GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 9, 5 October 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhoi.") ANSWEB3 TO COMESPONDENTS. "M.E.P.," liangioten, Hawera.—l shall repeat, with pleasure, in next week's notes "A Lavender Garden."—''Kowlial." ROSES. Roses are now in a forward state, many being already in bud, and so far this season the foliflgo has a very healthy appearance. ' Greenfly must bo constantly watched for, and dealt with at its first appearance. Syringing the bushes with soapsuds mado from Sunlight eonp soon cleanses .tho bushes of this pest, especially if a suggestion of keroseue is added to each pail of soapy water. Aphides (greenfly) live by nicking the juices of the tender stems,' and, if not ohecked promptly, soon impoverish tho growths. Their alarmingly quick increase is another reason for their prompt destruction. Ilildew has already made its appearance on a few varieties, notably those of the Wichuriana. soction. Tho foliage should bo dusted with flowers of sulphur early in tho morning while it is still wet with dew. It is most important to keep a check on mildew at its first appearance. For one thing it cripples the leaves, and without a plentiful supply of healthy leaves the plants cannot make good progress. Another important reason is that if mildew is not severely dealt with in tho spring, a severe autumn attack is sure to be. the result. Whero leaf blotch was prevalent last season, the bushes should Tbo very carefully watched. Loaf blotch may be recognised by the purplish blotches which form on. the upper sides of the leaves. Tf not checked the disease spreads quickly, and the.leaves fall early in the. season. Spraying with permanganate of potash is recommended for leaf blotch. Wh-ie there was any trace of it last season. I should take the precaution of thoroughly wasnlng the foliage once or twice during tho next few weeks, using the permanganate at tho rato of loz. to one gallon cf water. Well-established rose bushes are now ready lor a stimulant. Work in a little oonedust.about each bush, using it at the rate of <foz. to the jquaro yard, and, where it is obtainable, fork in lightly some well-decayed rotten manure. Where manure is not to be -had. guano may Bβ used. This is obtainable from almost any seed shop. Use it at the rate of loz. .to the square yerd. the stakes of rose trees to see v / ? ro secure - J n most districts in .new Zealand a firm stake is very necessary for each tree, for, unless trees are secured to stakes, strong winds soon blow them about and loosen the roots. Where roots ore constantly being loosened good &r ow pi !3 impossible. Kail lone growths ol climbing rosea into place. Cut out any old -wood that is not needed. Banksia roees are already in bloom, and their sweet scent is very -welcome in the garden. BSOOHOBDA GEAJfDIFLOEA. Kxochorda grandiflora is making a great show at the present time, bushes being covered, from the tips of tho branches right down-to the ground, with. spraM or beautiful white flowers. Tho absent or leaves on the branches gives the bushes a particularly light and graceful appearance. Exochordfl, is one of 'the earliest of the spring-flowering shrubs, and the fact that it flowers at a time when early spring flowers and narcissi are over, and later spring flowers aru scarcely out, makes it all the more welcome. The Shrub is a most rapid grower, and extremely hardy, and has the delightful quality of flowering from tho first Beason It is planted. The long slender stems cov. ered with numberless sprays of dainty white flowers are charming for arranging m bowls or tall vases, and the flowers keep fresh for a long time in water. Some people spoil their bushes. by not .pruning them at thf right time. They should be pruned soon after the flowering Iβ over. Leading.shoots may be shortened by at least one-third of. their length. Thinning out of ■ superfluous growths may be left till December or January, but not later, for unless light and air are admitted freely to the centre of the bush, the rem-ainiiiK growths cannot, ripen their wood. Last year I took cuttings from the prunings made at the end of October, Now each tiny plant is sporting one or more blooms. ANTIRRHINUMS. Antirrhinums or snapdragons are just beginning their long season of beauty. With very little care a mass of these beautiful flowers may be had from now until the end of May. Plants that aro just beginning to flower should bo well but unobtrueively staked,- for the growths aro exceedingly brittle and are easily broken by wind. For staking, twiggy sterna if hazel nub or macrocarpa are most suitable. They, may be placed round the bushes in. such a way as to hold the growths in place, and givo support without epoiling the natural graoo of the plants. Plants that are bunched lightly up to stakes are not nice to look at; they are a blot in any garden. Once the stakes are in .position, a few strands of flax may be tied round, care being taken to fasten them to each stake without cramping tho growth of the plants. Or, hcops of pliable wire may be placed round tho plants and fastened to the supnorting stakes. Antirrhinums are every year Becoming more popular, especially since specialists have been at work and have given us flowers of such glorious shades of colour. Almost every shade of ,pink is now represented among them. Then there are orange-scarlet, scarlet, rich <tarlc red, glorious yellow and lemon ehadea, and liowers of the purest white. In most districts the intermediate varieties are the moat suitable. These grow to about two or three feel in height. But in very windy d.stricts the 'l'om Thumb varieties should bo grown. They embrace ail jne glorious shauua ol' the iuierniediato variety. ror massing in beds, or for growing in rows or patches in the mixed border, antirrhinums are charming. They are eu|table for seaside gardens, and lor dry inland gardens. As a matter of. foci they will grow anywhere' with ouly' a very little necessary cultivation. The eeed germinates freely, and -cuttings root easily, so that anyone can soon havo a Block of plants. Scede may be sown now in any well-prepared seed bed, and the eeedhngs will soon bo ready for transplanting, and will flower in tho autumn, seedlings that, were put out at the end of last autumn are already beginning to flower. When sowing tho seed, sow Uiiniy. This is most important, for then sturdy plants are. obtained. Crowded seedlings givo weakly plants that are never a success. More planting out tho seedlings in their perma'nent homo, dig tht, soil very deeply, end add a, little well-decayed manure or vegetable rubbish, mixing it thoroughly with the soil. If some old mortar can bo added to tho soil, so much the better. Ada a little boncdust to each hole at planting time. Plant tho seedlings firmly, and shado from tho sun for a few da.ys. Tho only attention they will need will be occasional hoeing till stoking is neccesary. If more busy amateur, gardeners would fill up their little s-iriUm strips with good antirrhinums, theru would be lower un-happy-looking front gardens about _ our towns. Antirrhinums, like nasturtiums, aro the busy man's friend. They will grow alnioßt anywhere, need very little- attention, and make a brilliant show over a long period. One essential is a sunny position, though 1 havo grown them successfully in a scmi-Bhadcd one.

■ ■ -TOMATOES. Many amateur gardeners are in a great hurry to put out, their tomato plants. As a result, they often buy plantß that were rained in a hot house, and that aro often not very robust. Many slants that were put out early have already been cut by iroet. Experience proves that when sturdy plantß are put out l<iter they not only cateh up to the earlier-planted onen, bur. in tho end prove better in every way. 11 the tomato .patch has already been propared, it is n. good plan to sow seed now where the plants aro u> grow. The eeenlinns may be thinned out later on, ana tho "thinnings" planted in another bed. Those that aro left where, they were sown make cood and quick growth, and are. as a rule, much stronger thau, plants that come from a seed pan. ■ . W.'ion solving, sow the seed very thinly so that sturdy plants will be. produced. A few strong, well-grown plants will give a heavier crop of fruit than twice tho number of overcrowded ones. Plants from this late outdoor sowing that are crown on steadily without, check are less likely to be attacked by disease later on. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about i-Kingle chrysanthemums, routine work, and vegetables.