GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 235, 22 June 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

!By "Kowliai.")

ANSWERS TO COKKESI'ONDKNTS. "AmriLeur," Woodvillc.-l'rimula sinensis is rai'/cd from seed sown dm ing November. IT you wish to propagate from Mm once you already have, allow them to no to irted. N.iirserynicn have tin-, plants rc'tuly any timo (luring tliti winter. When potting up plnnU into their nciworiiiß pots use tho lollowiiiK coiiipost: -.'J parts loam, 1 part old manure, a little cjuroc sand, and a Bprinkliiiß of soot ]>.iy strict attention to watering always ■errinir on the dry sidn. As noon as tho ■flower buds appear give a, little weali . liquid manure alter every ultornato waterinS' or prick n very little ni-tiiinial , manure in onoe a week. Once the first (lower opens, liowuvcr, it is bettor to (tiecontinue thu use of liquid manure, as it. tends to short-mi the life of Ilio Tjlooms. If yon wish to sow ROtd neit Novoinher, I ulmll he .pleased to give you any information thon. The bluo everlasting pea wlien well !t;rown nccde a liiph ircllis. l'lanl-s run ,up to ten or twelve feet. They do rot (jron- very hiffli the first year ns a- rule. UEIIBEIMS. .( We have always looked upon berberiees ' as among: our most useful Muttering shrubs, but tho majority of amateur Bardeners do not realise how exceedingly heautiful some al t!io newer varieties are. Many of them colour brilliantly. in tho ■lutumn; some bear orna-menta] lruit. in Uio winto; all are exceedingly .ueauLiiui when thoy arc eotered with their dainty, , and in somo cases frn-srant. Howore. As to their usefulness! lierbcriscs will grow well in any soil, however poor, though good loam is most euitsole for them. Thoy may be used to cover banks under the shade of trees, and thoy. nro extremely useful for hedges, especially whore tattle are troublesome. Ono of tho iiiosl beautiful ifl Berbens Stenophylln. Thin grows into a large, spreading bush, with droopinot brandies, and is evergreen. Uul it is at (lowering time that we see the real beauty of the enrub. for then it is simply covered witli racemes of fragrant golden-yellow flowers. Another beautiful variety ; 6 Jiarbene Durwini. 'J'hin also is evergreen, but •unlike Stenophylla,' is of upright growth. Tlie small dark shining grecu leaves are always ornanjentul. -wA tho llowe.rs, which lire oriungo-yellow in colour, are liorne in pendulous raoemes, .and arc very sweetly scented; Berberis Thunbergu is t a dwarf-spreading Japanese species, it 1 bears white Boners towards the end ol spring, but is most beautiful in the autumn, when tho foliage is richly coloured. The flowers arc followed by berries which become deep sc,wlct m colour, and malic the shrub very attractive throujdiout the winter. licrbens V, ilsonii is also very fine. Its foliage in aul.umn abUumes the lints of our lovclj native red birch, and throuKhout the winter its ooral-red berries b.ruis charm p,nd cheer wjierever it is grown. o obtain, tho best results the noil slionUl not, bo too rich. Berberises need vr,ry littlo pruniils, but where- any tnmivjing into shape is' necessary, It should ho Ilone immediately the flowering is ov>er. CHH.Y6A NTHBM.UJ[S. All clii'j'santeiemiun plant", that have finished liowonnij siiould be ciA ba«:k to within six inc-lies of the ground. Before very long etiroils young shoots will lie seen pnshing up.fruiii tjie soil. Ttae. aro tho Bhoots from which we take our cutdinirs for providing nest year's plants. Those shootii that wo farthest away from the old llowerinif stem are the best. Very often they may be swured with : a few, roota attiujhed. Cutting.-', liowevej.-, i;ooA readily if they arc planted flr;nly ilu sandy soil a.nd in a- sunny position. Never tako cuttings fifoin shoots on 'the 'old et.ems unless the plants fail to -puab. up shoots, from beneath the soil. Oiifo nil tho cuttings ii.n> fleoured, lift Uio old plants and .place I'aom i« a htnji l.tady for liurning. I>i{? tho vacant ground very deeply HUH mane a sowing of oats. Sprinkle limo freely orer thu f.urtacf; of. tho soil. ■ As soon :ib the oats »r« a.ooi/r.aix iiichrs liiKli they tmouM be dug n/l, and tho bed is then ready for tho liibw ohjiysanIhcinum. plants. Those -who ' arc buying nev, varieties this year should Rrt their ord H\ n early. Nurseryuiou supply cataloging iveo ol Cmlß °' . .KOUTJNB WO'^K.

liiithyrus piibescoiiß, Ih'j i,] llo everlasting poa. is maJ<.iiig rapid '/rowth at present. Every few days their, aro strong shootn ready to bi> trained jnlo place. See that the stakes nivonß, for the .plant, is fast itp floweririK seaeop. An occasi dp.nl •/•ppUoatiou of weak liquid manure oa- ec/it water after a sihower (if rain will Ije oC groat licneflt to the plant. Keep t.l'iQ vines of sweet peas all trained up. their; sivnports. 'Lite curfaou of tho soil alio fit Uib plants should lie tent loose and fro froir, weeds. Dust soot, over hyacinths as they push through tho soil. Slugs are particularly fond of the tender lipa Jhat first appear, and will iinickly spoil the whole- crop. 01" /imps of bulbn must he kept frde of ftipcr-whito ib already in flower, polyanthus narcissi are hurrying a'/ong toirar<ffl breaking into bloom. Duet f*>ot that has been well exposed !<> tho Air among bulbs to keep away slugs, but bo sparine with it, as n. heavy dressing may do vnoro harm than good. Attend to tho staking of wallflower- and stocks. They arc top-heavy plants, and a strong wind works much havoo with them. Gather together all stakes that arc- not needed .it. prcFcnt, nharpan Uio ends no that> they may bo ready far ueo, and then store them away in a dry place. Cuttings of roses, antirrhinums, carnations, pentstemons, eft... may etill bo taken. They may be .planted in rows 111 a spare corner of the garden, l'rcss tho earth, very firmly round tho bas» ol tho cuttings, and have a layer of sand in tho bottom of the drills for them to .rent on. At this time of year they give no f tinner (rouble, .for tho grouud is naturally damp, n.ml the. sun is not too hot. Whflii the ground is wanted in the spring, thfi cuttings Will havo developed' into me© little plants ;ready for plaut'ns out. For rose cuttings taiic shoots than havo borne ii flower. Cut off the faded flower and e about six inches of tho .stem. Removo: the lower leaves and plant tho cutting very firmly in sandy soil. 3>os» cuttings had better he btruck where they can icjjaain for a year. Violat plants should be given weak 'sootwater eviiry few weeks, and tho soil slnout them should bo kept'.well stirred. Sootwater.—Put some soot 111 a b%z or coarso aatorial (sugar-bag), and stamq it in water for a fow days. When .ifring tho liquid for' manure dilute it with clear ivirter till it is the colour of weak tea.. Not only is this a, good manure, hul, it is also a, splendid wash 'with vlucb. ;to syringe tto leaves of plants. Carrots, onions, and tnrnipß are all beneftted by applications of soot, or by vtoses ctf weak soot J water. Azaleas, rlwdodcndroiis. camellias, sweet pfcas, blue overlastiiis P cll ' violets, and freesias tha/., are Torming their buds should all bo given soot-water now. bootwater is tho oafeet manure to use Jor P/bt plants. VEGETABLES. EOUTttni WORK. In most gardens the soil is too wet now for working, but the first opportunity should be. beiscd to finish all tronchin" and manuring; of vacant plots. Sprinkle limo or soot -tiver the ground wherever it is possible. Kow, where necessary, seeds of dwarf peau and broad bwins. l'laiit shallots, aspaa-agus, rhubarb, herbs, horse radish, and cabbage and cauliflower "Heap well-decwd manure over stools of BUinmer-ueurung rhubarb. Peed vi-ith iiquiu. manure wniler-beanng rhubarb. . , r A few tubers) of nit early variety, of potato should bl; set up on end in a sjia.fovf box to sprout. Lettuces should ,)O rentlv syrinci-'d, during dry wciithia , , with Sr X to 'keep the... free oE aphis. Yomiß cabbago plant.- should hxve the soap-suds from the washu.K water -poured .° SilverTeet, cabbages, cauliilowrir. broccoli, lettuces, etc., should have the hoo constantly at work among them whenI'vcr tho soil ifl m suitable cor.ditio 1. When hoeing push the earth up. towards their etems, thus uramially eurtlimg them " P ' ASVAjI:AOUS. In preparLiig tb« gronml !or asparagus it pava one to do i>, very thoroughly T.lO mound should be treuc.iwl at least two ?eot deep, the wiW-oil beniK ennchtd with nanure mil bonoaust Where new roots are to be planlo.l tins year the groniid ! should be made ready at mira. Aiicust is about tho bMt time .lor planting the oota When planting is to take place i procure tlirco-yctir-old mots. Asparagus. i» irrrnvn now 'in the Hat, and not in tho ' old narrow raised node. Tho rows shouty ■ bo from two to three, feet apart, arrd •i tho planh ui the rows two feet apwt. ■ Ua?l olt «- row and then draw alonr/ ,t •[ with a. hoe a shallow trench. Draw, up , ! I e earth lr»m thi> si.lcj into tin; iDRh e I 11 ■(, rid?'. - ; i R formed all iili.riK tin; middle of The trench. The plantii wil evenly down this sides, wln-ii tnc eai 11 I i nil flllod-in aisain tho orowna saivuld be ' j iwo or three inches below tho mirfaco '' o Gardcn o, liotes next week will contaiu N . 20 notes about :-PtanUn ß l.liums, routine work, and vegetables.