GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 288, 24 August 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO COKKESPOiNDK.VI'K. "AB„" Taiva. Flat.—(l) Ro geraniums: Take well-ripened cuttings in February. Plant them out in the carrion about the end of August. When planting, gardeners havo them lying on their sides bo as to keep them nearer tho ground. (2) The green chrysanthemum must bo shaded from the sun. (J) Plumbago .capensis is tho only shrub I can think of that seems to answer your descripfon. AUTUMN-FLOWERING PERENNIALS. Many of tho summer-flowering perennials continue flowering throughout the autumn. Among theso am:—Antirrhinums, gaillardia«, pentstemonß. daisies, heliotrope, pelargoniums, geraniums, gladioli, perpetualflowering carnations. begoniaß, calceolarias, campanula.pyramidalis. gaura lindhcimeri, erigoron, and verbenas. <• Delphiniums flower during November and December, and again during March and April. liudbeokin, (Golden Glow), salvias, gaura lindhcimeri, dahlias, gaillardias, gladioli, penstonicns, begonias, heliotrope, aud geraniums may be relied upon to inakc a line display during that most trying month of the year—February. A littlo later como boladonna lilios,' nernincs. specioßa lilies, perennial sunflowers, and Japanese anemones. Swiftly following come delphiniums, Michaelmas daisies, and chrysanthemums, and by. tho middle of April the borders are filled, to overflowing with glorious flowers. Japanc6o Aneraoneß—Any well-dug fertile soil suits Japanese anemones. The plants dislike being disturbed, and snould therefore be planted where they can remain for a. number of years Japanese anemones aro splendid for filling up shady corners. Dahlias.—The soil for dahlia* should lie deeply dug and well enriched with wellrotted' cow or pig manure, or well-de-cayed vegetable rubbish. The plants need copious supplies of water during tho flowering season. Plant tubers early in October. Michaelmas Daisies.—These will srow in any well-prepared garden soil. Ifwly in December the plants should be given a thorough watering, and should then havo a. mulcSh of decayed vegetable rubbish, grass clippings, or well-rotted animal manure placed about them. Staking and thinning out of superfluous shoots should be strictly adhered to. Nurserymen havo a fine collection of Michaelmas Aiwita for Bale, and one wonders that sv'WtMr gardeners do not make more use of tieso most effective and strikingly beautiful plants. Eudbcckia —Rudbeckia newraaimU in one of the prettiest of tho perennial rudbeokias. Eudbcckia Golden Glow is anotnor most showy perennial. It bears Quantities of yellow flowers like Bmall cactus liahUnu, Rudbeckias like- deeply-dug, fairly rien soil, and plenty of sunshine. Their greatest value, perhaps, Is that Uisy withstand dry weather well, and this makes them invaluable for districts that have hot, dry summers. Perennial rudbeckias way be lifted and divided each spring, and tho outside pieces planted back again. Salvias—Any well-prepared fertile soil is suitablo for salvias. Salvia bonfire hau brilliant scarlet • flowers, which are produced so freely that tho bush bccomcß 6impiy a blaze of colour. During the summer months water and weak soot water may be supplied to the plants regularly, but onco the buds show colour.-.soot water should be withheld. Begonias.—Begonias aro most accomodating plants. They will grow in tho sun or in tho shade, in a- wet heavy soii or in a dry, sandy one. But the ideal position for them is a semi-shaded one, and the Boil should be-a mixture Of good Boil, loaf mould, old decayed'manure, and sand. The best way to obtain a good stock for bedding-out puiiiioses is to buy a few good named varieties, and to increase from them.

HARDY ANNUALS. Hardy annuals, when well grown, aro both beautiful and useful. But the majority of tho annuals one eoos growing are poor and stunted. The seed is bo often sown in unprepared ground, aud tho seedlings are left, unthinned and neglected, to produce poor flowers and premature seed pods. Annuals, to be a bucccss. must be treated well. The first step ncccsary in their successful growing is the careful sowing of tho seed. It is better to sow in seedpans than in the open border, for tho seedlings arc then more directly under ono'a control. Protection from heavy rain or too powerful sunshine can be afforded, and Bcedling enemies can bo guarded against. Also, ono can have tho pans all together, and so tho seedlings, instead of being scattered in patches hero and thero about the garden, aro all in ono sppt, and it is easy to keep a watchful eyo on them. Thin sowing is most important. Tho soil in the pans should bo kept fairly moist, but not too, moist, or there may bo danger of the seedlings damping olf. Once the seedlings aro up in tho pans they must be carefully thinned out, where crowded, to allow those remaining to mako sturdy growth. It is bettor to havo a few well-grown plantß than thrco or four times tho number of weakly ones. Don't, coddle the seedlings at any stago of their growth. While tho seeds are germinating and tho seedlings aro getting ready to lio planted out, wo mußt bo preparing their permanent home In mo6t parts of New Zealand spring-Bown 6eedlings havo to battle against hot iveather and drying winds. To help them to battle successfully against theso oddß, it iB necessary to trench the ground where they are to be grown, working into the subsoil plenty of well-rotted manure or well-decayed rubbish from a rubbish heap. A fair dressing of boncdust should bo worked into the top soil before the seedlings are planted out. Where water is scnrce during the Bummer, towards tho end of November the iplants should ho thoroughly watered once, and should then havo a good mulch spread round them. If liquid manure is then supplied to them at regular intervals, a wealth of beautiful flowerß will reward tho keen gardener for his trouble. , . Autumn-sown aunuals ore now beginning to look very promising. Keep the soil woll stirred about them, and, at the first sign of buds beginning to bo formed, feed with weak liquid manure. . Seedß of tho following hardy annuals may be sown now in seed-pans Larkspurs, clarkiuß, godctias, ten-week stocltß, poppies, aßters, violas, pansics. linaria, candytuft, nemesia, phlox druntinondii, calliopsis, cornflowers, co6nios, salpigossis, schizanthus,' sweet sultan, annual gypsophila, and sweet scabious, Mignonette and single Shirley poppies are bettor sown whc'r.c they are to grow. Tho seedlings should afterwards be thinned out to from four to six indies apart each way. Double Bhirley poppies transplant easily. Mignonette appreciates plenty of l'oad grit and coarse sand in tho soil. Fork into' tho soil a little boncdust before sowing the seed of mignonette and poppies. VEGETABLES. All digging and trenching should bo comploted as soon as posible. A few .rows of early potatoes may be planted. Iloc between tho rows of growing crops. Attelul to tho staking of ,peaß and broad beans. , . , _ ■ Seeds that may be bowu this week, whore necessary, are:— Radish—French breakfast is tho best. Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground, and in a Bunny position Short Horn or Nantes Horn Oarrot.— Sow thinly in drills tivelve inches apart. Turnips—Early Snowball or Karly Whito Stone.—Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous crop of greens, or in ground that was manured early, ill the autumn. Make the ground very linn. Sow thinly in drills twelve inchos apart. Pcas.-Sow in drills from two to threo feet apart. Ground Bhould be trenched and manured, and eliould have wood ashes mixed "with it. Dust bouedust in tho drills at the timo of sowing. SoaK peas in- warm water for a. few hours befoie sowing. . , ... Parsnips.—Sow m ground that was well manured for a previous crop. Work the soil to a line tilth for a dentil of at loast 18 indies. Any lumps may cause deformed and worthless roots. Work into tho sou ashes from a rubbish lire, and bonedust (4oz. to square yard). unions—Make the soil very firm by treading on it before sowing. l)o thij only when the soil is dry bow the seed in drills twelve inchea apart. Dust bonedust in the Jrills when sowing. ,_ Brown Spanish and James Keeping are the best for keeping. Sow in seed-pans:—Celery, loekß, lcttuce, cabbage, cauliflowers, and tomato. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about chrysanthemums, routine work, and vegetables.