GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 127, 22 February 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

( * (By "Kowhai.") ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. "Amateur,"- Wellinston.-Thc plants of runner beans may 'be left for a, second Benson, and will bear an earlier crop of tcnns than those thai are trom ' seed sown the same year. A sowing may also be made at the usual time to provide a succession. As soon as the plants have finished bearing, cut away the vinci. and cover the roots with a mulch of wcll-decaycd manure. PROPAGATING CARNATIONS. There aro three ways of propagating carnations From seed; from cuttings, and by layering- Carnation seed may be sown in the open , border now. Prepare the seed bed, if possible, where semi-shade is provided. If no such place is possible, four strong stakeß should be driven in, and scrim or sacking stretched across to provide shade till the seedlings are -woll through. Work the Boil in the seed bed till it is very line, adding a good supply of river or silver sand, and some leaf mould. Have the soil quite firm and thoroughly moist before sowing the seed. It is hotter to sow the seed In drills made by running tho finger along. Place the seeds in tho drills one at a time, and have them about an inch apart. Leave room between the drills for the hoe to bo used later on. Cover tho Eeeds with flno soil and sand mixed, and keep the bed uniformly moist, and shaded from the sun till the seedlings are well through. After-treatment consists in hoeing between tho rows, and weeding, till the seedlings are big enough to plant out. The plants do not flower as a rule until their second year. Layering.—We next turn our attention to the plants that are already growing in our 1 own gardens, and from which we may get several hew plaqts _of eacli variety by the process of layering. The pieces to bo layored are the tufts of "grass" to be found, all round the ba-se of the flowering stem. First cut away the old flowering stem. Then spread out the tufts of "grass" and decide upon the onc3 most suitable for our purpose. The next step is to prepare, in a barrow, the soil to be used for layering. This should bo a mixture of loam, leaf soil, and coarse sand. Carnations like gritty material to root into, and should always have a supply of it added to their rooting ground.

Tho shoots to he layered now need a little attention. Tho leaves on the lower part should be pulled off. Next make a cut about half-way. through the point that mil be resting on the ground, be-in-nine .iuiit below the point, and then continuing up the stem for about half an inch. To keep tho out open push a small stono into it. and then ram in a little ball of damp sand. Make a little hole in the ground where each shoot is to bo pegged down, and fill it in -ivith come of the mixture in the barrow. Make this firm and moist, and then peg the shoot down into it, taking care that tlie cut in the stem remains open. Cover firmly with some more of the mixture from the barrow. Do this to each shoot in turn. If tho soil iB kept just nicely moist, the layered pieces will take root in a few'Vceks, when they may be lifted, separated from the parent plants, and placed in their flowering quarters. Cuttings.—We next turn our attention to the plants growing in tho gardens of our relations and friends. From these we can obtain cuttings or pipings that, with a little care, -will soon form .new plants for our own gardens. On nearly every plant thero arc shoots which are not long enough to peg down, and these the owner of the plants is only too happy, as a rule, to give away to\ fellow-enthusiasts. Revcr the shoot with a clear cut just below a joint. Remove (lie lower leaves, and insert the cutting firmly ,in sandy, eritty soil. Keep the soil fairly moist, but not wet, till new growth commences. This is a fair indication (hat roots are being formed below ground.

Layering. SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS. SNOWFLAICES. One of tlio great ■ charmß of the springflowering snow-flakes (Lencojum vernum) is their early flowering.. Their flat green flowfer budn come pushing up from the damp, brown earth almost aB quickly #« the leaves, and it is not long before there «ro hostß of dainty white bells nodding in tho early-spring sunshine and swaying with every breze. Th» emerald green snot on the tip of the petals lias a softening effect, and' gives lo the flowcrß a charm and freshness that are not to bo^fesißted, Although the flowers look so delicnte, they are ill reality very hardy. They will grow in ojmost any position—in tlie sun, tho shade, the border, the rockery, or the grass. A light, sandy soil, to' which a good supply of decayed vegetable rubbish haß been added, gives the best results, but no one. need hesitate to plant Bnowllakes in any well-dug soil. Their long flowering season makes them specially valuable to owners of small gardens. Planted in clamps of from eight to a dozen bulbs they are very effective. Bulbs should be put in with as little delay as possible. WINTER ACONITES. Winter aconites are charming little early-flowering bulbs for growing in «, shady part of the garden. The bulbs should be planted in drifts or colonies, and should ilje about an inch deep. Give them plenty of rand in the coil, and some well-decayed vegetable rubbish, and they will do well. The gay little yellow flowers, with their collars of green, brighten up many a shady spot at a time when we need all the brightness we can get. STRAWBERRIES. 1 Strawberry beds are now ready for a general clear up. Rooted runners that were pegged down during the aummer may now be separated from the parent plant, but need rot yet be moved to their own quarters.. All weeds should be pulled out, and all litter removed and burnt. All dead leaves and suckers should be removed from the parent plants. The soil about all the plants should then be thoroughly hoed, and, during tlie process, a dressing of guano, or blood and bonedust (mixed) may be lioed in. Weeda. dead leaves, and straw litter may burnt, and tlie ash spread about tlie strawberry plants, RASPBERRIES. The old fruiting canes should be cut right out. The new caues should: then be thinned out td' six o'f the strongest. Tie the remaining eaneß lightly but loosely to supports, but do not. train them into permanent position yet, as tt iB necessary, for the ripening of the shoots, that sun and air should play freely among thorn. Clear away all weeds, and mulch the ground all.round the clumps with halfrotted manure, or decayed vegetable rubbish. Do not dig the ground between the clumps of raspberry caues, but hoe thoroughly. RHUBARB. Winter Rhubarb-Remove about an inch of tho surface soil from about the plants, and replace it with a mixture of decayed leaves and well-rotted manure, well covering the crows of the plants in the process. Leave any leaves io die down naturally. ' * Summer Rhubarb—The plants need constant supplies of water and liquid manure lo keen up tlie supply of good stems. Out away all decayed leaves at once, and keop the plants free from weeds. Tlie following liquid manure is good for rhubarb:—Three ounces of soot and six ounces of guano should be tied up in a pieco of sugar-bag or scrim, and then allowed In stand for a few days in ten gallons of water. Eaoli plant may have a thorough Boaking with this liquid just as EAimilNG-UP CELERY Before earfhing-up celery give the plants a good soaking with clear water and a dose of weak liquid manure. Should the ground already bfe fairly damp, the watering will not bo necessary. Don't throw the onrth round the plants. Lift it into the trench carefully, and then press it round the plants gently and firmly with your hand, at the same time holding the stems close together with the other hand. <Some peoule twist a piccn of pliable wire round the stems of each plant, iiiift.. as the earthing-up proceeds, this wiro band is pushed further -up the stem. Whatever pltin you adopt tho main thing is to keep the earth from getting in a.mong the stems. Earth up a !ittle> at a time, and never go beyond tlie heart of the celery. Garden Notcß next, week will contain seasonable notes about.:—The garden frame, sprlng-llowering bulbs, and vegetables/