GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 276, 10 August 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

KOTJTINE WOKK. Tho exceptionally sevens frosts that we have boon experiencing lately have been responsible for much damage among even hardy garden,plants. Wcll-scasoncd daiuy bushes that have flowered gaily throughout, several preceding wtnjws havo been utterlv ruined. Arums, geraniums, antirrhinums, delphiniums, and many other half-hardy subject* have been spoiled lor the time 'being. Even violete, in the open part of the garden, have suffered. It is surprising hojy well sweet pcae havo Btoott tho test, while pansy «nd viola plants seem positively to have enjoyed it, IE daisy bushes are cut well back, they will eoon put forth now shoots. Loosen tho soil about the plants, give them a good watering, and then sprinkle a little superphosphate about the roots. Keep ,the soil hoed till growth ia well on the way. (jcraniums, heliotrope, etc., should be cut back and protected with a covering of straw or scrim until the weather is warmer. , ~ Violets that were severely frost-bitten should have all damaged roots removed. Stir the soil well about the plants and work iu a light dressing of Boot. The last few days have been dry and mild, and tho opportunity should hav« been taken to hoe tho garden thoroughly. Early narcissi have responded quickly to the change of temperature, and clumps are very gay. Hyacinths are pushing their way up very freely. Loosen the caked soil that is about them and begin feeding with weak Henna manure or soot water. Slugs are ever ready to least on tho tender tips of tho flowering stalks, and eparrows are capable of spoiling many promising spikes ot bloom in a very short time. Both of these enemies must, be guarded against— tilt sparrows by weans of black threads, and tne slugs by frequent dustings of soot or lime round the clumps, and by persistent extermination. J'ixnmine carnation plants to see if now staJw3 are needed. Chrysanthemum cut■.;;ii- may bo taken whenever nice 6trong Awa'.i, Well away from the llowering stalk, aro ti'.g enough. ,\lak<t a clean cut with a bivxvp iiiJile. Insert the outtiuijß in sandy soil in a spare part of liio garden. \s eoou is l,ho oia plant is finished Kith 11 may he dug up and added t.a ihe first rubbish fire. See that wallflowers and Srompton stocks are well staked. The plants are top-heavy just now and are easily spoilt by wind. Rose pruning affords a chance of securing some good rose cuttings. These should be inserted very firmly iu soil to which plenty of sand has bfen added. Insert the cuttings where they can bo left for about a year before bang transplanted. WIKTo animal manure is not obtainable Kome fertiliser should now be used for rose bushes. For a heavy soil use basic Bias; (4oz. to the square yard). For a light soil' use bouedust in the samo proportion. Draw Ihe earth well up to rose bushes mid see that it is made quite firm.

SCMMEK-FLOWERING I'BRTiMIALS. (Contimied From Lr.st Week.) Gaui'ii liiidhelnieri h oi'ie of t|io most useful pciTiinial plniits v that il is liOßßible to grow, us well us one ot the most eflectivo. Dnriiiu the whole ot Eiinimer and iuitnmii Die plant ia covered with quantities of long, graceful sprays of white flower. That it succeed!) well in liot, dry districts 1 know by experieuco, uud during tlits early part of the autumn it inn.v bo roliril uiioii to fill in bare Eupu thai, aro euiiseil by dm suniiner llowere being over unit tho real autumn ones scarcely out. rii'cdu may ho sown now iimk-r glass, or roots may U , bought from nurserymen a little later.in the spriiiE- A light dry toil ia most suitable lor giiura. Heavy soils should lie deeply dug and lightened in th« usual way. .Ucmcrocalliii (day lilipe).-Tlie duy lilies may be relied unoii to give an nbundnnco 01 , flowers all through the summer months. The individual blooms last for only ono day, but the succeeding bulls form and open.si) quickly that the plants aro scarcely ever without HOiiio flowers. Tin) foliage alone is a charming addition to «, mixed border, and the beautiful Uowers are borne well above, it on long fctitl stems. Jleiuerocallis aurautkica major is ft tpleudid late (lowering variety, llemeroeullia lulva has double llowers which first oiieu towards the end of November. Uoth varieties are deep orange iu colour. Auji lertile garden soil aud a auuuy position suit the plains. Tho best time for transplanting is now. for growth is just commencing. Ueliolrope—There is scarcely a garden that does not boast ai least oue heliotvoiie, the delightful I'l'ugi'tiiico of the llowers liiiilduE it a most popular summer and autumn Uowerini; plant. It ia unfortunate that frost ptay» such havoc with it In many districts, but if the plants havo straw tucked woll under, around, and over them, uud are kept eecurely covered until, the cud of spring, very few of them will bo lost. When warm weather sets iu, new shoots aro put forth, and tliesu piwh their way through their winter covering, and iu a short timo grow all over it. is tlie utraw (U.ca.vß il forms a nice summer mulch for the plants. Seeds of heliotrope may bo sown now under glass, but it is scarcely safe to plant out new roots till towards the cud of October. The most eiiita.ble soil for heliotrope, ia a rich, light loam, and a sunny positiou is indispensable.

Pelargoniums.—Oue has only "to see how well pelargoniums grow in Wellington gardens, right in the city, to realise their usefulness. They grow and flower well iu steep hillside gardens where very few flowers do really well, and fine trusses of handsome flowers aro produced continuously. Early in tho spring tho plants should be cut well back with a view to securing bushy, instead of lejrey specimens. Nurserymen _ supply a largo selection of named varieties. MIGNONETTE. Seods of this fragrant annual may bo sown where tho plants aro intended to grow at any time now provided the eoil is in a suitablo condition. The ground should be well dug and should have a little leaf-mould and plenty of coarso sand or road grit added to it. Prick into the surface soil a (lusting of bonedust before sowing the seed. Just cover tho seed with a little fine soil and sand mixed. As soon as the Becdlings are big enough they should he thinned out. and those that are left in tho ground should havo their tops pinched off to induce bushy growth. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown this -week are: itaUish—French breakfast is the bestSow .broadcast in rich, firm ground, and in a warm sunny position.

Short Horn or Nantes Horn CarrotSow thinly, in drills 12 inches apart. Turnip.—Early Snowball or Early White Stone. Sow in ground that was richly manured lor a previous crop of greens, or in ground that wae manured early Iu the autumn. Make the soil very firm. Sow thinly iu drills twelve inches apart. Poas.—Sow in drills from two to threo feet apart. Ground should bo trenched and manured, and shonld have wooa ashes mixed with it. Bust bouedust in tho drills at tho time of sowing. Soak peas in warm water for a few hours before sowing. Parsnips—So\y in ground that was well manured for a previous crop. Work tho soil to a fine tilth for a depth ot at least IB inches. Any lumps may cause deformed and worthless roots. Work into the soil sifted ashes from a rubbish fire, and boncdust (4oz. to square yard). Onions.-llako tho soil very firm by treading on it before sowing. Do this only when the soil is dry. Blacken tho soil with snot several times before sowing. Sow the seed in drills 12 inches apart. Brown Spanish and James's Keeping aro the best"for keeping. PLANTS. Plants of cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce may be transplanted provided the. soil is in a suitable condition. The ground should be trenched and manured in preparation for them. Mix a little bonediist in tho bottom of each hole at planting time Cut the end oil the tap root of cabbngn and cauliflower plants to encoura"O the growth of flbroiiß roots. Press the earth very firmly round each plant. Where cow manure is obtainablo it ia a good plan to mis some with water until it is of the consistency of thick'porridt;o. Tho roots of cabbage and cauliflower plants may bo "puddled" in this just before they are planted out, to civo them a good start, ■Roots of rhubarb may still be. planted. Where a frame is available a few sends of water and pic melons may bo sown now Vegetable marrow Eoeds may also lie sown if tho plants can be protected until all danger of frost ie over. For small snrdens "bush mnrrown nro most Fiiilable. an the plant forme a compact iil.tic biish which does not tako up much room. , , Garden Notes iinxt week will contain seasonable notcß nhotit:—Suinmcr-llowerinir perennials fcontimieiii, send pans, and vegetables.