GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 109, 1 February 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "{Cowhai.") " EOfIES. Rambler roses should have the shootß that have flowered cut out as soon as tho flowering ia over. Btronc new shoots will then be produced, and, as these aro the flowering shoots of next' summer, they should be carefully tied in. Rambler rosos, uroduce their boßt flowers on one-year-old shoots; therefore, as soon as the flowering'ls over no time should .be lost In attending to the pruning. Cut back also any old woody 'growths to a strong younit Bhoot, and remove weak erowths. Banksia roses also should bo pruned during the summer. Out back the old flowering Htems to a, strong young shoot. Long, young shoots -will then be produced. Out the tips of these to induce them to throw out little twiegy laterals, for it is on thcße that the flowers are produced. Bri/ir roses should be out back as soon, as they have finished flowering, for they produce their flowers on the shoots formed during the previous summer. Tie in the strong young shoots, taking care not to damage their tips, for it is on tho ends of the branches that tho best flowers are produced. Tho present is a good time for layering roses. Ohoose branches that will bend down oaßily, and peg thorn securely to tho ground. Before pegging down tho branch dig out a littlo hole and fill it with rich loam and sand. Peg the branch into this, arid cover it with a littlo heap of tho same mixture. Keep jnoi6t till roots are formed. The new plants may bo separated from tho parent in tho spring, and will havo such a fine supply o£ strong roots that they -will probably attempt to bear a few flovrors the flr6t year. For thfe sake of the future strength of tho plants, it is better to nip off ,tha flower buds tho first Bummer. This is a much Quicker and surer way of increasing one's stock than by taking cuttings. -' Hambler roses are splendid for covering bare walls and ugly clay banks, especially when grown in conjunction with ivy. Tho ivy forms a charming cloak for tho bank while the roses are cut back, and later on makes a splendid background for tho roßßs when they are in flowor. Don't allow roses to become overcrowded with now growth. Cut out aDy weak shoots, and allow tho nir to circulate freely among tho bushes. Overcrowded bushes are always more liable to disease than thoso that are kept open to the sun and the air. Syringo ivith hot soapsuds at tho first appearance 'of greenfly on tho now shoots. A suggestion of keroseno (about two tablenpoonfuls in a bucket of soapsuds) is a great help in gotting rid of apliidos. Cut off dead flowers without delay, and keep the roots (especially of young trees) well supplied with water. If poßsiblo, allow the water to become -warm in the sun boforo using it. STATIOE. Towards the middle of January ono sees tompting-looking buiicheß of tliis most useful and beautilul flower in most florists windows. In New Zealand the so-called "everlasting 1 flowers" are not very popular, for most gardenerß are able to keep up a Bupply ol' fresh-cut flowers -throughout tho year. But statico or sea lavender iB so beautiful that it is worth having oven -where fresh flowers are plentiful. If carofully dried, the flowerß retain their colour and freshness for several months, and aro really handsome for room decoration, especially when mixed with coppertinted birch. The flowers should bo cut on a sunny day, when they are just nicely opon, tied into bunohes, and suspended head downwards from tho ceiling of a, cool, airy shed. ... young plants should bo plnntcd in a sunny position in very deeply-dug, sandy soil, and left undisturbed for «. number of yearß. They send their roots down to such a depth that disturbance must necessarily break them, and so spoil tho plants. As tho plants aro very branching in their habit, they should be given plenty of room to dovolop-eighteen incheß to two feet being not too great a distance between P Sea B iavenders are splendid plants for a Bunny rockory. Seeds may be bowii now and during the iioxt'fow months in seed P Tho following varieties may bo treated as hardy • annuals :—Sinuatit iiybrida, with mauve, purple, white, or primrose-yellow flowers; llouduelli, ivitli bright yellow flowers; Buworowi, with bright rose-col-"perennial varietiesi-Latifolia, with largo branching headß of clear mauve flowers; Incana (lih'er Oloud), with small pearlywhite flowers. ROUTINE WORK., , Belladonna Lilies and Nerines.-Bulbs of these beautiful autumn-flowering liueß may still be planted. Bulbs that are already in the ground should be given a good watering at regular intervals, for it will not be' long now before the flower budß begin to peep up from tho apparently, dead-looking bulbs. eak liquid manure' way be given as soon as the flower buds are a few inches high. Layering. —Begin layering roses, carnations pinks, petuuias, fioworinff verbenas, Bweet -williams, Bowering Bhrubs, etc. Soed-sowing.-nDOw'seeds of pansics, violas, wallflowers, sweet willi&mß, gaillardias, ' coreopsis, antirrhinums, pentstemons, anetuones, mignonette (in pots for room decoration -in -winter), /carnations, pinks, primroses, and polyanthuß primroses, gyp* nophila and linaria. Dahlias.—Feed plants regularly with liquid manure. ltemove lateral shoots as soon a B they are formed, and where large blooms are desired, diBDUd slightly. Chrysanthemums.—Keep the growths tied to stakes. ' Watch plants for any trace of greenfly, caterpillar, or rust. Keep the'lice at work,. VEGETABLES. OEIiEItY. Plants that aro growing freely .must, during dry weather, have their leaves and Btems - thoroughly and regularly washed with clenr topid water. If a little quassia chips solution iB added to the water it (nil help to make the leave? dHU'.Btelul to Insect pests. Buy a. pouud of quassia ships at a chemist's, put a handful in a nail of water, and allow it to stand for 24. hours. 'Strain the liquid through fine muslin before using it. "i Where water is scarce, celery p ants should be given one good soaking, and then a light mulch of well-decayed stable manure or road scrapings. SEEDS. Seeds that may be sown, where necessary, this week are:— Frencn and Jiutter Beans.-Sow in drills two feet apart, and have the seeds nix inches apart in the rows. Dust bonedußt in the drills at the time of sowing tho seed, and give a slight dressing of superphosphate as soon as tho seedlings are a couple of inches high. Radish.—Bow broadcast ill rich, hrm ground, and in a shady , position. Oai-rots.-tiow thinly m .drills twelve Indies apart, Dust bonedust in the drills when sowing, and sprinkle superphosphate along tho rows aB soon as the seedlingß are a few inches high. Peas.-Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. Ground should be trenched and manured, and should have woodashes mixed with it. Uust bonedust 111 the drlllß when sowing. fleet—A light, Bandy.soil is the best for beet Sow ihe seed in onlls 18 inches apart, and in ground that was manured lor a previous crop. The ground should bo deeply dug, and made nrm again before sowing tne seed. Dust bonedusL in the -drills when sowing. . Lettuce.-Sow thinly in drills 15 inches apart, and thin out to nine inches in tho rows The ground miould be deeply dug and enriched with well-decayed manure. Dust bonedust in the drills ai the time of sowiiig the seed, . Turnins.—A further sowing of lurnips may be miwlo. The ground mat haß been used for an early crop of peas is most suitable. Before sowing the Beed fork over tho ground and soak it with water. Allow the eround to settle before sowing the seed, for turnipß need very firm ground. Hoeing must be strictly attended to as soon as the seedlingß appear and whenever it is possible water should bo given. Silver Beet—Tlilb needs well-worked, firm soil, moißturc, and quick growth, bow in deeply-dug, fairly rich soil, in drills 18 inches apart, Sprinkle, a little bouedust in the drills when sowing the seed, and as soon as the seedlings aro well up a Hlicht dressing of superpliosijhale may bo hoed in. Thin out the. seedlings to. one foot apart in the rows. . ... Remember that well-ripened sooi is a fine fertiliser for ali crops. Garden Notes nest week will contain seasonable notes T Marßuen, 0 mrml . tions, cyclamen, and vegetables.