GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 306, 14 September 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

'. . (By "Kowhai.") •

BOKONIA. Boronia Megastiguia, tho sweet-scented bqronia, is one of the gems of the early spring 'garden, for its tiny copper-coloured flowers. ■ are intensely fragrant. Anyone who lias once grown this species of boronia feels that his garden is incomulete without at, least one bush. .Before tho plants arc put. in, the soil should bo very deeply dug and ehould have sand and peat (if possible) added to it. The roots of the plants should bo kept cool and moist at nil times, and during dry, hot weather, therefore, watering and mulching should Je attended to. Boronias are apt to become scraggy after two or three years, eo that it is advisable to keep raising fresh plants every year. This may be done either by means of enttinga or by sowing seed. Cuttings root very easily it they are planted firmly in very sandy soil, and arc kept fairly moiet. The tips of the side shoots, about two inches in length, may be taken at any time during the summer. Young plants should be pinched once or twice to encourage bushy growth. Other varieties arc:— Elatior, with deep red flowers, and Pinnata, with rose-coloured flowere. Boronia lutea is a sport from megnstigma, and possesses the same delightful fragrance. PUKPLE GUAVA. The purple guava, (psidium cattleianum) is a hauasomo as well ae a most useful addition to any garden. The shrub is evergreen and is covered, during the' winter and spring months, with dark crimson fruits, wjiich are not only exceedingly ornamental, but are also very-use-ful. The fruit of the purple guava is delightful for dessert, and the flavour ie considered by many to be superior to that of. the fruit of the common guava. Tho plants are quite hardy in the North Island of New Zealand, and in Marlborough and Nelson. They may be grown as bushes or' trained against a trellis, so that even a small garden may. hold one. Guava jelly is a great delicacy, and the fact that the fruit is ready for preserving during the cool months of the year, adds to its value in the eyes of those who are. responsible for the stocking of the jam cupboard. ' Guava, bushes have a- tendency to become rather dense unless they are ihiimcd regularly every year. FEEESIAS. • ■■ ' Froesias that are growing in pots or boxes on sunny verandahe need plentiful supplies.of water jujt now. The plants •use up a great supply of water while they are producing their, flowers. A good soaking of eoot-water, following a watering with clear water, will greatly benefit tho plants and'help , them to produce largo Uowers. Water the plants in the morning and use tepid water. Frcesiae are the most easily grown plants, and tboir flowers arc so intensely fragrant and so freely produced that theyi are worth growing well. After the flowers'ore" over, keep the plants watered sufficiently to keep the soil fairly moist. This treatment should be continued till the ■ foliage dies down naturally, when water may be discontinued. ■ . ' ; stookSa , When sowing seeds of stock it is important to use shallow pans. The seedlings will not then have. much, chance to make long tap roots; but should they do so, the tap roots should be cut otf at the time of transplanting. The seedlings should be put out into well-dug, well-man-ured ground. To be really successful with stocks one must give them generous treatment. Poor ground, will not grow good stocks. Keep the soil'well cultivated, and afteTMhe plants have been flowering, well for a mouth or two, reward them with a good mulch'of well-decayed manure. During spring, summer, and early autumn plants that are. in flower ■ require occasional doecs of weak, liquid ..manure following a. previous watering with uure water, , ... .... .:'. . ' : _ ■ • :• VEGETABLES," Vegetable 'seedlings '■' are ' making slow growth, "'for' "the ground is still very cold. Hoeing: constantly between the rows ia a great help to them for it keepß the soil loose,, and allows the sun-warmed air to penetrate to the tmy roots: The price of vegetables at the present time makes one realise the importance of growing enough to carry the household through the winter .and early spring months. For small gardens broccoli are not profitable, for they occupy much valuable space over too long a, period. If an early variety of cauliflower bo sown in the autumn, the plants are ready for use almost as soon as broccoli thai -were sown as far back, as October. Parsnips, onions, and pumpkins should all bo grown in quantity, for they are easily stored, and keep till-well into the spring months. Leeks and spinach are also useful winter vegetables. The careful gardener"- must look ahead and provide for the time when vegetables are scarce. Too uiaiiy Jiave. their gardens well stocked when vegetables are cheap, and neglect to grow a< sufficient Quantity of such things as parsnipp, onions, and pumpkins, which are no doubt ' stodgy, but "Still-most acceptable when vegetables are eo dear as to be almost luxuries., Where the vegetable garden is'email it is better to make sure of winter supplies, even if by doing so it ie necessary to buy' vegetables during the summer mOnt1 ' 8 ' ROUTINE WOKK. ' ■ " Plant out, where necessary, oabbage and cauliflower .plants in richly-inanurctt ground. Before planting the seedlings, cut off the long top root.to encourage the growth of fibrous roots. Mix a little bonedust with the soil in each hole at planting 'time. Keep cabbage,- cauliflower, lettuce, and silver beet growing (luicklv. Hoe between the rows constantly, and iced regularly once a fortnight with a iveSk solution of nitrate of soda (loz. in 1 gallon of water), or with weak- : ]iquid manure made from cow manure and soot. , Hoe between tho rows of peas and broad beans, and • attend, to the staking. .As soon as the llowcrs. of broad beans show signs of 'setting nip off the tops ol tho P Atteud to-the thinning out. of carrots. Begin drawing the earth towards early, potatoes as Boon.as the..tops show above. el Contiiiue sowing the following seeds where necessary;— 1 ' fleet-Sow in drills 15 intrfces apart. Tho best soil for beet is a light but rich one. As manuro freshly added to the soil may spoil the Toots, uao ground that waa richly manured tor a previous ci'op. The soil must be made very firm before sowing the Sprinkle a little boneduet or superphosphate in the drills at the time of sowing the seed. Onions.-Make the soil very firm by treading on it before sowing. Do tim only when the soil is dry. Blacken the soil with soot several times before aowinir tho seed. Dust superphosphate m the drills at tho time of sowing. Sow the seed in drills 12 inches apart. Brown Spanish and James' Keeping are tho best "indisli.-Krench breakfast ia ."the best. Sow broadcast in rich., firm ground, and in a warm aunny position. Short. Horn on Nantes Horn CarrotsEow thinly in drills 12 inches apart Turnips-Early Sftowball or Early Vhite Stone. Sow-in ground that was richly manured for a. previous crop of greens or in ground that waa manured 111 tho autumn. / Make the soil quite firm, bow thinly ill drills 12 inches. apart, Peas-Sow In drills from 2 to J feet apart. (Sroiind should bo trenched and manured, and should havo wood ashes mixed -with it. Dust boneriusfc in the dnllß at the time'of sowing. ~ Par=nipß.—Sow in grojtnd that ivas well manured for a previous crop. Work tho soil to a fine tilth for a depth of (it least 18 incheH. Any lumps may cause doformed and worthless roots. Work into the soil ashes from a. rubbish fire, and bonedust Moz.'to square yard). .• Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about: Star of the Veldt, dahlias, routine work, nnd vegetabjes.