GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 44, 16 November 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "3faßtorton."-(a) Rhubarb should bo planted iu very deeply-worked soil. Indeed, it cannot, be too well worked or too rich. Plant the roote so that the crowns are only just below the surface of the soil, and immediately cover with a mulch of well-rotted manure. Roots of rhubarb ni«y be left in the same place for many years, provided they arc. liberally fed with liquid inanuro, mid,, are given rich mulches of ■wellrotted manure. Water, must be given freely during dry weather.' f ib) The only wayi to.get rid of -tho daisies on tho lawn'is to dig thorn'-out. .Seed' ■ shops, stock' a'special tool for tho pur-, pose-a, "daisy grubber..' 1 ' ' > '. GERBERiVJAIIESOKir..'' \. . .. ■ The gerbera .is- one of tho'' most gorgeous' of our.pcrcnnjal'iplants. .Tho daisy-' like flowers,.are-.vivid' scarlet 'iu colour, and are borne on,-very long stems.'' The gerbera- hybrids include flowers of various shades of-colour, .such as..white; yellow, orango, salmon, etc. ■ The flowers of thohybrids are not \ quite 60 lino as'those of tho parent plant,' but the plants are said to be more robust. Nurserymen havo plants ready now.. . • " ", Gerbera is apt to bo cut-down by frost,' and should therefore be -. planted whero it will. be .least:' affected.:,. Tho: requirements .of tho ..plant are & sunny;-position, and for'soil a.sandy-'loam. ■The flowors are produced over" a Ibng'porW, and Inst Bplendidly in.;water. ■'•;':, .--..JAPANESE ANBSfONES 4v '." Any well-dug fertile soil' suits Japanese anemones:' .(The plants dislike, being disturbed, and:'should i'thereforo bo planted where they, can remain for a number of. years. Japanese anemones are splendid for filling up shady comers. .

RTJDBECKIA. Eudbockia Newmannia is one of the.prettiest of the perennial rudbeckias. . Rudbeokia Golden Glow is another"'most showy perennial. It bears .juantities of yellow (lowers like.osmtill- cactiis dahlias.

Eudbeckius like deeply-dug, fairly rich soil, arid plenty of : surishino. -.Their groa.tr est value, perhapß, is that they withstand dry weather well, and this makes them invaluable for districts that havo hot dry'summers.' Plants may still'be put in for an autumn.display. ~~' . BBfeONIAS. .Begonias arc moji accommodating plant b. They will grow in the sun or in the shade,: in "a wet, heavy soil, or in a dry, sandy soil. But. the ideal"'position for them"iß-'V semi-shaded -one, arid tho soil should be a mixture ot good floll. leaf mould, old, decayed manure, ana sand. Tho best way to obtain a good •Btook for- bedding. : out purposes ib to buy a few good named' varieties,' and to" increase from them.; Tubers .should bo. planted now.' " '

■ - : PERENNIAL PHLOX. ■■ • ' ! : Phloxes like a deoply-dug soil and ft sunny position, and they dislike being disturbed. Well-rotted.'.animal._manure, .'or decayed vegetable' rubbish and uoncdust must, be added: to': the' ;soil:', ' Water »and suitable' mulcllos'should" bo' supplied during tho summer months. Plants may 6till be- putin. - ''• -y - -■•"■-•

GATJEALINDHEIMEEI, ;' Gaura is one of tho most useful perennial plants that it is .possible 10 grpw,. as well as one of tho most effective. During tho. whole of tho summer and autumn tho plant is covered with quantities: oflong, graceful sprays of white flowers. That it succeeds well in hot, dry districts I know by, experience, and during" the early part- of tho autumn it may be relied upon -to' 1111 -in baro gajis that aro caused by the sumnjer (lowers being oyer, and.' tho real autumn ones'.)scarcely.-out.'. Boots may bo obtained now from nurserymen. A light,' dry soil is 'most suitable for gaura. Heavy soils should be deeply dug,- and lightened in the usual way.

SOWING SEEDS OF BIENNIALS. There are many charming plants among the biennials, and, ifNwo would have them well represented in our gardens dur-. ing the.spring ,an<i.-.Buinmer of-next year, wo must see to tho sowing of tho seeds now... Among the plants.to.be sown-jiow aro:—Stocks (Brompton, Boauty of Nico, and all the winter-flowering varieties), wallflowers, anemones, aquilcgiaß, primroses, and polyanthus primroses, sweet Williams, and Canterbury bells. Ail of these make..a great show in their season. If seeds aro'sown now./either' in ■ seed pans or in the open garden;: tho Beedlings will bo' ready ..to nlaut out in: their' permanent positions early in tho; autumn'.

vecetabi.es; "'■'

BEOOCOLL To make up for a possible failure of tho parsnip orop, I am putting in this year au oxtro. supply, of broccoli. At this time of the ;year Uie' seed: .-should^ho' 1 , bowiii, straißht:into-tho dnllß,-sowin'g ; two' seeds at intervals of 18 inches. If both seeds gorminate, ono plant may bo lifted and either used to. fill in' gaps' or destroyed. Sow both an early and a. late variety. Have tho soil deeply worked, well onrichod, and made firm again. Firm soil ia most necessary for broccoli- and cabbages.' Keep tho surface soil well hoed throughout tho sunimor and'autumn months, "•' " : . OABBAGESr.' :V:• -. - ' If a sowing of cabbages is modo now in the same way as suggested for broccoli, the crop.should be reaay for cutting early in tho autumn. Seize every opportunity of hoeing between the rows of all growing crops. . BEANS. Another ', row of broad beans may bo sown. A few seeds sown now aiid then will keep' up a supply of broad beans all through., tho summer. Some gardeners content themselves with ono sowing only, but this is a pity, for broad boans may be had from early, in spring till late into winter.' l'nich oft' tho tops of plants coming on as soon as they arc in', flower. This romoval of tops helps to ward off an attack of aphis, and also helps tho'/.podß to mature moro .quickly. Seed that- is to bo sown now should be soaked iu water for a few hours before sowing. 'A dressing of. lime is benellcial to all beans—broad, French, and runner..

Seeds, that may be sown this week whero necessary., are:—Pumpkin, • marrow, piemelon, aiid cucumber. Sow in holcß filled with rich and well-decayed manure. When sowing, do not lay the seed flat and cover it with earth, but push the seeds edgeways for about an inch into the ground. Savoy Oabbage, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts.-Sow in well-worked, Tich firm soil. Sow. two; seedß at intervals of 18 inches in drills three feet a,part. Celoriac—Saw is row 6 two feet apart, in well-worked, weh-oiiriched ground. Thin out the seedlings to six inches apart in the rows. Celeriac does not need earthing up like, celery. It is grown for its root. Scarlet-Eunner Beans—Sow iu . ground' that has been trenched and manured. Sow tho seedß from six to eight iUohos apart, and about two inches deop. French Beans and Butter Benns.-Sow in drills two foet apart, and have.the seeds' six inclas apart in the row's- Dust boiiedust in yhe djtills at the. time' of sowing tho seed, and. give a slight dressing of superphosphate as soon as the .'seedlings aro a couple of. inches high. KadHsh.—Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground.

Carrot.-Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart.

Peas-Sow in; drills ,f'n>m 2 to 3. feet apart. Ground should .be trenched and manured, and jshould li<lv,c wood ashes mixed with it: Dust boneuust in the drills when sowing.

Bcet.-A light, sandy soil is the best for beet. Sow the seed in dri/s 18 inches apart, in ground that for a, previous crop. . Fresh manure would be harmful to the ..roots'. "The gi-ouud .should be deply dug, .and made: firm-again 1-c----foro sowing the seed, Dust tjoncdust in tho drills wheU sowing!- " Lottuco.—Sow -thinly in drills-ifi inches' apart, and thin out to nine inches in the rows. The ground -should bo deeply dug and onriohed with well-decayed manure. ' Keep tho hoe at work whenever, tho soil is dry enough. ...

Garden Notes next week- will contain seasonable notes about th< Clhristmas rose, routino work, and. vegetadlvi