GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 217, 1 June 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

DELPILINIUMS. Curing the paet few weeks delnhiniuma have been very lovely. In many ganieiis plants aro Hliu' Jlovrcrins well, and their glorious blue flowers are tlirowa into vivid relief by tho prevailing snades of yellow, crimson, aud white of the Into 'chrysanthemums with which our gardens are tilled. Delphiniums were in flower during November and the early part of December, their lovely, stately, richlyI coloured flowers making, gay bits oi'colour in tho beautiful early summer, garden. Even with such a wealth of otlior flowers in bloom at the same time they called forth involuntary admiration from all who saw them. Then the ilowors faded, and the steins were cut back to tae ground, At such a busy .time the exhausted plants received but scant attention. A good watering was followed by a mulch of cow manure, and the plants were left.to take caro of themselves Almost at onco strong new. shoots pushed up, and -weie tied to their stakes from time to time. By Uarch tho flower buds were opening once more, but by that time flowers were growing ecarco. ana dolpiliniunis came in for all tho attention thai was their due. Frequent waterings wore given, and onco a fortnight a stood soaking of manure water made from cowmanure and soot.- From that time till now they have flowered wonderfully. &o sooner would one lot of (lowers be fading and ready to cut out, than other flowering stemß Would bo rising from the roots to take their places. ; But now, as plants go out of flower, they must ho prepared for their well-earned, rest. The , old stems must be cut back, and" a cood mulch, of cow manure should be spread over the plants. Tho tow manure should be softened In a bucket of water before being applied. Those who cannot net manure must manage as best they can with bonedust and well-decayed vegetable rubbish. Then, as soon as .the new shoots appear, soot-water may be eiven regularly. Seed is generally sown durlnir Hie autumn, but those gardeners who want only a few plants can buy rootß at any time during the next few months from nurserymen. The ground where delphiniums are to bo grown should be deeply due, and onriched with farmyard mamiro if possible. If this cannot be had, a good supply of well-decayed vegetable rubbish 1 BhouUl be dug into tho soil, and boncdust should bo worked in at the time or planting. Seeds may still be sown in a cold frame or a cool greenhouse.

' DAPHNE. In sheltered places daphne is already in flower, and is filling the garden with perfume. Darhne seems to flourish, wherever it is planted as long as the soil is moderately good. Tho addition of peat and sand .to the soil .will, greatly improve tho bußlies, though quite good results are obtained from ordinary well-worked garden soil. -■■"■■■. Daphne is a splendid flower for cutting, and, lastß a .very long time. in. water. Judicious cutting of the flowers for tho honso helps to prune the bushes. BUTTONHOLE ROSES. The following roses may generally bo relied upon to provide well-formed buds suitable for buttonholes, 'especially if the bushes are not thinned out too severely. Lady Eoberts, Lady Aehtown, Alexander Hill Gray, Lady Battersca, Hadamo Eavary, Mrs. Aaron Ward, and Comtcsse de Cayla. THIiEE GOOD WINTEK-FLOWERING BOSES. Where they aro not thinned top heavily tho following roses bloom well right up to pruning timo:-Gehcral Gallicn, Rainbow, and Comtesso de Oayla. A FEW FItAGBANT HOSES. Chateau de Olob Vougoot, scarlet;- La Franco, pink; Madame Abel Chatcnay, carniinc-rofio and yollow; Elizabeth Barues, pink; Hugh, Dickson. crimson: Mrs. John Laing, pink; ltiiyon d'Or, canary-yellow; .Marechal-Kici, yellow;, and Boaute Incon.•iStante." .'■'■ : " ■ ■ '•■:... PLANTING CUKKANTS AND GOOSEDERBIES. Beforo plantiug currant and Eooeeborry bushes the soil should be very deeply dug, and should have a good supply of farmyard manure mixed with it. If farmyard manure is.not obtainable, use well decayed garden rubbish. Black, currants aro • more moistureloving than other bush fruits, and appreciate the presence of wolWeeayed vegetation where- their roots can reach it.

Currant and gooseberry bushes should be planted' about six feet apart each way. Whore tho soil ie a heavy one. a little basic slug may bo pricked in round established bushes during July; where the soil is light, superphosphate may bo used and should bo applied towards tho end of August. During • dry weather bueheH should be given tho help of a suitublo mulch.

■ ■ : PKTJi\IJS T <3. Gooseberries may be pruned as soon aa the leaves begin to fall. Attention should be paid to keeping tho bueh open in uho centre. Badly-placed shoots, and thoso -that are too near the ground should bo cut right out. Shoots' growing towards the centre Bhould bo shortened to about thrco buds. The strongest and bestplaced growths, of the preceding season should be left' untouched, for these bear the finest frnit. Red currants should have all lateral growths cut buck to two buds.-and the loadera to Bii.or.oiirht.bvde.. Young "sh'ootV near The bas<r~<Sf"th"e "tree should be cut out. ' Black currants merely hu.vo the old wood cut out to the neais ost healthy ■ shoot, and the .new shoots thinned where they aro.too thick. Unlike red currauts, black current bushes should he encouraged to produce !new ehootsirom tho base of the bushes. With black currants' the fruit ie bprno on the .young wood; with red mid white currants-u Is borne on old spurs and on the Irnec ot the shoots of the previous year s growth.

•• ■ RHUBARB..' New roots of rhubarb ■may, bo planted during this month- and the-next. Tho ground should first bo well . dug and richly Mitnurca. The' best rhubarb for 6wnern of- small gardens, to' grow is "Topp's Winter." This-bears dunni: the wholo'winter at a tirao wlie» fruit for pies, etc. is ocarce. It is finite hardy, and the flavoiu - is good, l'laiils that aro comini? on now will be ■ benefited by an opplicatioi. of the following .liquid manure:-iThrcc ounces of soot and six ounces of guano placed. in a plccp of coarse hag/jing or scrim, and then allowed to Etand in-ten gallons, of water. Give each plant :i good soaking. Guano is obtained from seed merchants. "Tfemb'vb- deoayod-lfiavesi-from bldrplaiits,fork..round them, and cover them,with a mixture of decayed leaves and manure. If stable manure cannot be procured, work into the 6oil round the rlante some bonedust, and then cover with decayed leave?. "Old stools of rhubarb may be lifted, divided, and' replanted in new ground. Sec that each piece has ft Rood strong crown. Should the -ground by any rfinncc be fiiirly dry nl tho time of planting, ..water should bo supplied to tlin roots-not icy cold water, but nice tepid or. sun-warmed water.

VECETA.Bt.ES. Turnins that were ' sown towards the end of "the .iiitninn aro cominj; on well. Keep thc'Boil between the rows well hoed. "Bust eobt and wood-ashes alone whenever they lire obtainable, afterwards hoeing them in. Whore greens aro likely to be ecurro early in the spring, a sowing of turnips may lie made now. well-crown turnip-tops lTipltc n delicious vegetable. Cabbage, cauliflower.' and lettuce plants may. still bo planted. The. socdlinijß Bhould be protected from sparrows, etc.. by menus of blnck threads stretched across them. ■-•■■■■ Ucud α-lnaf-over broccoli or cauliflowers, that an? maturing. It wilt protect the flowers from heavy frost. Avoid, if nosBible, walking between the rows of vegc-t----nblcH when the-ground is very damp, ir you must do so, it. would lie belter to lay planks to tread upon. _ Dig, trench, and manure, <lnrmg sunabis wiather, nil ground that is not. in w. Bury nletilv .of rvsrri.ihlfi matter, and leavo the' surface noil vouch for the wind. rain. mid frost to work «r n n. .'-.•Jlaku up fnllen lnavcs and Rtoro thmn-in li.nlcn rluf. in sn'mi' out-of-the-way place. Sprinkle salt or lime over onoh layer', ap .'• is tmMml. ;>r. p»im ns.ii.ll the.leaves in. Tniir.ii mid-bavo been collected cover thoholes with a lnyci- of rtirtli. aii-J lenye thein till next, nutcunn. ivl'cn a nice supply of leaf-mould may. bcrtiiff out. . . "Garden Notes" next, week will" •contain seasonable iidtos about:—Pome flowcriuE tree.s, routine -work, and vegetables.