GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 3, 28 September 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowlial.") DAHLIAS. The soil for dahlias must bo very thoroughly dug to a good depth, and well enriched with cow manure or wcll-decuyed vegetable matter and bonedust. Alter preparing tho ground for dahlias, .do not, as is necessary for other plants', make the soil linn. Dahlias like to he planted in loose, rich, deeply-worked soil. Tubers that were lilted and stored away should be brought out and sprouted. To do this, plant them in a spare sunny par.t of the garden, so that they are just covered with earth, and keep the soil moist all the' time. Shoots will aoon appear, and pieces of tuber having one or two strong ones may be cut away from tho clump, and planted in the prepared bed! ' Keen them well watered till the shoots appear above the ground, and then apply a mulch of well-rotted manure. Dahlias' are difficult to grow well in very dry, hot districts, bcoauso they are such thirsty plants, but by preparing the ground as directed abovo, and by attending to mulching., dahlias may be grown almost anywhere with only an occasional good watering. The flowers, 'especially of cactus dahlias, aro so exquisite in form and colouring that they are worth the necessary trouble in their cultivation. For watering them tho washing day soap-suds cannot be beaten. Single dahlias hovo always been favourito flowers, both for garden and house decoration, ' but tho collarette dahlia is oven more deßirable for both purposes.' Tho flowers are very much .'like'those-'of tho "Id simple dahlia, but tufts of tiny florets, ■ generally of a different colour, stand up all round the central-disc. Tho plants are easily raised from seed and flower'the same.year. If seeds aro sown now in seed-pauß, tho seedlings will be ready for planting out as soon as ell danger of frost is over. The plants should be put out into deeply-worked, well-en-riclied soil. If animal manure cannot bo had, add • plenty of well-decayed rubbish to the soil, which should bo worked to a depth of about two feet. Add a handful of bonedust to the top soil where each plant is being put in. Later on a mulch should be spread round the plants, and, if plenty of water and occasional doses of liquid manuro aro supplied all through hot weather, beautiful flowers on long stems will bo produced till frost cuts down tho plants. ' - .. ROUTINE WORK. There aro not many subjects that one can depend upon to bo really successful and to j'ive a brilliant show in'the Bbady border. For this reason tuberous-rooted begonias aro generally reserved for. that spot, although they do equally well in a sunny border. Tubers should be started into growth now, and may then be planted out among aquilcgias, or whatever plants are in. the shady border at tho time,

I Begonias do splendidly out.of doors in well prepared bed?, and keep.a shady border very attractive throughout the summer and autumn witli their dainty gay-coloured flowers. If the soil was prepared with well-rotted manure, leaf-soil, and sharp, sand, no further preparation is needed for the begonia tubers. ■■■■■ GLADIOLI, LILIUMS, ETC. Finish planting gladioli corms and bulbs of lilinms, crinumß, belladonna lilies,'and nerities. The soil for all should bo very deeply dug and should have sand and very well-rotted manure added to it. Work a little boncdust into tho bottom of each hole where a bulb is to go, and sprinkle a thin layer of sand for the bulb to rest on. If possible, a thin mulch of well-decayed cow manuro should be spread over the surface soil where liliums and gladioli have been planted. To get really fine heads of bloom one must feed these plants liberally. LILY OP'THE VALLEY. Lily of the valley are'pusliing through the mulch of decayed leaves and manure that was spread over them after tho leaves died down. Already thick green shoots are appearing, and soon the delicate green leaves will unfold to shelter the slender stalks of dainty fragrant white flowers. Water should bo given freely to the bed now, always giving one thorough soaking, and then no more until another thorough soaking is necessary. Frequont insufficient waterings do more harm than good. Weak liquid manure should be given once a week after a watering or after rain. Guano, at the rate of Sob. to. 1 gallon of water, may be used where animal manure is unobtainable. Do not'attempt to fork over the bed at all. dimply pull out weeds and work in a little sifted leaf soil or sifted decayed vegetable rubbish among the plants. ■ HELIOTROPE. Heliotrope plants that were covered over for. the winter aro begining to put forth new shoot's. Do not attempt to pull away their covering of leaves, straw, or manure. The new shoots will push through this and soon grow, all over it, and tho winter covering then becomes o, summer mulch for tho plants,. If the shoots aro inclined to grow too long, pinch them tack to become more bushy. ' CHEYSANTHE3LTJJIS. Young chrysanthemums should be planted out without delay: In districts that are subject-to summer droughts it is important to have tho young chrysanthemums well established before the dry weather- setß in. They then have a chance to make good growth and a. good supply of foliage early in tho season.

HYDRANGEA. To keen tho flowers of hydrangea that beautiful pale blue colour that iB so much admired, the plants should be watered in spring with alum water. Dissolve one tablespoonful in one gallon of water and thoroughly soak the roots of the bushes once a week with the solution. VEGETABLES. MARROWS, PUMPKINS, AND MELONS. Seeds of marrows, pumpkins, and melons may be sown now either in seed-pans or in the open ground. It ib a good plan to make a sowing in both ways, as one is sure then of • having plenty of plants. Those that are sown in pans may be planted out later on between the rows of main crop potatoes. Those that are to be sown in tho open now should bo sown in prepared heaps or holes. The soil must have a. good quantity of welldecayed .manure, vegetable rubbish, or "stack bottom" ■ mixed with it. As Boon as the seedlings appear through tho ground they should bo covered at ni»ht till all danger of froßt is over. Pumpkins', marrows, and melons all love to send their vines olimbing up a Brassy bank or a fence,, or in and out among .rows of maize or earthod-up potatoes. Some'gardeners always sow a few seeds of .maize among their pumpkins, etc. MAIN-OEOP POTATOES. Main crop potatoes may bo planted at any time now provided they are well sprouted. It pays to wait till they are sprouted.' Two of the strongest Bprouts should then be left, while tho others should bo well rubbed out. Tho sprouts at the top of tho potato are the best. Open out tho.trenches on'a warm, sunny morning,' and aB soon as the soil in them iB thoroughly sun-warmed plant the Beed tubers. If come thoroughly decayed manure, or some good soil from a compost heap can be laid in the bottom of the trenches, bo much the better. A sprinkling of wood ashes should also be added. Where wlreworms aro troublesome fork some vaporite well into the bottom of the trenches just before plantinc tho tubers. Have the tubers, when planted, just below the surface of the soil, and one foot apart in the trenches. The rows Bhould be at least eighteen inches apart.

LETTUCES. Small sowings of lettuces should be made at frequent intervals. At this timo of the year it is better to sow the Beed thinly in drills, afterwards thinning out the plants to one foot apart. As soon as the seedlings are up they should be hurried on by means of diligent hoeing, and by fortnightly doses of liquid manure (loz. of nitrate of Boda in 1 gallon of water), applied after a, good watering or after a shower of rain. As soon as tho soil is sufficiently dry again tho hoe must at once bo brought into use. Lcttucea should bo grown on deeply dug, but firm. soil. They heart more quickly if their*, roots are kept near the Burface. TARSLEY. Parsley seed is slow to germlnato and should therefore be soaked in warm water before being sown. The should be ■ thinned out to about six inches apart as soon as they are big enough. "' SEEDS TO BE SOWN. In seed pans-Tomato, celery, cucumber, Cape gooseberries, melon, pumpkin, and marrow. In the open ground—Beet, onion, radish, carrot, turnip.' peas, broad beans, parsnip, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower. In Beed bcds-Bnißsela sprouts aud early broccoli. THE HOE. The hoe must bo in constant use at the present time. It is a safe practice to take it with you every .time you go round" the garden. Romcnibcr that hoeing makeß the crops grow. Garden Notes next week will _ contain seasonable notes about rosea, routine work and vegetables.