GARDEN SNOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 79, 28 December 1918, Page 11

GARDEN SNOTES

(Sy "Kowhai.")

AGAPAKTUHS, Clumpa of agapauthuu are very effective in u> mixed.border.. The loaves alone aro attractive throughout tiio year, , and when a-s'at this tiino of the year huge heads of .gloriouß. bluo or oleur white flowers are 'borne on lone stiff stems, the plante uiflko a great show. Aβ each' pkiiit, wlien well Brown, takes np a fair amount of room, aga.panthus should be planted near the back-of a mixed border.- They look well-when they arc planted jus; in front of, dumps of pole blue- delphiniums, pale pink hollyhocks, or M«donna lilies, .. As. soon as tho flower bude ; havc formed the .plants Bhould be fed liberally with weak coot :water, or very \vcr»'t liquid momire, always following a Rood watering with clear water. Keep the eurfacu eoil about them. ■well.hoed.■ .. •: . : ROUTINE WORK.

Argentine Pea.—Argentine peas may now bo cut back to within a foot or two of tho soil. See that the soil about tho roots is well looEcncd, and work in a. dressing of boncdust (about :'one handful to each plant). A thorough -watering should then be given, and a mulch of well-decayed, vegetable rubbish should be spread rouni each' pkuit. Mulches should not bo more , ; than , ' a. couple of inches in thickness. ' Strong, now shoots will soon spring from'.the roots of the plants, and should be trained.into place as they frjow. Throughout the 'summer an occasional thorough watering ehould be ;given.

■■. • Early-flowering Gladioli—As \ the lloivers fade the stems should be cut back to the ground, for faded flowers spoil tho look' of any garden. If seedling plants of phlox druminondii, annual gypso.phila, or flowering verbena are planted round, and as'close'as possible, to the old clumps of gladioli,'they,will..soon fill in the empty spaces. 'As ebon as the seedling plojits show signe of being established, that is to say, as soon as they begin to make new leaves, they may be hurried along -with a little nitrate of soda.' Dissolve tho nitrate in water, at .the rate of ioz. to one gallon, and eivo ths plants one good watering with this. Do not uso It more than once or you will have- too much leaf growth. : ■ ■

. Triplets—Watch , violet borders for any trace of red spider. An examination of the backs of the leaves will soon show you■ whcthi'i , tJit- tiny things'have tal*eu up ! their abode there. Unfortunately it is not until red spider has a good Jiold that' the plants begin to show the effects, therefore- frequent examination of the backs of the' leaves is necossary. * All plants should be thoroughly syringed -with clear water regularly, special attention being paid to the under sides of the leaves. The soil about the plants should be kept well stirred and free from ivceds. All surplus runners should, be removed, leaving, where new plants are wanted for autumn planting, not more than two runners to each plant. Those should bo pegged down till they root, when they may bo separated from the parent plant. Dahliae.—Keep tho soil loose about dahlig, .plants. ' They are moisture-loving plants; and should bo kept well aupplv:u with water.. Where •water, is scarce they should, be. given 'one thorough soaking und then.a mulch of-half-rotted manure. If animal manure cannot be had, almost any other material will serve the purpose provided that.liauid manure isgiven regularly to the plants. Dahlias, when well grown, make tremendous growth, and it becomes necessary to thin out- sonic of the stems. All laterals should be pinched out, and some of the buds removed. Buahcs so treated will produce line, wellformed, long-stemmed flowers.. Constant picking of the flowers will tap the .plant* blooming over a longer period, and help to keep up the quality of the blooms. Hollyhocks.—Hollyhocks require regular supplies of liquid manure. They aro irreecl.y feeders, and by keeping them growing vigorously, one helps to ward off thohollyhock disease. Syringe the leaves during dry weather to ■ keep away red spider.. . '..!.' Liliume antf'gladioli tKat'have not yot flowered should be.given a:.ihulch of welldrcayedy vegetable- rubbish or manure. Guana;at; ;the'-rateVpf-Joz.-'-to one gallon of water :"may bo -given once a week. Guano'i's'jobtainable from seed shops. Ohryeanth'cmuins.—Plants'', should have received their final .pinching..-.arid ;should now be comfortbly surrounded by'a mulch. Syringing the leaves with clear water helps to keep them healthy. Caterpillars will be searching for the newly-forming bude, and should'-be -promptly dealt with. As soon as a plant has finished flowerii'v, in j-iinii-.d lie nut back, or, iiMhe case of annuals, roqted up. arid its place takou by something -thiit will flower... later on. Such things as French and African mnrigoldß, phlox drumniondil, and annual gypnophil.l. may be: sown, at intervals till tho end of January. -iJiignonette may bo sown at any lime. One cannot have too much of it in the garden. All of these will give a good display of flowcra when the spring-sown annuals are. over.

Mowqring, ! ,shr.u|)S, 'such ;as-lila.n,' early rhododendrons, azalcae, mock orange, etc., should havo shoots that have borne flowers cut, lack.a' litll". In- the case of rhododendrons ' the dead -. flower heads should be Rently strewed off. Attending early to tho cuttinc back of theso flowerincr shrubs helps to Bcouro a plentiful supply of 'flowers next ieaeoii;- Daphnes Browing in hot, dry situations should bo well, .-watered,. and...f>liould'then hnvc ft mulch of some old litter spread round them. It is.most important, that daphnes sirtnild havi-m' cool- root at all times. Rhododendrons and azaleas should alsb rcceiv.i; this .attention. Rhododendrons are splendid flowering shrjibs' to grow, ono of their Ercateet charms being that they are ovorgreen, and i-a always beautiful. There aro Biich numberg of varieties, both' early and late, that one can have rhododendrons in flower over (juite an extended period.

VEGETABLES. ...... 01&EH.Y. ■•■■■'■ t To- EOt long, thick stems of celery the .plants should be fed liberally .right from tho- start. . As Boon' as the plants beuiu to make jiow lea veer Spread a' thin mulch of halfrrotted .manure or ivcll-decayed veßetablo rubbish round them. Tread it firmly down, nnd feed the' plants throijjli it regularly- with weak litmid manure ajid eoot-water alternately. . In three or four weeks the ronts -ivill have worked well Into this .mulch, and the' planta- will bo ready for a freslMne.' . Always tread the rreahly-iippl-ied mulch firmly round the plants. DusJmiK it, with tho :foot, lirmly towards the bate of tho etcme. By feeding liberally and securing vigorous even growth, one helps to keep away celery rust. Do.not be in too much hasto to earth up.. Secure good growth first. Kemove split or damaged stems at once, a(i they harbour-slugs. Eemovo also any side .shoots thatare formed. When enrthing up-it is an advantage if dry, sifted aenes and eand (mixed) are placed round tho stems to keen the earth from coming into contact with them. Begin storing -"Mil an(t'.-nlloctiM-r sand no>. Keen both dry in a shed. When earthing up, h< ? W the st«mg tight .with.-one hand/'and with the other place eomo ashes and sarid mjxed. round the stems, packing the earth round them to keep them in place. The dry ashes and sand are a little difficult "to manage; bUfby doing a little at a time tlio flifflqulty IB soon overcome. In this -wajr.-slugs-arc kept away from tho steme of celery, durjng .the blanching process. SHALLOTS. .Lift ehallots aj:soon as the leaves boiin ■fnr h rn yell . 0,v '. a use thc.er<nmd..f<jr e further sowinir of carrots or French beans. PEAS. As soon as one crop of'peas is-over, cut ■ down- the vines and;gather.them into a heap for burning. If the ashes aro spread over tha ground, and the soil is 'lightly forked over, another, crop may be put • U wltllo^-? J Bli l y ' -Crops that are m_i)!S on should be ivell staked. XJnlcfiß 'a mulch can be provided the soil should bo wpt thoroughly hoed to -provide two or three, inches of toe. powdery "soil oii iho .Where a further sowing of pea's is to be made plenty.of decayed vegetable rubbish Bhould bo dug into" the bottom spit. In .very, dry climates it is an.advantage to thoroughly scan this with water before returning the soil- from the-top- epit Garden Notes next.. week .will, contain seasonable notes about:— Liliusi auratum tritomas, and vegetablce. ' '