' mixed. If the mixing IB pro* perly done tho fibre will inartase in bulk by nearly one-thiid, and if taken in tho hand and squeezed, little or no water should drop out. When potting put it few pieces of ■ charcoal in the bottom of the vase to absorb impurities and l'.cop tho mixture sweet, then put in from one to threo inches of tho compost, according to the'depth'of the vase; place the narcissi, Roman hyacinths, tulips', irceBias, or -whatever is being potted, gently on the fibre, and then fill up the vase to withiu about ono inch of tho rim. When potting, the bulbs are beßt put ono or two inches beneath the surface, and although it is desirable to see that the compost is placed well round tno bulbs, it is not necessary or dcsiraofo lo press it at all tightly. If the flbro is too firm tho joota do not work freely in it, and the bulbs havo a tendency to push themselves upwards When potted they will require, little or no attention for the first two .or threo weeks, but after that great care should bo taken to keep the . compoat fairly moist, but on no account sodden or too wet. On tho other hand,' if once allowed to become dry, if only for half an hour, the pores of the roots close up and the bulbs in many caseß go blind and are ruined. This more frequently happens with tulips than with narcissi, the tulip, roots being finor and therefore moro liable to injury. Tulips may be potted rather more firmly than, narcissi or hyacinths, but great care must be taken to see that the fibre is well moistened not only on. the top, but also ; right to the bottom. Many fail in growing .tulips because sufficient attention is not given to this most important detail. It is better to havo them too wet than not wet enough, and if at any time a little mould should appear on the surface, let it be stirred over with a small knife. Tho vases should be examined at least onco a week, and a littlo water given when necessary. This necessity will quickly -be indicated, for as soon as all surplus moisture is absorbed, the fibre becomes dry at the top and brown In colour. When watering give enough to moisten the wholo of the fibre. If it is thought that there, ia too much water in the vase, turn it on one sido and allow tho surplus water to drain out. A littlo weak soot-water may be given when the bulbß are coming into bloom. To 21b. of moss fibre it is necessary to add 1 l-31b. of ground shell, and when this is thoroughly moistened the bulk will be increased by nearly one-third. When the bulbs havo bcon potted tho vases or jars should be kept in an airy cellar or room, and if they have been potted one or two inches under tho fibro, no other covering Is needed. Nothing is worse for the bulbs than a confined cupboard, or airless dark room. When the-bulbß have grown about ! inch out of tho fibre, they should be brought into more light and given as much air as possible. Where a cool greenhouse or frame cannot be used, puttile vaseß on the window-sill or garden path during the day, taking care, of course, to keep them from frost. DOUBLE SHIKLEY POPPIES. Tho seeds of double Shirley poppies may be sown now. Transplant tho seedlings as soon as big enough to handle into their permanent nuarlers. The plants will begin flowering about October. (The poppies themselves are exquisite, reminding one of very large ranunculi, and the colours vary from pure white through all tho shades of pink and salmon to the brightest scarlet. They will grow in any good garden soil, but prefer a light, sandy one. Therefore, those who propose to grow them in a heavy Boil should lighten it by the addition of some snnd or fine' road grit, placed round tho roots of the. plants. "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about;— Perennial phlox, strawberry planting, and vegetables.