GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 175, 13 April 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

!By "Kowtml.") VESEMIAL PHLOX. Perennial phloxes nro beautiful when Well grown. When grown in a carelesslyprepared position, ISw pKuits Show their Unhappiness so . unmistakably. Some plants stru'gglo along aiii flower bravely in spjto of unhappy conditions; not bo perennial phloxes, irowever. To be beautiful .they, must be comfortably housed and well fed. But tho flowers, when tlio plants are well cared for, are so very beautiful that ono does not grudge them tho attention they demand. In growing phloxes tho first' I rouble is the chief trouble, for in tho preparation of the soil lies, tho secret of successful growth. Once tho plants are put'into it well-prepared bed they aro littlo further trouble, and reward the • gardener .by increasing in beauty, year by- year. - l'ercnnial phloxes like a sunny position,' and one where they may bo left undisturbed'for several years. The soil-must be deeply dug, and should-have a. fair-Vuantity of well-rotted auirnal nanuro worked into it. Just before putting, in the plants, work a littlo bonertust into tho. 50i1,,. Established plants that have finished flowering should bo cut back to within a few Inches of the ground. A littlo bonedust should be carefully pricked into tho soil about tho plants, and a mulch ,of well-rotted manure and decayed leaves spread over them, ilants will need.only very occasional uttention then till the

following summer, vhen mulching shoujd be attended to. Onco the Dower-uuds avo forming, liquid manure should be. given , regularly, always after a thorough soakling'with clear water. Among named varieties, Jeanne d'Aro is a splendid white; Eclaireur baa pretty rosc-co'oured flowers with a salmon centre; Mrs. Kers,lako is delicate pink with a red eye; Cociuillicot is ■ vivid scarlet. Where new plants aro to bo put in this season, tho soil should be trenched and manured now, the surface soil being left rough till planting time. - - ROUTINE WORK. - Finish all planting, of spring-flowcr'ng bulbs, suoh as narcissi, eparasis, hyaoinths, tulips, muscari, freosias, earlyflowering gladioli, etc. Finish sowing seeds of perennials and hardy annuals. . Finish planting-out new borders of primroses and polyanthus primroses. Cuttings of. roses, flowering shrubs, antirrhinums, pentste'ubns, violas, pansics, daisies, • etc., may still bo takcl). Oontinfio sowing s-weet pea'seeds, , Plant out doronleu'ns, geums, aquilcgiaa, wallflowers, aiiil all Spring-flowering perennials. Attend to tho cutting back, and breaking •up'if necessary, of plants that have finished; flowering. •Inspect' chrysanthemum plants daily, disbudding whero -.necesjary.. •. ■Oaterpillar's/must' bo looked for among autumn-flowering roses, cosmos, dahlias, chrysanthemums,, andjlichaolmas daisies, Feed with liquid manure roseß that are coming - into flower, chrysanthemums, dahlias, Michaelmas daisies, salvias, and cosmos. Peg down runners cf flowering verbenas -to provldo-new plants for spfing, . Plant out- all seedlings that are ready. The leaves of anemones aro now well abovo tho ground, lhe plants must not bo allowed to juflcr from dryness at'the roots at any time- I'uring growth. Work a littlo bonednst into the soil about the plants. Keep the surface soil well stirred. Bulbs of Spanish and English irises shoujd b« in placo now.. . Provide. twiggy sticks or small pieces of -manuka brush' lor Seedling sweet peas to eliug to. Winter-flowering peas should bo encouraged to make quick growth. Keep tlio., soil- about thorn well stirred, and train tho seedlings upwards from the start. Keep tho garden clear, of weeds and well hoed. - STRAWBERRIES.. . • Those .who aro making new strawberrybeds this autumn should get tho plants in now with as littlo delay aB possible, btrawbomcs, although they liko a deeplydug rooting place, >-Iso very much disliko being planted in loobo soil, and should ..they bo so planted will- produce plenty ot leaves, but .very littlo fruit. Eenco tno Importance .of preparing tho beds beforehand in time to allow th'o .soil to become ilfm. Should the-bed have bten dug only recently, it should bo well trampled- over, while tho soil is fairly dry, before any attempt is made to plaut out the strawborries.. Before putting- cut the plants the Burfaco sou may be lightly forked qver, and a dressing of bonedust, about Moz. to tho square yard, worked in. It is important that- strawberries rjiould be. grown in an open, sunny position.' They cannot have too much sun or exposure. In order to ■provide-a cool,-meist root-run the ground must bo trenched, and should have plonty of iWell-rotted-'manuro- and-decaycil J Vegc-' tation worked-into-it.-...

. 1 In planting tho strawberry plants caro mußt be taken to Bprcad out tho roots nicely, and to cover thorn vory lirmly with flno .oil. The plants should not be planted too deeply Look at tho plant beforo making tho hole, and then have it so that tho crown (f tlio plant just rests on the top of nice, firm soil. Tlte crown should bo neither buried nor left high abovo the surface soil. Plant in rows two feet apart, tho plants being eighteen inches apart'" in the rows. Water thoroughly. Pinch out at onco any runners that appear. VECETABLES. I'EAS: The second week m April is the llmo when I like to luake my tirst Sowing of greeu peas. Tins year tho sou in m Splendid condition for tliiß sowing, ioi- n i& Btill warm, aud tho frequent rainy Bpolls have thoroughly moietoned it to a good depth, Dwarf varieties aro tho best' to sow at this time of the year. Soak tho peas Hi water for several Uouvb btifoin Bowing. Tho ground should be deeply dug, and should have decayed.- garden rubbish buried about a foot below tlio surface soil. Or peas may bo town where a green crop has recently been turned in. Work' some lime, into the soil, for peaß lOvo llmo. Also, tho llmo helps them to get.' tlio fullbenefit of tho decayed rubbish or greon oats . . , As soon a.3 the peed is S6Wn place stickß' along'tho rows and maltr little "fences' of' black cotton. Don't wait till the green tips appear abovo gTonnd, for the sparrows and slugs will probably see them before •you 'do. / ;'As soon aB-tho;Bepdlin'go"ari>'about"an" inch high put little pieces of manuka, brush all along for them to creep into. It is wonderful quickly.t,ho vinfis.grow■if they- have , even a, little, protection.Stake .'the peas'from the very beginning. Tlio vinte will not bear pods till spring arrives, but all through tho winter they aro making strong growth below ' tho ground, and building up Bilch a vigorous constitution that as Boon as warmer weather arrives tho vines will leap ahead and flowers., and strong' poda-.wi11.-tufickly. appear. . ... ---.. - ROUI'INB WORK. Lift onions that- are .ready and "store them in a cool, dry place."'Bend'over'tbe' thick-necked ones to help tlio bulks to swell. Lift potatoes that aro still in the ground. Beetroot'and carrots may bo lifted and stored in., dry' sand; parsnips are better left in the ground and dug when required. Tako advantago of any plots being vacant to trench and manure them in readiness for a futuro crop. Tho following seeds may bo sown where necessary Carrots, onions, turnips, broad beans, silver beet, lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflowers. -The soil should be. made very firm beforo" onion and turnip scod:. are sown. - - ' - - Plant out seedling lettuce, cabbage, and eanliflowor in ground from which potatoos have just been lifted, Rako the ground lovel, and tramplo it firm. Puddle tho roots of tho seedlings in a thick mixturo of oow manure, and water beforo planting thom. If row manuro cannot be had, soil, limo, and soot mako a good mixturo for puddling. Keep French beauß well picked, and stimulate the nlants with regular supplies of weak liquid mnnurc. JToo regularly between all growing crops.' Thin out! earrots, turnips, etc., as soon as-tho seedllngß are big enough io liandlo. '- Sings, are- .on tlio .lookout for tender RPRCllingp just, now, therefore ripe snot should be dusted along tlio rows frequently. It acts as a. fine fertiliser when hoed, in Inter on. Protect tomato plants with Berlin at night. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about.:-Camollis"!", native plants, routine work, and vegetables.