GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 134, 1 March 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowliai.")

I TUB .GAHDEN FJtAMK. Ifany city amnlcur gurdonors still think that 1.110 garden framu belongs, owing to tho dillleiilty of olitninfiitf anil using Ircsli .manure for ti hot bed, only to country gardens or to large town gni'deiiH. It never enters their lieadß that a framo without a liot bed. what i» termed .n ; cold frame, is ait essential part of their own little gardons. Yet what a good Investment a cold frame 1h! In it cuttings root readily, seedß germinate, satisfactorily, and seedlings tome on.'quickly, for hot sun may be excluded when necessary, drying winds ma'y bo kept out, and a fairly even'moistuess may bi> maintained. • At -present cuttings of carnations, roses, pansies, violas, heliotrope,- pelargoniums, pentßtemons, antirrhinums, and llowerlng shrubs may nil bo plnntcd in pots or tins of sandy soil, and stood in the frame till they have rooted. The frame Bhould be kept closed for a day or two after the cuttings are put in, and sacks should lie laid over tho glass during the BUiiny part •of tho day, Seeds of cabbage and cauliflower (early varieties), and lettuce may all be sown in tins placod in the frame. Weeds of most perennials and liardy annuals may also be ■ sown there now. - 'Have the 801 l in the tins thoroughly moist before tho seeds are sown. After sowing, cover each soed-pan with a sheet of paper before closing the frame, ltomovc .the paper sis soon as tile seedlings show signs of pushing through the soil, and ventilate tlie frame freely as growth proceedß, Where.cuttings are.not to bo struck, and seeds are not to bo sown, the frame may bo used for sheltering pots of freesiaj, Roman hyacinths or any bulbs that are to be used for house or verandah decoration for tile winter. Once the bulbs have been planted, tho pols may bo plunged to their rims in asheß in tho frame till' growth Is started. As growth proceeds th<v frame should bo left open whenever the weather is suitable. •

Primulas and cyclamen also may find a place in the cold frame just now. Where primulas are being kept under glass caro should be taken lo prevent the sun shilling through the glass en the leaveß while' they, are'damp. - ; , » ■Frames,that are in need of freßh painting'should be attended to now. SERINES. ' Tho bulbs.and tho soil about them should now be given a few thorough, soaklngs. It Is not long before the flat pinky-red envelopes that enclose the buds begin to peep from the apparently dead-looking bulbs. Weak- liquid manure and plenty of pater Bhould then be supplied regularly. The long straight flower stems shoot up with amazing rapidity, and in a very short time the envelopes open to release the lovely scarlet flowers that look, in the sunshine, as if they have been dusted over with -gold. NARCISSI. , The planting of narcissi and other spring-flowering bulbs forniß t.lie most important part, of the work in the garden present time: Experienced:. bulbgrowers are all agreed upon one point— the. necessity .for early, planting. It has. bc'eii proved that narcissi like plenty , of moisture ivhcn tliey are growing vigorously, but that they like, the moisture to pass through, and .not lie stagnant in tho soil. To" secure." these conditions it is'.necessary ■ to dig'thoroughly, not only the top soil/ 1 but also tho sub-soil. Very dry sandy-soils cannot hold sufficient, necessary- moistureA layer, of well-rotted stable manure., jar. decayed, vegetable., rubbish should, -therefore,' be placed about twelve inches below the surface of the soil to act as a sponge. It should also be remembored that narcissi like some gritty material, such as sharp sand or road grit, in the soil, and they like wo.od-r.shes. Thcßß;-.two substances should be mixed with the aoil.y,,

Although -narcissi like deeply-dug 'or trenched soil' to live in, they nt tlie same time resent beiris' planted in loose soil. Hence-the necessity for .the early preparation, of the soil. Ground that 'has .-beem only recently dug or. trenched should,, while the. soil, is dry;..be welL.trampleid: upon tb produce the necessary - finnnefls. lVheu planted i.ho depth of soil abovo the neck dfthe.bulb'shouli he one and a half:times the depth of thA bulb itself.' The. bulbs should be placod on a firm base,'-and. if possible, on a layer of sand. The soiLßliould be placed firmly round- tho bulbs, ahd the surface soil should ho kept loose,-.- . • ißoncduSt is'perhaps tlie safeßt. manurp: to uao, for narcissi. It may either bo mixed with the soil at planting time,'or •used as-a ton dressing to be lißhtly pricked 'in' directly, after' planting. • .' . Expensive varieties, ar/- best planted in beds by themselves, and as the beds look very untidy -when -the • foliage is: dying down it is best to relegate them to a part of tho garden where they will not be too • noticeable. For,-making a show In the garden, bold clumps of commoner kinds ma^v.be, planted ia mixed' borders, where , their untidi-. •nes's' : a't the-'ripening stage may-bo eoii-' ceaied ■ by . 'other ■ plants - growing about them.- - - ; TJILIPS. : .. • . In-preparing it bed for tulips, strict-.at-tention should be paid to drainage.- , Those, who' have a . light well-draifled soil need add only a littlo lionedußt when planting' the bulbs! Afterwards a light mulch'of thorbughly decayed manure may be spread over the surface. !Fresh manuro Bhould ne\l'd? be tised" where' tulips are ' being • grown. • Heavy: soil should be trenched, and should have added to it Band or .-roadgrit and leaf-soil. Some growers follow tho plan of putting their bulbs into rich •soil one year, and poor soil thevneit. By rich soil I mean soil that was heavily manured for a previous crop of vegetables. Big bulbs that are lifted from .rich-soil: ana replanted in.poor soil will unlit up and make considerable increase. The'new bulbs'.will be small and medium in she, but if nlanted in rich soil the following vear will grow into nice-sized bulbs! When. buying: biilhs do inot,choose"the-largest.. It is the medium-sized ■ sound ,bulbwhich generally., produces ; the. .purest and.jnost' refined flower. Tulips are wonderfully : accommodating,' growing equally well in tiiiy gardens in.a smoky -town, .and in' country gardens where the air is ol' the '.freshest,.'and the. sun-shine-is 1 un'dimmed by fog or srnoke, They aro the hardiest of flowers, and; will'grow, nuite'well in the most ordinary soil, provided it is well dug. . A little limo mixed .- with the soil helps to .keep the ■ bulbs healthy. .. ■ - The colours 'of- the : flowers-- are most varied, some being positively gorzeous, while others are most chaste arid delicate. - Tho-,-ilowers;.are- very aweetly perfumed!' and. their length, of: stalk, and ability to, last for a long time in water.endear them to all who. love to make, their rooraß beautiful with'flowers. ■ ''' - ' ■

When "planting the bulbs sfee' that' they | are deep enough' to have ~ about three inohes of soil, above tbcra. They Bhould be four or five inches apart. Place, thorn on.a layer of sand, and sorinkle sand oyer thpm before,covering with earth. ; Tulipß are" divided into four ''classca';--Single (early and lateY,'double, parrot, and' Darwin.' ' VEGETABLES; AUTUMN-SOWN ONIONS. As' potatoes • are lifted the plot may be used for a sowing of onions. Onions; from an autumn Bowing 1 are, in many instances, more successful than ■ those , from the spring sowing. For one thing the" soil-IB now warm, and the germination of the seeds and the growth of the. seedlings will be Quicker. Also heavy dews and warm autumn rains supply the moisture that is to necessary to tho onion crop, while spring-sown onions, on tho other hand, very often have to face the dry heat-of Bummer. : After the.'potatoes have been lifted," tlit> haulm may be collected and burnt on the ground. 11 Ihu- plot was well manured for the potatoes, it needs only a dressing of bonedust which . may bo put in the drills with the seed. The soil'should be made (lulte,-iirm before the seed is sown. If the weather is still 'dry, , tho.' ground should:be thoroughly saturated with waier some'hours before sowing takes place. As soon as the seediingß are through, the hoe should be kept at- work between the rows. ' . " TURNIPS. ; A sowing of turnip seed may be made now. Good varieties for this sowing are White 8 1,011 eor Golden Hall. The soil Bhonld be rich, llrui, and moist. A piot that, was used for peas, or early French beans is a suitable placo for turnips. A dressing of bonedust, may be added to the drills at the time of sowing the seed, and soot should be dusted over the- seedlings as often as possible. Turnips iuust.be quickly grown to be really nice. Sl'lNACttl. / Several rows of prickly-spinach maybe ■sown now. 'This is u, most, useful vegetable for the winter. The soil should be rich and .well prepared. ' " . I'A HSIiEY. Plants that hnve come through the summer are beginning to fail now, and a fresh row should bo sown to provide parsley for Hie winter soups, etc. ' Any well-dug soil will do. llefore sowing the seed have tile soil thoroutf'ihmoist. and afterwards shade the Bccd bed till the seedlings are through.' "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about:— Chrysanthemums hyacinths, spring-flowering plants, and vegetables.