GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 140, 8 March 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "ICowhai.") CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Chrysanthemums nro approaching the stago when disbuddiug bccomcs nccossary. > The buds are classified as "crown buds and "terminal" buds." Grown buds are always surrounded by growth shoots; terminal buds by other ilowpring buds. _By "taking" a. bud wo mean "retaining a bud. Thus wo speak o£ "tailing" a crown bud and we mean that we have retained, the crown bud, and removed all the growths surrounding it. The choice ol buds depends upon the time , whon the blooms are needed. With some varieties the flrßt crown bud would give the blooms too earlyj therefore it is removed, with othors tho buds form so late that wo should) get no blooms on outdoor chrysanthemums at all -unless are secured the first crown buds.

Crown Bud,. Terminal Buds. Ais a first crown *bud. If it is to be ••taken" the Bhoots B, B are removed. If. however, A forms too early, it. is removed, and one of tho shoots B ib retained. This oventuaUy produces a lator crown, bud, which 1b known as the "second crown" bud. With tho terminal buds tho best fine of tho cluster is retained and the others are removed. If a spray of flowers IB required, three budß as far removed as possible from one another are retained. Chrysanthemum plants should bo given a thorough watering once a.week just now, and aB soon as all buds ato secured feeding should begin. Soot water, weak animal manure, and guano (at the rato of Joz. to lgal.'of water) may all be .used in turn. Give the manure after a good watering. If possible ejread a suitable mulch round each chrysanthemum the plants regularly for caterpillars. Whenever you see a leaf folded over vou may be sure that a caterpiliai is hidden there. Tho best "way of getting rid of them is by hand-picking.

WATERING. During the scrcater part of the summer amateur E ardeners wore handicapped by the soil being persistently wet and cow. During the last few weeks, howovei, ram has been an unknown quantity, aua tuo soil liaß become, day by (Say, drier and more parched, tilL at laac all trace of moisUiro seems to have letc u. At tne time of writing there is sull no signoi the now longed-for ram, and artificial watering must be resorted to wjerever itiß pobblulu. Those gardeners wiip cannot .snaro water for the garden should endeavour to give, their plants one rood soaking fov saving all the bath and washing water, aiid should then provide a mulch of some sort. When watering with a hose remember that it is the gentle slow, steady £aU of water that is beneficial. A swift, hea\y fall of water bruises the leaves and flowers, cakes the soil, and runs away oil the garden. The Boftly-falliuu, gentle spray Bpaks into the soil, and. gently washes tho leaves and stems. Dahlias, cosmos,- chrysanthemums, asters, rosesj autumn-flowering lilies, and Michaelmas daisies should be given a thorough watering once a week, allowing the liose to play one on spot for an hour at a. time. If a watering-can is used, each plant should he given at least, three cans full. Use a fino rose, and allow tho water to flow Blowly from the can. Watering a garden is a severe Btralu on tho patienc'o of the average gardener, for it is an operation that cannot bo done hurriedly, and also ono that mußb be done thoroughly, water thoroughly or lcavo it alone, for an insufficient, hurried watering does more harm than Lettuces, all greens,, French and runner ; beans, marrows, pumpkins, and celery will take all the water they can get at present. Rhododendrons and azaleas should have good mulches spread round them, and should.be given- occasional good waterings, for both are vory impatient of drought. Another thing to bo remembered about watering i» that continual watering ''aoura" tho soil. , A thorough weekly aoaliini; and the, frequent use of the hoo are sufficient for moat plants.

, Tho hyacinth is the most fragrant, and certainly 0110 of tho inoat beautiful of the early spring flowering bulbs. It 13 a pity that it is not more freely grown, as the cultivation is so' simple, and the natural'increase fairly (luicl;. Tho-initial cost, of the bulbs in New Zealand keeps many people from growing this delightful flower. But if only one or. two bulbs are bought each autumn it is surprising how • quickly one gets a nice collection. Hyaciutliß like rather rich soil. A good quantity of well-decayed cow manure should be dug in where they are to be grown and a little bonedußt should be added to the soil. Spread a layer of river or silver 'sand for the bulbs to rest on, and liavo them about five inches below tho surface of the soil. After planting,, spread a layer of sifted cow manure over tho ground. Nurserymen supply catalogues describing named varieties and quoting prices. 'Roman hyacinths are among the earliest to flower. They are small, very fragrant, and very dainty. They make excellent sul/jcctß for planting in pots for indoor decoration. Tho compost for tho, pots should be a mixture of loam, leaf-soil, sharp* sand, and sifted cow manure. Asmany as four bulbs can bo placed m a five-inch pot. and tho top or crown of each bulb should bo just above -the surface of tho soil:- 'The bulbs should bo planted as early as possiblo now. After planting, the bulbs should te well watered, and tho pots should bo plunged in a bed of wo&daslies or some such material till the roots aro well developed, and top growth is starting. They may then bo removed to a sunny window. VEGETABLES. ROUTINE WORK.

Potatoes.—Dig up potatoes as soon as the haulm shows signs of withering. Store table potatoes away from tho light as soon as possible. . Exposo those selected for seed for a few days "to green." Leeks.—Leeks must bo kept well supplied with water. Feed onoc a, week with weak liquid manure (',oz. of nitrate of Eoda in lgal. of -water), to be applied after a good soaking ■with clear water. Marrows and Pumpkins.-Stop Ihc long runners to induce them to throw out sidegrowths. Tho side-growths produce plenty of fruit-bearing flowers. Keep tho plants well supplied, with -water. Out the fruit as soon as it is ready, leaving only ono fruit to each vine to ripen for winter use. Fronc]i Beans.-A last Small sowing of French" beans may bo made in a sunny spot sheltered from early frosts. Dig a trench about 12 inches deep, and fill it in with six inches of -well-rotted stable manure, or decayed vegetable rubbish, and four inches of good, loam and wellrotted stablo manure mixed. Have tho contents of the trench thoroughly wet pome hours before sowing tho seed. Sow tho Beed, and cover with a layer of flno earth. Spread manuka brush or dead pea haulm over tho trench till the seedlings are up. As the seedlings grow they may be carthe'd-up a little. They should bo encouraged to grow quickly by constant cultivation and attention to -watering. Plants that aro bearing fruit must bo kept well watered. After a hot or dusty day tho foliage should be sponged witii clear water. Keep a look out for red spider. Once it becomes established tho flowers cease to set. Keep the pods regularly pickcd. *' Tomatoes.—Keep all lateral and basal shoots pinched out, Hoe constantly round tho plants. Weak liquid manure mado from cow manuro and soot ( may bo applied once a week after a good watering. Or Joz. of guano may be added to ovory gallon of water used for watering. Guano may bo bought from a seed merchant, and is, therefore, within the reach of all gardenerß. Cabbage, cauliflower, and celery seedlings may still be planted out. First water tho ground thoroughly. As soon as it. is dry enough again to work, plant out tho seedlings. Shndo them from the sun till they aro well established, and xlo not allow them to Buffer from dryness at the roots at, all, or the. crops will be spoilt. It needs a littlo trouble to bring winter greens through the hot weather. Watering, constant lioeing, and daily syringing of tho leaves are all necessary, . but it is selilom that tho work goes unrewarded. Hoe daily bolwecn the rows of French beans, peas, carrotß, turnips, etc., that aro comintr on. Constant hoeing keeps crons growing steadily. The followinx seods may be sown where necessary :-Cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, carrots. turnlpß, onion's, spinach, and silver beet. "Garden botes'' next week will contain seasonable notes about Spring-flowering plants, sowing seeds of perennials, and vegetables.