GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 62, 7 December 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(Ilyj "Kowliai.") '!' ANSWERS TO OORBESPONDEKTS. "A.h.h.," Fcildins.-Priinula' scecj may be eowrt at any time durinpr spriiiß nnd «n- ---; til necomber. Sow in shallow pane of sandy soil, mixing the seed before bowing with a little sand to thin sowing. Priclt out-the seedlinrs as soon aa they aro big enough to handle. Keep the plants growing as steadily and hardily as possible .' ' PENTSTEMONS. PonW.omon nlante that . survived the hard frosts of winter aro now a. crcat sight. Every plant, bears a number of. long stems'covered with the daintiest and gayeat of flo'wors. The'Tln-" , ' 5 when well grown have a very graceful npjiearnnre, ana only a few twiggy sticks,-, cunningly placed among the stems, arc-needed to keep ,theni from being too ■much ■ blown ■ Pcntslemons will irrow almost inywhero. They nro snlenrtid plants for a di'y. sunnv position; provided tho soil, hae been well prepared for them. Deeply-dug soil anrt tho constant use of the hoe go a long way towards growing, most plants successfully. Tlinro would bo fewer stunted:...iinKinnylooking :plants if; only;:, more gardeners would tako to heart (his;.oft-re"ea tert. r-r.-vice: "Dig deeply; lioe constantly.-Pent-Rtnmon send may 1>» ,F."'vi\'i'nw in pans of sa'n'dy soil: It nnys to buy tho hent vnrietv obtninablp. for. once well .established, the plants/last for many yfrre. Moreover, e.uttlnes-■ strike, most, rendily. and a good variety, may in this way he Increased ti'l yoji have cnoiigh plants for ■a'whole bed. ' ■'■ ' . ' ■' ~ ■•:.. ■' '■Peritßtemons are most,■effective- when 'r»rowh- in boM- grnuns or m> whole iipilf. Plants of tinles'hlne'-'nsreratijin .planted nmon? pentstenione make'a, pleasing comhlnatton. and the a gcratum continues to flower after the nontstemons. : aro cut back at the end of the autumn. " - VIOLETS. . ' : : ." Somo gardeheb. experience difficulty .In bringing newly-nldrited violet borders through the'.summp'rV This is especially tho caso in distrjeta. thnt are subject to dry summer , weather'. The plants should be kept well hoed, and watered .until new growth has commenced. At this stage a little weak nitrate of soda solution will give them a good start. Use tho nitrate at the rate of loz. to one gallon of water and apply, it to tho roots of tho plants after-a good watering. Give only one apnlictttion; ••' The uifvp'o of soda, will lmlp it to make good leaf growth, and if the plants aro to flower well early in tiie 'winter they must make, good leaf and flbrona-root growth during tho summer. Throughout tho summer, hoe the soil about the plants, and give a good watering when necessary. Examine the. leaves vegularly for any trace of red spider, and if, present-syringe the. leaves-with water ■or- eoot water over/ evening till it has -Bust soot, nhout-the TMiits ocnsionolly, and afterwards hoe. it In. Gardeners who eo away for a few weeks ■ holiday during the summer should provide a suitable mulch' for the plants. Wellrottei", manure, is splendid., but almost any decayed vcgo'tahle rubbish will do. The ideal position for violot borders is onu that gets the full sunshine during winter, hut Is-shaded di"-'iw. th« middle of the . dny in summer. Violet' plants"liko plenty of sunshine during their, flowering season. OHEYSAK'riIEMTjMS. ■■'■'•BorSer ' chrysanthemums should receive their final pinching before the end of next week.' Plants that have had the growtliß pinched t'jree times make .flno bußhy plants that will- bear from a dozen to twenty fair-sized blooms. Keen the plants growing steadily by constant hoeing nnd suitable, mulching, but do not begin feding till the flower buds appear. Steady, healthy growth is wlwt is needed at present: During very <lry weather tho le-ives should bo syringed - occasionally with clear water. All plants should have their stakes in place now. ' ■ SEEDLING PERENNIALS. Prick out'seodli'ng perennials as soon as they aro big enough to haudle. Dolphiuiums, Ohristmaa roses, and Oriental poppies can go straight into their permanent quarters, but winter-flowering stocks, wallflowcre, antirrhinums, primroses. Canterbury bolls, and most percnniiil plants aro all the better for being, pricked out into nursery beds' for the summer. They may bo transferred to their permanent homes :in tho autumn as places ,in tho borders bocomo vacant. This doublo raovo helps to malio tho -plants sturdy. Out tho long tap root of stocks and wallflowers when transplanting. /

VEGETABLES. SOWING PABSNIPS. The followiiiß. interesting letter has been .sent to me..by.an amateur gardener:—"l havo noticed several references by you lately to the difficulty of growin.K parsnips successfully this season. -I-have always found it difficult until this, season, when I have: been .quite- successful owing, I be ■lleve, toadbption of a now plan, uamoly, :'that often used for carrots-sowing first in damp Bind. I put a'packet of parsnip ne'od into dry sand and mixed it up well. I then moistened it well with tepid water, making it decidedly damp, covered tho flat tin tray with brown paper, and sot it on', tho kitchen ahelf on August 12. Ten days later I transferred seeds to tho garden, and they came up early in September, and are now four to sis inches hlph. ■A second , lot similarly treated threo weeks later also did well. A third lot-sowed on Octpbor 7 in open ground without preliminary damp sand is coming atong slowly and sparsely—seeming, indeed, to bo a 'aclf-thinning' variety. A fortnight in damp sand would bo better than, the ten days above mentioned. I strongly- recommend the damp sand treatment "for carrote and parsnips to other amateurs, as the seed? get. ahead of the weeds, which are so troublesome with long-germinatiiif: ' seeds. The dampness of the sand should be proportionate to the time before sow-ing-long time very damp.; short time not eo damp, , " .-•■■"■ . : . -.EOUTINE. WOKK. ■' During the last few'iveeke vegetable gar-'idenn'.on.thelwhole-havo. been encouraging ,to the.-amateur gardener. New potatoes, green peas, young carrots, turnips, cabbages,' and broad beans are all ready for 'uao in many, gardens.-.-There is tremendous • satisfaction in cutting your own vegetables .every morning, and there is realpleaßuro.-in bringing in a well-grown cauliflower, a dish, of peas or beans, a tempting bunch-of tender young, carrote or-sweet white turnips, or-a basketful of gotatoes fresh from the soil. Vegetables . ought in a shop or from a vegetable ■gardener 'are'never' the same as those grown in your, own garden. What amateur, .gardener would bring in turnips that seem to have, bones in them, or peas and beans' of hard, woody-.texture? ..A cauliflower, that hae just -reached perfection and is brought , into the kitchen stilt wet with dew, ie a vqry different vegetable from the, strong-tasting articlo that has be'en qut-'for days, and that has perhaps .travelled 1 by it-rain, packed in a. tack with many, others, before being exhibited in a (hop. window." In small gardens where vegetables' are grown solely for the use of the -family, only small sowingß of each vegetable should be mado at a time. Other small sowings should he .nyxlo for a succession, eo that one avoids waste, and is? able to use tho ground to good purnns'o throughout tho season. ■Aβ soon as-the most'forward cron of ceas is being used, it is a. Bate plan to make a fresh sowing. Of course, there should be two or. threo sowings in various 'stages of growth-betweon these two extremes. Turnipß should be sown frenucnUy and in small quantities, because they are apt to mature all together, and turnitia nro nice only when thoy are young, tender, and still sweet. ■■• ■ ■■ ■ As new potatoes are lifted, rako over the Boil, and get in a.row of French beans, neo.s, carrots, or whatever is most nepded. • Earth up main-cron potatoes tiy degrees. Somq... gardeners -moke- the mistake of drawing up too muph Boil at a time. As son" ns the shoots appear above ground, a little sun-warmed earth should be drawn up to-them. In.ii-week or two a little more earth should be drawn up, until by degrees the whole process Is completed.. Once the earthing up is finished; another crop should bo put in between the rows of potatoos. If nossiblo dig some ■well-rotted.manure into the bottom of the trenches formed hy'the earthing up. Then plant there seedling cabbages, savoys, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, or make snv.'iir-",- of French beans or broccoli, envoys, eto. , . . . Tomato plants should bo oncoiimired to make strong, steady growth. . Careful tying to stakes an the ulonts grow and fmnnent hoeings are what the plants need for the next few weeks.' Do not f"ed plants until.the first trues of flowers has se'.-ils fruit. Keep peas and beans well staked. Draw tho earth, a little towards them as you hoe. ■ - TMn mil =i>pd!in" ve«rpti<'i!i>q ns r«nu n H thdy -are big enough to handle. Do the thinning by degrees, first milling out those seedlings that are touching, and then in a few days thinning to about an i-"- ,, —vi-t. ii'enn on thi"iiin? every now and then till the required distance is reached. Always at once make the earlh firm about the seedlings that are left in the rows. Demnmber that soot is invalunblo as a fertiliser, and use it as freouentlv as possible. Tt lOinnld be sprinkled ;ilong the rows of onions, carrots turnips, peas, el"., and afterwarde hoed in. Tho frequency of rain showers during the nrcsont season makes hoeing morn necessary than ever; therefore, hoe! hoel hoel Garden Notes-next .week will conlnln seasonable noles about:— Hoses, routine work, and vegetables.