GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 264, 27 July 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

o . (By "Kowhai,") ■ HOSE-PRUNING. ' Growers ol roses should make them- ] selves familiar with the names of their roses, and also ivilh their class. That i is, whether they are hybrid perpetual, , hybrid tea, or left roses. The hybrid per- ■ jietuals ami hybrid teas are pruned first. It is as well to leavo the teas for a week or a fortnight later, as they aro more delicate. Except in warm districts, free from frosts and cold winds, August is early enough for pruning. On tho other hand, in districts subject to spring and summer drought, it is sometimes advisable to prune early in'order to get tho necessary growths. One runs the risk then of late frosts or cold winds spoiling the lirst crop of llowers, but at least ono gets sufficient growth to carry tho bushes througli the summer drought. By deferring tho pruning till August wo keep back tho growth. The trees may be covercd with a fine growth of young foliage when you go to prune them, but this foliage which is borno on the old wood could, never produce fine, longstemmed flowers. It has its ÜBes, however, because its production keens tho buds at tho base of the trees dormant, and theso are the budß that are to produce our new strong growth for this season. When pruning sob that tho knife or Eecateurs aro sharp. Make the cut just above an outside bud or eye. Make a slightly slanting cut, and have the highest part of it just above tho bud, not on the sido of tho branch awa,y from the hurt. After pruning, lightly prick into tho soil a dressing of bonedust. PKUNIKQ. First cut away all growths that are crowding the centre, and then cut right out all w.cak growths. Sow cut the fciroug shoots oacii, leaving only about four to six eyes, and making the cut, above an eye mat points outwards. Very strong shoots may be left with six eyes; weaker sliooiß should bo cut back to lour eyes. To beginners it seems strange that weak growers should be cut back harder tlnm strong growers, but the point is that a rose-busti muet bo allowed to have only as. many shoots au it has strength to su'ppoit. A weak-growing rose can support fewer shoots than a strong grower, therefore, it is cut back hard, leaving perhaps three or lour buds for it to conccntrato its strength into. A strong grower, on the other hand, may bo left with as luany as six buds, and will havo sufficient strength to develop them well. Some roses senil out au occasional long shoot. This should be cut hard back. Xewly-plaiiUil roses should be cut back at pruning time, leaving only four eyes. It is most important that this should be atr tended to, as it affecls the future vigour of the plant. In very exposed gardens tea roses should be left till tho middle cf August before being pruned. Climbing roces should be treated in the same way as dwarf roses when newly planted. That is to say the shoots should be cut back lo four eyoa. 'You will then get fiuo yigorous growth as a start for your plants. In subsequent years climbing roses need careful handling if you want a good supply of flowers. The best flowers are produced oil shoots that are one year old. Pruning, then, consists in cutting back, directly after llowering, some of the older shoots that have flowered. Try to keep a '.limbing rose to young shoots :,'rowu'g from as near tho base its possible. So many climbing roses liavo long baro stums and all the growth up at the top. liy pruning hard back at planling time one gives ilie rose a goou start iu this direction. Hambler rosos should have tuo biiools ihat have flowered cut out us boou as the flowcrin? id over. This eucoumnes the plants to lirodueo new shoots, and It is on one-yeai-ol'l shoe's that tho best flowera aro produced. Therefore, lo have a rambler a mass of flowers, pruuinjr must take plaeo a year previous to flowering. That is to say, pruning must be done an soon as floweriuß is over. . Hankeia roses bloom on the twiggy Growth?. As soon an the flowerm* ih over rut back the old flowering stem?. AM that i 3 needed after this is to the lipß off the lonir shoots tliat. are producrtf. Briar roses also should ho cut back as food as I hey have finished flowering. Tlu ,e o rosi** also flower on the wood that is produced (hiring the previous summer. Do not shorten the tips of the Bhoots on briar as it is on Iho ends of the brandies Unit the best flowers are prod")o"nol nr.ilch until the summer, as during spring the. roots of rosea want all tho warmth of the sin; they er.n get.

PEHEKTOUJ. . ■ Work in the garileu liar been quite out ot the uuestiou for Beveral weaka in most districts. Fmiuent heavy havn beaten dowi'. thu soil that it I'-.s become caked Kvery chance should be proirpilvseiicd lo loosen it with a hoe. Xhls » ljest done during the middlo oi day whenever the soil is dry enough to woiK. Tlio«e iiereumal plants that wore bioKi.i UP and replanted in the autumn may J -Lve it (h'es.sius of woiKihl into the soil about them, it should be used . ut 1 lie nUu ot 4oz. to tho fcuiuuo Michaelmas daisies are all It ™" u * l |J : lie lilted and broken up. 'lh<!y aie such vigorous 'growers that they need tlim at- , the best months in the rear or planting perennial plants. t"rt' dig the ground very thoroughly, , mid" manure it according to the requirements Ot tlie plants to be grown. At planting time a little bonedust, should be worked into each liole as tho plum id "pcreuuiale niako a great show In tho garden, and by eaueful selection ono may have something In flower nearly all tlic year round. They are ideal plants, too,'for those gardeners wlio have not too much time to spend anion? the flowers J a large gerdens they should he planted in bold groups, for they aro then most effective. In very small gar(lens, however, they aro generally grown singly, and if, when arranging the bed, due attention is paid to the colour of the flowers, ;he height of the plants, and the time of flowering, a very cftectivo border may bo made. Tall-growing subjects are generally planted at the back in a narrow bed. but in n round ono they should be f.'iven a central position with small-growing subjects all round tlicin. Care should be taken not to have colours that would clash placed too near one another. Sl'ltlXG-i'LOWEKING PEBEN-NIAIA Doronicuni.—This bears yellow daisy-like flowers. Will crow either in sun or iu shade. Add a little sand uud bonedust to the soil whin planting. Geuin.—Ueuin has double scarlet (lowers. it grov.s well in any well-prepared soil. Auuilcgias.-These will grow in sun or iu shade. Ordinary well-prepared garden soil is all they require. Wallflowers and Stocks.—Tho sail should not bo too rich for wallflowers, but fairly rich for stocks. Add a little old mortar (powdered) to the soil if obtainable. Cut the 10112 tap roots oil tho plants when transplanting. Campanula Grandiflora.—Fork a little bonedust into tho soil at planting time. 'Antirrhinums.— Seedlings should bo planted out in autumn for spring flowering. Those planted now will flower all the summer and autumn. Antirrhinums should be planted in well-manured ground. They are splendid plants for a dry. sunny position, and they flower nearly all tho year. I'yrethriims.—l'yret brums have dainty dais.v-liko flowers, single and double, in shades of white, pale pink, rose, lilac, etc. Add to the soil a little well-rotted manure, or a little leaf-mould and bonedust. Primroses and Polyanthus Primroses — These will grow either in a sunny or a shady position. Add plenty ot leaf-mould to the soil, a little wood-ash, and also bonedust (ta. to suuaro yard). Anemones—Bulbs may still be planted to flower late in tho spring. Anemones lil<o a light, fairly rich soil, and shelter from cutting winds. In summer they must be protected from droughts. St. Bright auemones have semi-double flowers, and a wide range of colours. Pansies.—The ground for pansies sl'culd be deeply dug and well manured. Whero animal manure cannot be had, bury si me well-decayed vegetable matter-in tho bottom spit, and to tho top suit add bonedust ((oz. to square yard), and some wood or rubbish lire ashes. Pansies like a semi-shaded position. Violas require the same treatm-nt, hut will grow well in a sunny position. SPROUTING POTATOES. No tijne should bo lost now in securing eood potato seed. Tho ,early varieties will be planted first, therefore they should he sprouted without delay. For this pnrpreo shallow boxes aro suitable. Stand tho potatoes upon end in them, taking care to have them right way up, and place the boxM in a sheltered plaee in a strong light. This will encourage the growth of strong sturdy sprouts. By sprouting the tubers before planting tliem, one is aide to limit the number of sprouts, and also to sec that only strong sprouts are left. In this way a better yield of potatoes is securcd. Garden Xotes next week will contain seasonable noteß about:—Summer-flowering perennials, routine work, and vegetables.