GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 74, 21 December 1918, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowlini.") SffEKT ffILIJAMS. When srown in masßes sweet williams make a brilliant display. They raay be had noiv in most attractive colours, such us pale pink, salmon, warm oerijt, ecarlet, aud rich dark 'red. and when these are massed together the result is pttrtioulariyi plum-ing. The plants have a long Hovering s'eiuon, and tni. 1 llowers are vcrjr fragrant. Good results are obtained, by lifting and breaking up old clumps early in the autumn, and by planting out tha Jjieces in well-due soil. When breaking up tho old clumps numbers of roolwl pivttt maf" bo had that lmvo «■ fine- nupply of buddinK elioolfl. Plant the Dittos about six inches apart each way. water them well in, keep llieni weeded and howl, work in, eflriy in winter, a little bonodust, ami the rauit early itt summer irill be a sheet of brilliant colour. A charming effect can be had by planting u, loiiff narrow bed with clumps of pink pun. in yariouu shades, at the back, ancl mimsing pink and cei'iue U'.vc.cl. williiinm at the front. The- sweet williame nestle about the roots of the peas, und encouraged by Lhe shelter afforded, climb up even into this clumps. It needs only a. root or t\so of uiiuuouelte to give "ne a. perfect bod. Seeds may Btill be sowu to provide new plants for iu?xt> siiipmer, HOUTINK WOliK. • Sweet Peas.—During dry weather water must be oujipliwl to sweet peas. Clivis one good wiUurlns and then don't water again till it ia iicceusftiy. Frequent iiiaulllcinit waterings do uiore hiirm man good. Keep the soil <ibout thu plants well hoed. Sweet peas aru flowerinij. Hplendiilli* juat now, and well slaked clumps or liedxen i)t them lire inont attractive. Their glorious licent is blown from en<l to end of the garden, and even out to the road where it delights all who puss by. flowers mint be picked before they la.de. Once seed PO(1h are ai'loiß'd to form, thu flowering ii practically over. Side gt'owlht, too, elioitld bo-carefully rubbed out. Madonna Ijilies—Fine clumim of these hive beet!' particularly handsome <l»rins the past few weeks. When the planls are well grown the stems roach it- height of about six feet, and are crowned with numbers of large glibleniiiE white, intensely fragrant llowere. Lilinms are greedy feeders and appreciate a- mulch ol halfrotted cow uiauure applied early in the summer. As the flower stems grow anil the. buds aru formed, water (vnd week liquid miiuiire should be supplied. £ach stem should be carefully tied to a stake, for once the flowers expand, the weight at tho top lnitliKß the stem «u easy victim for wipd and heavy ruin.

(jlaiiioli.— Bride nliulioli are over, but many of the coloured varieties of the rally floiverinsr srliidioli are still in bloom. Give them liberal donon of weak Boot water, or weak liquid manure, following a irood watering with clear water. The later flowering gladioli ere fast pushing up their jlowcrinp stems. See that a mulch of well-rotted vesetablf! rubbish Iβ tucked about their roots, aji'i water liberally with ivenl; soofc water. Bellndonna liilies.-liulba of belladonna lilies and iieriiies may be plunled durinir the , next few ivoeks. Pant them in wellituir 'oil. to which » iroort siiiiti. 1 .'. , of </'•• ciiyed vegutablo rnbbish hae boen added. If eliotrope.—Plants (hat were bedded out at the end of spring should be sciven a mulch of well-decayed manure. Once the plants- begin to make good growth they may bo hurried oilonn with good feeding nnd watering. CosmoH.—Seedling plauls are running up very fust. See thai they are secured to stakes as they grow. Keep the soil about them -well hoed. Peg down tho growths of pliloT drummondii. flowering verbenas, and vetuniae (is they spread over the ground. Keen the hoe at. work among all plants. A few inches of fine powdered Boil nt, tho Eiirface helps to keen tho roots of plantu cool nnd moist.

PLANTS FOR BHADV DORDKRS. In many parts of New Zealflnd. where tlie hot sun beats pitilessly down on gardens throughout tha summer montliß, a shady or scmt-Hliady bonier is, did amateur irardencrß only realise it, a veritable eoci-Hi'iid. in it many jiu.i'.la tnai' would bo a failijro in the sunnny border -will make Rood, growth and flower well. From the pureed, dry-lookms annny border, where plants are kept alive only by persistent hoeiiiß, and where (jrowlh seems almost at a standstill, we turn with, relief to the elmdy one. .Here the surface Eoil is ns (iry «is dust, but the plants have a freohcr, heallliier appearance, and ono in spared the glare of the pitiless aim. Hut before 'attempting to plant a ehady border, .the noil nuiet be very carefully prepared. ])eeo <lißi?i«K is csnential. Also, to attain succe3B with the plants, a liberal quantity of decayed yciretnblo matter should be dug into the toil. Avoid the. use of artificial manures. H'heii planting choose strong, liturdy plants. Weak. drawn-uD oiteo would be failures. Of tho plants Hint are suitable I will mention only those for present planting. Foromoet among plants for a shady border are tubproue-roated. begonias. Many lovely shades of colour in both single mid doublo varieties of these es(|iiiuit« ;iowcr» may be had. Dahlia, tubers may still be planted. .Make fwr-sized holes for them, place one sprouted tubar in each hole and pour in as much water as will conk iu. Ai'tcnvardß cover tho tuberu with dry earth, Ihrwing it ou quitn loosely. Provided the surface eoil is kept loose, und that a. fair quantity of decayed vegetable rubbish was dug into the hca, the dahlias will do well.

Clumps of Michaelmas doinice and roots of chrysanthemums may bo iifted with a ffooU clod of earth surroundiiiß their roots, and carried carefully t;> tlio dry border. Have j;»od wide holes ready beforehand, place the plnutis carefully in position, end water llicin well in before Ullinpc in with dry curth. l'ouiiK plants of thitt pretty litllo blue daisy, aßiithnca cocloblib. may also be planted just now. '« flower during Iho autumn and winter. , Among tiie aiiuiiiiJs tlie following may bo pUintedi-'rall-Browiiiß amuialii: Uirkapur, cornfloncrs, double pink, gortitia, clarldas, afiuratum, liuaria, luvatcra, sweet, Htiltau, cosmos, lcplosync, corcops?e. salpislosfliii. and irypHoplnla elfgunt. Dwarf annuals: Codatias phlox drummoiulii, candytuft, paiißies, jicninphiia, and aatore. Seeds of tlio following may Btill no sown in a ehaily border:;;-Sinz!e niters, pnnfiies phlox driiKiinondil, <md niisnnnetto. Lobelia makes it pretty edjiuK, but unless suitable plants are re<idy for earnfill traiisplantimr, it would bu bettor to sow Yirßiiiian etocls. When planting out the annuals, or. for that matter any plants, at this time of year, pla«j each plant '.arofiillj- in ftn hole, nour in a3 mucji water as tho soil will nbiiorb. Cure iniiat bo taken to pour only a sninll oiiM.Jity in at a, timn, or the IHtlo plants ivill be flooded out.

The* wafer washes a Qiiantitj' ol caith round the plants during the procc. ?. so that (h<, jyots become ".'il nraomlded n mud. Do not draw the si.il. round Uio Plants till (.he water hue soaked I . .Aβ a ruin the plants will not need a her watcrinir but-«hoiiW they do 00, Rive Uieiii a pood snaking, taking rave to hoe round them aa bocii afterwards as poesiwe.

VEGETABLES, Continue. n!fl.n(i»(r '> Ht w '"'" nnccssiry: Tomato ri;ints.-Pli«nt firmly in welldue, not, over-rich R/round. Cabbage and Cauliflower.-riant in rich, well-dug 'irrouml. 'Cut off with :i. shar? knife the long tan roots at tnc time, of plantin K out. Water the plants -.veil in and keep shaded from hot sun till growth begins. . Pumpkin and Jlarrow.-Plr.nl in tlior oughly prepared rich ftrmiiMl. Oelery.-l'lnnt in wril-wrepated trenchej. .Potat(iee.--An early ninety of potato may bo planted to provide "new potatoes for ttm autumn, Broocoli.-Plnnt in. deeply dug gronnfl that was well enriched Jar early potatoes or noas. Keep the piiinte well watef-d till growth begins, then hoe rogul.imy.. If poeeible, whnn planting out seedling e,al> baces. canji (lowers, broccoli, pumpkin!, and marrows, make a thick mixture of cow manure and water. Dip the rods in thjs. and add a little of tho mixture to each hole as the plants arc put in; otherwise water should be poured into tho holt? with the plants, and allowed to soak in fcforo the noil is JUled in round the plants, llnmembcr thnt cabbages, etc., tlm-t <iro allowed to become dry at the roots ar? liable to "bolt."

Seeds.that may be sown this vtetik are:— Scarlet runner and French bca,ns, carrote, peas, beet, lettuce, broccoli and BniEscls sprouts. Garden Notcß next weclt ivill contain Beasona/ble notes about agapanthus, routine irork, and vegetables.