GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") POPULAR AUTUMN I'LO-WE«S. Michaelmafi (Iftisies. whnn well grown, aro a perfect pJory in the autumn gar'.en. liio nlants arc very hardy ami 111cr«ißO rapidly. It is not yet too late to break up ond replant old roots should tho work havo been ncßloctcd early 111 tlie snrintr. Every year there is somo actdition to tho ranks , of these beautiful Howera. Gardeners can obtain now quite A collection of plants. Almost every slwdo of lavender and purple is represented, tho flowors varying also in size and the bushes in height and habit. White Michaelmas daisies are always beautiful, and may be had with either small or large Mlowcrs. Several shade 3 of pink also are obtainable. Michaelmas daisies like a. fairly rich soil, with plenty, of well-decayed -manure, or woll-deeayoi! vegetable rubbish mixed with it. Old bushes should be lifted and broken tip every two years. Early, in Jauuary-a liltlo bonedust ehould be pricked mto tho soil about tho plants, and if possible e mulch of well-decayed manure should bo spread round them. Tho following -varictios aro beautiluh— Brilliant, bright crimson; Climax,, largo ■Clear bluei h. G. lowe. lame.pale blue;. Hon. Edith Gibbe, pale blue flowers, branchintc habit; Mrs. T. O. Bay, rosy pink; Mra. G. T. Wright, rosy purple; Hosy, Morn, brilliant pink; St. Edwin, large sott pink; William Marshall, clear inauye. Plants may still bu put in. DAHLIAS.

The soil for dahlias must, bo very thoroughly due to a good depth, and is all the better lor being well-eunched with iveudecayed cow manuo or well-rotted vegetable rubbish and bonedust. After PHoarinsr the cround for dalilias. do not, as is necessary .for other' plaiita. make UlO soil lli-m. ' Dahlias. seem to like to ho planted in loose, rich, deeply-worked soil. Tubers that woro lifted and stored away, ehould bo brought out and sDrouted. lo do thie plant them in a spare eunny p. art of the garden, so that they arc only just' covered with earth, and keep tho soil moist all tho time., Shoots will soon appear, and pieces of tuber containing one ■or two straus shoots may be cut WJ from the clump, and planted in the prepared bed. Keep them well watered till the shoots appear above tho sround, and then apply a mulch of well-rotted maumc. Dahlias are difficult to crow well m very, dry, hot districts, because they are such tiiirety plantß, but by ■ preparing tho jrround as directed above, and by attending to mulching, dahlias may bo grown almost anywhere with only an occasional good -watorinit. Tho flowers.. esoecially of cactus dahlias, are w> exouisite m lorm end colourinß that they arc worth the. necessary trouble in their cultivation. Collarette Dahlia-s-SiiiElo dahlias ha\o always been favourite flowers, both lor jrarden and house decoration, but collarette dahlias are oven more desirablo lor both nurnosee; The flowers fro very much liko those of the ■ old-sinele; dahlia, but tufts of tiny florets, Eenorallv of a difjerent colour, stand up all jouna tho central disc. The plants are easily raised from seed, and flower tho eame year. It two seeds are sown now in seed nana ma Brccnhousc or garden frame, the scedlmp:B will soon' be ready for nlantine out. ahoy should be put into dceply-duff. wcl!-en-riched soil, arid should be .kept vicorously by constant lioeinci and ffooa eunDlieaof water. . . ' . hn Tubers of najnod varieties may also 00 bouirht now, and planted. 'OHKYSANIBBIIUJie. ' - Ohrysantheinums will irrow well in auite ordinary soil provided it has been well due. If .possible, some well-rotted yogetablo rubbiah flhduld be due n. Plants niay still bo planted. Work a little bonedust into the soil where, cactt nlanfc w to 80. As soon as tho plants aro well established, witter .tho roote with, a littlo weak nitrato of soda-about Soz. m 1 gallon of water. This will eive the plants start and help them to mako E ood growth before hot weather, sets m. StromJ well-crown plants are more likely to'reeist disease than weakly ones. A"™ plants of tho early floworwß voii toa Bhould be grown, for they b<*m «<™c»ub very early in tho autumn at a-time when flowers aro rather scarce. MONTBB.ETIAS. ■

Montbretine liko a sunny position, but a cool root-run. These two 'requisites aro difficult to obtain naturally unleES ono possesses a Btream or a pond with a. sunny bank. But tho sunny position, can bo 00tftined by overyono without any truuble, and tho cool rooU'uri can be had by takinc the trouble to die tho : erountl deeply, and to bury a. supply of creen manure for the bulbs to root into. Tho bulbs lncreaeo to rapidly that they should not bo left in the prottnd , longer than two years without beinir lifted and divided. The urowth of inoutbretias, ae regards botn flowers and foliaßO. is craccful in tho cs'J'nme. Thn nlantß look beautiful in tho eartten when groivn in groups in a mixed, border, o> ; when planted on the edeo of nativo bush, or oloiiK tho banks.of a stream or Dond. If left too lone in one place tho ■plants becom'o overcrowded, and tho ftrimelo for existence causes them to deteriorate, and tho growth to becqrno stunted and tho flowers small. Under these conditions montbrotian are auito nnablo to display their wonderful beauty of flower and foliage. Soverol beautiful varieties of inontbretia. may- be had.

HELIOTROPE. Heliotrope is a delightful slant to grow, ae the lutenee frajrranco of tho flowcre pervades tho whole eardeh. It sxows easily out, of doors if eivou a- sunny position, sheltered from cold -winds, and is in flower,, nearly all tho year round. Faded Bhould bo kept well picked off. A muiuhofweTProtted manuro placed round old : established plants now will serve as a fine tonic. Plants may be raised from seeo , sown early in sprine in a hothouse or warm frame, or they may bo obtaijicq from cuttings of tho youne shoots. Outr tings of heliotrope root very easily if they, are ineorted firmly in sandy soil. Nurserymen generally hayo a eunoly of Btrone. youne plants ready for plantine out during the next few weeks, and amateur gardeners who reauire only 0110 or two would do well to obtain youne nlants already strongly rooted instead of bothering about seed. As soon at the youne nlante aro about oieht or nine inches hiirh tho tops should be pinched out to encourage bushy growth. BBL^ .JjTiies. Bulbs of .belladonna lilies may bo plantcd'durine the next few, weeks. The bpil should be well due, and should have mixed -with it somo well-rotted voectablo rubbish and somo sharp wind. When plantine the bulbs work a little bonedust into the' soil, and givo tho bulbs a, .layer of silver sand to rest on. Silver sand is obtainablo from any seed shop. Belladonna liliefl aro among the most beautiful of the, autumn flowers. Clusters of lame trumpet-', shaped flowers aro borno at the head of a long' straight stem. Tho colours raiiso from pure whito throush all tho shades of pink and roso to scarlet and rich dark crimeon. They are Bplendid for cut flowers, lasting a loue time in water. Belladonna- Alba and Belladonna Kosea. Perfecta, are two beautiful varieties.

NERINEI3. - • Nerines are vory much like belladonna lilies, but the flowers as a rule aro smaller and arobrilliaiil; scarlet in colour. They flower a littlo earlier than the belladonna. lilies. Bulbs may bo planted during No- , vcmber. A sunny position and a light sandy soil suit tile plants well. As soon as the , flower buds appear water should be given freoiy. . . ■ PEIIENMAL SUNELOWERS. _ Perennial sunflowers are most useful.' They will grow in the Bunnicst and driest part of tho garden provided, tho, soil was thoroughly prepared before the -plante wero nut inf The plants need riot be lifted for 6everal years, but when they, are cut down after-flowering is over, a nood mulch of some well-decuyed material.' should be eprefld over the roots. Hants of perennial sunflower,may bo put in"now.

VECETABLES. TOMATOES., In buying.tomato plants care should be taken to chooee ehort sturdy ones. Too often tho plants exhibited for sale aro drawn and weakly. Don't plant on itrouuu that is too rich. Food can bo uuppliod to the plants from the surface when it is needed. A rich bed at the etart produce!, rapid and luxuriant growth, but tins is not what is wanted. We want strops. fUird'y plants bearing .plenty of fruit, ihe ground should be thoroughly dug, but should be mado firm acain before tho plants are.put out. After thoroughly «'KtT.'i'k, and after Duttinir out your silanta, hoc over tho surface, workipcin a, slight dreesins of anperphbsphato. Wowl anlieii or abhes from a rubbish'fire should also be niixed with the soil. A stron? st«e should be provided as booh as the pia'its aro put in the ground. Two stems are Oiiiro enoucrh to allow the plants. Aβ, tho plants crow, rub out, all lateral t-rowlhs, nnd new crowths from tho roots. CULEBIAO. Celeriao, or turnip-rooted celcr.vv is a most useful vcgotable. Unlike, celery, it neiMi not be jsrown in trenches and earthed up. 11 is Brown for its root, which 13 turnip shaped, and if the sehdlinjsß .are planted on ficU ground, and are .eiveii liquid manure once .«, week, ami .plenty of water, a. root will wejch as much is three or four pounds. Oelcriac is nod to flavour boup, and also as a table vegetable when boiled. . Garcon notes next week will contain B «fBouabii; notes about:-l'opular aiitumnllowerng annuab, routine work "na weetables.