GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 181, 20 April 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

. (I!y "Kowlini'.") fIAMKU.IAS, Camellias ishoiild hn planted early In the autumn (c> allow tiu- roots lo become established while I his soil is still warm. Camellias mow easily out. , of doors,, but, where heavy frosts are experienced; they should be planted beneath the shade of trues, or where they can bo sheltered from Uie frost. , ' ■; Murk out, a Rood spaco for each tree, and rcinovo tho top soil. Thoroughly break up tho subsoil, mixing with it wellrotted maniiro and decayed vcgotablo rubbish. Heplace the top .soil ; lnu >» lx with it decayed vcgotablo rubbish. When planting, spread out the roots and cover them firmly with fine soil. Top-dress tho Boil with well-rotted manure, and water tl<p tree occasionally till it. is established. Tho young tree is especially susceptible, to frost, and..should have a piece of Bcrim thrown o\'er it on very frosty niKhts,

THE.NATIVE GARDEN. . Whdrovcr one goc3 in tho bU3h at prosent ono sees hundreds of seedling native plants puslnns their way up from tho damp-smelling leaf-soil. For Uiosc who havo room to grow them, thoro is cndlcs3 pleasure In collecting arid_ attempting to grow our beautiful nutivo trees and Bhrubs. One is not always successful in I setting them to Brow, but failure only Bpurn on tho enthusiastic collector to mako a success of his bit of native, garden. If tho seedling plants aro secured now, they.have a clianco to become accustomed to their new homes amrlo make now roots whilo tho earth is etill warm. Tho weather at Eaeter.-though disappointing for the ■ majority of holiday-makers, was all in favour of the plant collector. For what matters a persistent drizzle to him when seedlings cau.be lifted easily with a good bill of damp bjish soil at; taohed to- thoir roots? • Tho rain, moreover, helped to keep thorn fresh during their journey to their new home, and watered them in most thoroughly when they had been transplanted, .'ihero are many things that will transplant and grow well if a little caro. and attention are bestowed .upon' them. The native myrtle (Myrtus bullnta) is. ono ol tho most beautiful of our many beautiful slrrubs. The reddish brown leaves aro Bwollen between the veins, and this gives them a most curious effect. The flowers aro very like those of the' English myrtle, but it is the beautiful loaves of the native plant that mako it so attractive. In transplanting it, I like to bring away sufficient bueh soil to cover.tho..roots when planting. Mix a fair quantity of sand with this, and spread a'layor of tho mixture in the bcMom of the hulo for the roots to rest ■ on. - Spread out tho roots and cover them firmly with bush soil and sand. Replace as much soil tie is neces-, sary, and keep tho plant uniformly moißt, and shaded from the sun, till tho roots tal;o hold and growth begins. Another beautiful native tree 18 the Tltoki (electryon cxcelsum). This has sometimes been called tho ..Mew Zealand aeh. It grows into a handecimo spreading tree, and in tho autumn is covered with pretty black and scarlet berries. Seedlings are generally pretty plentiful wherever it grows in tho bush, and α-ro easily transpinnted. ■ ■■ ■ • • - Tho Kawakawa- (Macropiper excelEum) with iU beautiful heart-shaped leavee is well worth securing. It is attractive from tho seedling stage until it growe into a small tree. It is easily transplanted if tho roots are planted in a mixture of. leaf-soil and sand, and kept moißt for a weolc or two. Tho l'ittosporums are always attractive, but Pittoaporuui ougenioides is ono oi tho most beautiful trees it is poseiblo to grow. The bright green lenvc3 aro dettrhtftilly crinkled at tho edges, and, wlion bruised, havo a faint lemon scent. Tho tree should bo given plenty of room to develop freely, and it ie then a pleasure to look at it at any season of tho yonr. The Butli-bull (Poro-poro) is very effective when planted in a shrubbery among tall-growing shrubs. At present it is very attractive for 'it is covered with red and yellow berries. Tho seedlings transplant quito easily, but must bo protected from Jrost. Ngaios are always refreshing to look at, and nro splendid for those whoso gardens ara near tho scashoro. Hound about Kaikoura they make tho bush very attraolive, and one aces them in almost overy form from small Etuntod shrubs to tallgrowing handsome trees. Bangioras bring variety into tho native garden,' for tho milky-white under surface of the largo leaves gives tho buehoe quite, a erey-green appearanco. The flowers aro veiy sweetly scented. Baukawa (Nothopanax Oolensoi) is an exceedingly handsomo shrub well adapted I for tho back of tho shrubbery.

■Veronicas, Kowhai, l'ohutukawa, Hata, Kibbonwoods, Mauukas, Oleariae aro all among our most beautiful trees and shrubs, and there aro many others, far 100 numerous to mention.

In parts tho beautiful climbing rata, (Hetrosidcros Florida) is still making a brilliant show. Tall, bare tieo-trunkß ■ fallen trees, old stumps aro all taken possession of by this beautiful vine, and mado glorioun. But when- it deigns to cover tho trunk of.a lofty tree fern the effect is wonderful, for not only ie tho trunk covered with brilliant red flowers, but at tho top ia a giant bouquet composed of long eprays of brilliant blooms and graceful-looking fern fronda arranged with air artistic effect that no human ho-nd could achieve. . CAPE GOOSEBEKMES. . In mild districts Capo gooseberry plants will continue in flower uud bear fruit throughout tho wiuLur. litii it ia better for thorn to bo cut back now, for it is the now growth that bears the best fruit. Uovcr tho rootß vith a good mulch of welldecayed vegetable -rubbish- and. woodauhes. Early in the spring strong now growth will ho produced, which will bo capable of bearing a heavy crop of iruit at a timo when it will ripen -well. Bo not dig round tho roots bel'oro aipplyiug tho mulch. Oape gooseberry seedlings may bo planted out now, provided they enn bo given a northerly aspect, or ono whero tho plants can gel overy scrap of sun and yet be protected from frost. Tho ground should-be deeply ang, and, ehould havo worked into it plenty of well-rotted manuro and bonedust. Makp tho ground firm before planting out the seedlings. Should » slight protection bo necessary, uso dry mnnuka brush, or pieces of scrim thrown over stakes, but once tho plants aro cptabl.'ehcd let them get all tho sun possible.. VECETAOLES. CARROTS AND BEET. Oarrots and beet that are matured may ho lifted a-ud stored in dry sand. Great, care is nceossary in lifting beet, because it bleeds if the fckin becomes broken. Out tho tops off Iho carrots, but leave tho tope-on the bent, till-it ie required for nro. Seo that both vogolnblcs arc dry before'they aro sldred in the sand. Whcro Piind cannot bn bad, dry earth will do. PABKNIPS. Leave puraiipß in tho ground till tho end of July, nnlo'-s tho creund Iβ wojited. I'Yost, is supposed to improve tho flavour or tneni. . , BROAD BEANS. A small lowing of broad bcann may be mado. A part of tho garden where oats or dome green crop has iccently been turned In for manuro will do. Sprinkle a little bonediisl, In tho drillß at tho tuna or sowing. As toon as tin: seedlings appear, spread iiiuo ulong the rows to want off Bluge. Draw tho earlh up to tho stems na they grow, aud attend early to staltlnß. TOMATOES. Drive in ft fi'w tall etaken round tomato bushes, and on frosty nights throw pieces of scrim (or sugar-bags cut o.pcu) over tho plauts. Jlavo tho blalcus so that tlio covering will be Ebout a foot aDovo the plants. Or, pull up tlio tomato plants by iho roots, and suspend them from a nail on a sheltered wall or in a frost-proof shed. Tho toma-toea may not havo such a good flavour when ripened in this way, but they are splendid for cooking. Tho small green ones may bo used for mustard pickles or chutnoy. ' PUMPKINS AND MARKOW-β: As snoii as frost cuts the vinos nf pump, kins and marrows, tlio fruit should bo cut aud taKon" inside. The best way to store the fruit is to hang it from beams or from hooks driven into the celling ot a storeroom or shod.Aβ you lioo between tho rows of cabbages and cauliflowers, push the earth towards tho plants. This slight earthing up helps them to withstand stormy weather. . , , Broccoli plants should bo.lixnmined to ecu if last, wecli-n Bale line' loosened tho plants, lu many gardens funvard ones were blown right over. ■ .' . . Feed all greens regularly with small dosos of nitrate of eoda -at Ihe rate of 'loz to a gallon of water for luniid manure, or lon. to thn yard lo be hoed Rccclb that, may ho. sown this week, whcro neressary. avct-Cabbage?. cauliflower, letHißi'.'hrnnd bi'iuiS, cnrrols, onions, dwarf lii'iis'. and hirnips. . "Oardcn N'olrii"' lu-xl. wenl< will ronlam ■ipp.Bniinble nolo? ahnnt. -Hnse-pli"'""", routine work, and vpßotnbles.