GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 270, 3 August 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") SaCtifiß-FLOWEKING PERENNIALS. The weathrr of lato has been bud enough to daunt the most enthusiastic gardoner. Work in the garden has been uuite out of the question. In tho meantime it is distinctly cheering to study florists' catalogue , !!, and to plan what plants and aetds wo will buy for our borders aa soon aa work is again possible. Among summer-flowering perennials the following are suitable for most gardens:— Alstroeinbria.—This is a most useful nlant both for garden and house decoration. Tho plants have Hcahy roots and arc sometimes a little difficult to establish. They requite a well-drained, porous toil, ■xnd as it is advifablo to plant the rooU about nino inehee deep, thorough breaking up of tho subsoil is necesßary. Once istatiliehed, they prefer to be left uudinlurbed for a number of years. Good mulching and sufficient water during tho summer months are much appreciated by tho plants, and makfe all the difference to the size of the flowers and the length of the Gteins. The flowere are splendid for nitting, for besides being most attractive they lant for a long timo in water, and aro easily arranged. Alstroeraeria aurantiaca has bright orange flowers with red streaks. Other varieties have flowers of varioue shades of yellow and even salmon-pink. Antirrhinum—Antirrhinums are most easily grown perennials, and flower for tho groater part of the year. For growing in hot, dry districts they are splendid. The soil Bhould bo deeply dug and fairly rich. A dressing of boneuat may be added ae the seedlings are put into tho ground. Seedling plants may be put out early in the spring for sumuer flowering, or seodi may be sown now to provide plants that will llowei in the autumn. There are many lovely varieties on tho market nowadays, including shades of pink, j-ellnv, salmon, orange-Ecarlet, dark velvety-red, and pure white. Calceolaria—These plants are too well known to need description. Any deeplyworked eoil Buits them, and water should be supplied during the summer months. Campanula, pyramidalis —This is a- noble plant for growing at the back of a i'order. The soil should be deeply dug and fairly rich. Stalling is of the utmost, importance, for the flower stalks grow to a. height ff two or three feet. The colours of tho flowere arc blue or white. The plants (lower towards the end of tho summer and well into the autumn. Carnations—Carnations like <tn open situation, and a light, ■well-drained FoiL Heavy sojle should be trenched, and lightened by the addition of sand, road grit, and powdered mortar. Cannas.—Cannas aro handsome border plants, and are ciuite hardy in most paits of New Zealand. At one time they were grown mostly for their foliage, but now we grow them for their richly-coloured glorious flowers. Plants of named varieties may bo bought, or seeds may te town in spring. Iho seeds should be soaked in hot. water for several hours- before sowing. The soil for caiiuas should ho deeply worked and moderately Tich. During the growing Benson water should bo eupplied regularly, and mulching attended to. As the flowering season approaches weak liquid mar.nro should be given to tho plants at regular intervals.' Daisies.—Any -well-worked soil suits these most useful and aUraotivo plants. Two splendid recent varieties 'are Mrs. Oharles Tiowthian Bell (shastn. daisy), and ilrs. Sanders (tree daiey). The latter has largo double white blooms, which arc splendid for cutting. Other good varieties arc:Lady Hume Campbell, white; King Edward VII, white; Ktoile d'Or, pale yellow; White Pearl, double white. Coreopsis grauuillora—This is one of tho most showy of our summer liowcrs. The lovely golden-yellow flowers are borne on long stiff sterna in the greatest profusion throughout the season. The cultivation cf the plants is of the -simplest—deeply-work-ed soil, and a sunny position. A dressing of bouedust inay be -worked into the eoil at planting time. Provided that seed pods aro removed, the plants have a very louff (lowering seaeon. Plants may be put in early in the spring. DiihUas.-Single and collarette dahlias grow splendidly from seed. If it is sown now in a cold frame or cool greenhouse the plants will flower all through the summer and autumn. The flowers aj;o splendid for cutting, and aro most showy in the garden. The soil should be rich, deep-ly-worked, and loose. An abundance o£ water and good mulches should be given all through the growing season. Dormant'tubers may bo etarted into growth uow in gcutlo heat. Delphiniums—These ■ require well-dng, well-manured soil. If animal manure can bo hail, difr in a good supply before planting out the Bccillings. Where animal manure- is not obtainable, dig in. (f.mo well-rotted vegetable mutter and a dressing- of bonedust. Delphiniums are ;noet valuable both for garden decoration and aa cut ■ flowers, for they flower early in Bummer, and again iu autumn when Howere in tho herbaceous border are r<arl-icu-liirly scarce. ' Diaiithue (Indian Pinks).—There aro many charming varieties of diantlius. Tlie flowers aro fragrant .and embrace the ! richprt mid uwet brilliant, and yet tho daintiest of shades. Tho plants are splendid for growing iu light sandy noils, into which some well-rotted vegetable rubbish has been dug. A dressing of boncdiist may be worked into the soil where ea«h plaut is to go. Gaillardias.—For hot dry districts and sandy soils gaillardias are iineiiualled. Their lovely flowers aro produced in profusion all through the summer and autumn. The soil should bo deeply worked, and if some well-decayed vegetable manure can be worked into the soil, so much the butter. A little baiieduat should be added where each plaut is to go. Gerbei'ii Jamesouii.—The gerbera. or African daisy ia one cf the moat gorgeous of our perennial garden plants. The daisylike flowers are vivid scarlet in colour, and are- borne on very long stems, The , gerbera hybrids include flowers of various shades of colour, such as white, yellow, orange, salmon, etc. Tho flowers of the hybride are not quite so fine ae those of the parent plant, but the plants art , said to be more robust. Nurserymen supply plants during the spring months. 6erbera ia apt to be cut down by frost, aud should therefore be planted where it will be least alfectcd. The requirements tf the plant are a sunny position, and for soil a. sandy, loam. The flowers aro produced over a long period, and last dnloiididly in water. Geraniums (Zonal Pelargoniums).—Geraniums enjoy well-earned popularity, and it is hard to imagino a garden -without one or more plants. They will grow anywhere and in any soil, and thero ia scarcely a time, except when frost cuts them, .that the plants do not display their beautiful flowers. The geranium is an unfailing friend to tho gardener with a stiff clay noil, and for seaside gardens it is ideal. Tlie soil for geraniums should not te too, rich, and although it should bo deeply dug, it should be made firm again beforo the plants are put jn. Cuttings root moat easily provided they are kept fairly dry and are given a- tunny position. Frost is one of the geranium's worst enemies, and many plants are lost during a uevero winter. .If cuttings are taken in the autuicn, however, and are wintered in a cold frame or on a sunny verandah, thero will bo a supply of nice young plants ready for spring planting. Although oldfashioned varieties are still groivn, and are still worth growing, many of the few named varieties are so lovely that one or more of them should be secured. The following aro a few good ones:—Contrast, single, scarlet with a white eye; HatflcVj. single, pink; Lady Curzon, single, pink; R-cv. i\ Atkinson, single, deep crimson; White Queen, single, pure -white; Lord Avebury, cerise with a, white eye. Gypeophila Paniculata.—Who ie not familiar, with this most useful summerflowering perennial? One can scarcely imagine- n. bowl of ewect peas without a graceful spray or two of gypsophila. The plants like a, -well-drained, deeply-worked, fairly-rich soil. Once planted they thould not bo disturbed for mony yeare, as the roots resent interference. After the flowering season is over plants Bhould be given a mulch of well-decayed manure. If this ia not possible, prick some bonedust into the soil about the plants, and cover them with some well-rotted vegetable rubbieh. Gypsophila paniculata may be had with ainglo or double flowers. Tho double ■variety is inoro effective. VEGETABLES. August is, as a rule,, the month when amateur gardeners make a fresh start with thoir vegetable gardens. Seeds o£ many vegetables are then sown, potatoea aro planted, and seedling cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, onion, etc., are put out in their permanent positions. So far, howover, work in the vegetable garden seems a long way off, for tho weather is about as bnd as it could be. Where soil was well turned over early in the winter and left rough, it will be all tho bettor later on for the snow, frost, wind, and rain that have been working upon it for the past fow weeke. One can only hope that many elugn and insect pests haTO met tho fntp that all keen gardeners -wish them. Whenever a chance otters, hoe between tho rows of vegetables that are already in the gardon. Earth should be drawn will up about young peas until it forms ridges along both sides of the- row. Examine broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower plunt3 to ecu if frost has loosened Draw soil ovdr any potatoes that are already through the ground. Defer planting any nioro potatoes until the soil la wanner. In the meantime have them sprouting nicely in their boxes. Provided they aro in a strong light, the shoots will remain sturdy. Gardon Notee next week will contain seasonable notes flbout:-Summer-floweTing perenuials, routine work, and vegetables.