GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 253, 13 July 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(lly "Kowhai.")

TEX-WEEK STOCKS. For lillinjr up empty spaces in our gnr- | den-beds for the summer few nlaiits are more suitable than ten-week stocks. Slocks are always popular with nil classes. One eoes'im isolated plant or two in every cottage garden, however small; 0110 seed them ui'od extensively lor bedding out in large privato pardons nnil ill/nearly every public one. Their U'asrauco alone is suillclent to oni'.ear them to everyone, hut in addition to this the do wen are bright and attractive, the plants very hardy, and the flowering season lone As cut flowers they are absolutely cluirniin;:. Ten-week stocks aro ao called brcium) they are supposed to llowcr in ten weeks from the time of sowing. A small soniusr could be inado now, and another one towards the end of August. It h usual to sow stock seed in shallow boxes of nanny soil. Tho boxes may be put into «• cold frame, a greenhoi'se, or even a sheltered, corner of a verandah. As soon as tho seedling? arc large enough to handle they should be transplanted into other boxes of rich soil, and later on inlo the garden itsolf. line double Bhil't may seem unnecessary to some, but experience proves thnt the plants aro ali the bolter for it. When plantiug the seedlings into their permanent quarters, examine each one nnd cut oft any tap-roots that may havo formed. One vants a good supply of fibrous roots in stock :<nd wallflower plants to eneuro bushy growth. Thoso that am left with a lan-root are apt to grow up "leßKy." The soil for stocks must be rich, otherwise poor little specimens with poor flower spiltes are produced. Heavy soil should ho vr.ry deeply clus.'. I>'s >'\ plenty of well-decayed cow manure. If obtainable, or plenty of well-decayed vegetable rubbish. A little bonedunt Ehould be worked into tho bottom of each hole when planting. Mako tho soil very firm about each plant, and provide 0, suitablo stako at onco. . Another variety of ntock that is indispensable in tho srarden is that known aa the "Niro" family. Thoso should bo treated in the aamo way nrf tcn-weeK stocks. Beauty of Nice, with its long spikes of salmon-pink fragrant flowers, ib one of tho glories of the v> , inter garden. No amount of bad weather teems to make the least difference to it. Tliero are many other mnmbers of this family, such as:-Bianca white; Jlont.e Carlo, pnlo yellow; Queen Mesanrira, rosj lilac; Almonfl lUossom. white shadlncr to carmine; Giant Beep Lilac; and others. A sowing may be made now to provide plants for summer flowering, and if other sowings are made during October aim November olock will bo in bloom in Mie garden right on to the end of nest winter; Ono great charm of these stocks is that one may pick them freely, for no sooner are tho plants deprived of their fragrant load than they «t once rut forth fresh spikes of bloom. AGATHAEA OOKLESTK. A very pretty flower that is out just now is agathaca coelestis. It is a small daisy-like flowor, borne .on lons, stilT stoms, and tho colour ib a delightful shade of forget-me-not blue. Tho plant flowers off and on during the whole year. Agathaca is easily propagated by cuttings. The young Bhoots that appear after flowering should be choson. They should be three or four inches in length, and should bo inserted firmly in sandy soil. The plants grow into small .shrubs, aurt during flowering time are a mass of nalo blue daisy-like flowers. After flowering I find it a iood pl.-.u to cut the bushes well back. Stir the soil about tho bushes, working in a good quantity, of boncdußi, give t'icm a good watering, and new growth soon cojijnences, MAKING A GARDEN. In makijig a gardon for flowers or Klirubii tho soil should be thoroughly ivorkod at least a month before anything is planted. It is usunl to work the soil three feel (hoy, keeping the top soil on top, as tht sub-soil is generally sour. Only when the scil has boon deeply worked for a good many yeare is it safe to bring tho sub-soil to tho top. It uof tho utmost importance to do the work of preparing the ground thoroughly in the first inslonce, especially where shrubs arc in be planted, 'ji'cmiae these remain in Ihe same place for very many years. A flower garden that has been well made may also be left for a good many years beforo it is neconsiu'y to lift everything and again thoroughly dig llie ground. Therefore , , in making a new pardon it is Always safest to remove the ton soil, and to trench and manure the sub-soil. 'Heavy clay noils should be lightened by having sand, road-grit, and horee manure worked into the sub-soil. Vegetable rubbish or any decayed vegetation may nlso be used. After the top soil him been replaced work into it basic 'slag (<loz. to tho square, yard). " ■ 'liight soils , .-.may. , , also ..have, decayed . vegetation".worked intq the sub-soil, but instead of'horse manuro cow or nig manure* should bo used, and also plenty of doacl Icuvcs, soot, and woci-ashes. Into tho lop soil work 4oz. of boiiedust to tho squar". yard. Top-dress the garden with wound lime in the sprins , . if the nnnuring was dono in tho autumn. If the gardens arc made ami manured in tho spring, top-dress with lime the following autumn. liy breaking lip and tilliim the mib-soll a greater nta.ii) of good soil containing plant food is obtained. The more . the food, tho better tho pliinlo. Once a garden is "ormanently planted with shrubs or herbaceous plants it should not be dug with a spade or deeply forked. This breaks- or bruises tho tender roots which are just below the surface of t!ie toil, and spoils the plants for Ijowevine. If a- garden has been well trenched and manured at first, all that is necessary for a good many years is weeding, loosening of the surface soil by shallow hoehir or by the use of the handfork, mulching, and stimulating ivilh artificial manures. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown this week, soil and weather permittiugi arc;— Peas, broad beans, and carrots. ' In the open ground a further sowing of peas and broad beans may be made. The ground should be trenched, and should liave well-decayed manure ur vegetable rubbish buried o,bo;it if l>0!, !)i!lo>v the •sni'faeL , soil. Where peas are to be sown, wood -ashes or rub-vish-flre a«h<>H should bo mi-ced with the soil. If peas are uoaked in war'n water for 11 few. hours before sowing they will como up nil tho sooner. It .in necessary to put threads of black cotton, the rows as soon <ir the seed 13 sown. This protects it from sparrows. Dust soot, or lime along the rows at the first sign o( a green shoot. CAItItOTS. On well-drained soil n small sowing of carrot (Karly Horn) may be niack*. Carrots should be grown in ground that was richly manured for peas or some green crop last season. The soil should be worked to a fine tilth to a depth 01 one foot. It is a good plan to place a layer (about Jin. thick) of ivy wood-ashes in the drills at the time of Bowing. Drop the seed into the ashen and just cover with very line oarth. Press the earth lightly but firmly with tho back of tho hand after covering the seed. .SEISD-3 IN I'A.V-S. Where necessary a small sowing of cabbage, cauliflower, aud lettuce may be made in 'seed pans. Those who have a frame or a greenhouse to supply bottom heal may niuke a sowing of tomato and Cape gooseberry. PUNTS. IManlH of cabbages, cauliflower, (ind lettuce ni-iy be put in Ihe ground, provided the eoil is in suitable condition. Tho' ground should be .trenched and manured | in preparation for them. -Mix a little I boneilußt in the bottom of «ai:h hole at, the time of planting. Cut the end of the lap-root oil' cf.bbiife unci cauulioiver uir.-iis j to encminige the growth or fibrous roots, j I PreE» the earth very firmly round each plant. HOOTS. Room of rhubarb, how-radish, shallot*, and garlic may all be planted this week. OELBHY. Where slugs are spoiling i-cluT in the li-eunics ;■ 111 tic. lime-water will send them in search of another feediiig-gmund. Place ii hiiudful of iiuick-liine in five gallons of water, stir it up. and let- it eland overni"ht Water the soil ::nd the celery a few limes with the solution, and the plants will be free from the pest for » time at any rate. -Garden Notee" nest week will contain seasonable notes about:-Cleunitia. pi'icnniala, planting trees ;iucl shrubs at tho seaside, and vegetables.