GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 164, 5 April 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

-4 _ . (By "Kowhai.") ANNUALS POll SPUING FLOWERING. Certain hardy annuals may bo sown now, and tho plants will flower towards the end of the spring. Autumn : s>own annualß aro tho most satisfactory aB a rulo, for the little plants have a long time in cool, damp earth beforo they begin to flower, and that gives them a chanco to make strong roots, and develop into fine plants. The spring sown annuals have to contend against hot r.or'westers, and very often drought, with tho result that they flower prematurely, and the flowering is soon over. Seeus may bo sown in patches in tho garden where they aro to flower, or they may bo sown in seed pats. Make the soil very lino and mix with it somo' sand, a little bonedust, and a sprinkling of ground lime. Most annuals appreciato the presenco of lime in tho soil.

It ia a good plan to marl; off part of tho back garden for sowing annuals that may bo allowed to go to 6ecd. Dig tho ground very thoroughly and prepare it In'the Bamo way as in the beds. Tako a stick and mark it off into irregular patches, and fill in each one with seeds of different annuals. ' When tho seedlings are far enough advanced, thin them out, and grow them as carefully aB the .ones in the" garden. This out-of-the-way plot will provide' a "fine display of cut (lowers, and certain of tho plantß may bo left to go to seed. In this way a constant supply of seedlings will be ready whenever they arc wanted for filling in bare spaces in the beds.

Tho following annuals maty bo sown now :— Annual gypsophikl, candytuft, larkspur, godotia, clarkia, mignonette, sweet scabious, lioppy (Shirley and Iceland), stock (tenweek and Nice), nemesia, ageratum, phlox drumniondii, sweet sultan, l-'naria, linum, Star of the Veldt, scliizanthus, brachycomo (Swan Eivcr daisy), calendula (marigolds), nigella, coreopsis (annual), limnanthes, leptosyne maritima.

ROUTINE WORK. Autumn flowering roses aro having their chance at last. During the hot, dry weeksof Fobruary and early March, tho plants' worked strenuously to provide their crop of -late summer flowers. In many cases the buds were formed, but little or. no food wob forthcoming to further their development. The rootß, shut up in hot, dry Goil, were powerless to sccuro tho necessary nourishment,, nor was any help to bo had from the limp dust-encrusted leaves; The kindest thing to do was- to cut off the pathetic little attempts at flowering. Then came tho all-too-wclcomo rain. Leaveß wcro washed the soil becamo saturated ,Svith moisture, and-onco moro tho delicate roots Iwero. able to absorb and pass up to the plants life-giving food. Even though we aro experiencing another dry spoil at the time of writing,.tho plants will not bo forced to endure Buch suffering again,- for day by day the sun is losing its power, while the nights grow longer and heavy dews drench and refresh the plants. Such roses as Sunburst, 'Lady Eobertß, Mr.dam Edouard llerriot, and many others that really require shading during'the early part of the summer; produco exquisitely coloured blooms at this, season of the year. Every day the autumn garden grows more lovely. Nerines and speciosa lilies are still making a . brave Bhow, while Michaelmas daisies are filling tho teds with masses of glorious bloom. Roses, dahlias, gaillardias, daisies, antirrhinums, cosmos, gaura, pentstemons, late flowering peas, sweet scabious, and verbenas are all helping to mako tho garden very at. tractive, while autumn flowering crocuses are- fast spreading a carpet of gold. Already, flowering cherries and plums are beginning to make vivid splashes of colour wherever they aro grown, and violets, peeping from beneath the shade of sheltering leaves, supply to tho garden tho perfume that is lacking in-so many autumn flowers. Gaura lindhcimeri, has been one of 'the gems of tho summer and early autumn garden. All' through tho hot, dry weather the plants went serenely on making long, graceful sprays of pretty whito flowers. Nothing/ seemed to distress them; dußt, blazing sunshine and wind left them looking fresh and unconcerned. Only onco did. they Bhow any Bign of unhappineßS, and that was after a particularly fierce' and scorching nor'wester. Then tho flowers were shrivelled and dead, but a couple of days lator fresh ones had opened, and tho plants wero again as attractive as ever, Dwarf nasturtiums have been a great help in tho garden during tho last two months, and floworing verbenas made very bright .spots wherever tho plants wcro securely pegged down. Chrysanthemums are beginning to show co'our hero and there, and plants need a littlo disbudding every few- days. All stakes should be examined beforo tho flowers aro out, for then the plants are top-heavy, and a good rain-storm can Quickly undo all one's work of months. Begin feeding violet plants with weak soot water. All runners should have been, cut off before this, and faded' leaves should bo removed wherever possitllo. Somo plants have suffered so severely during tho last few weeks, that it is necessary to shave the leaves right off. Work tho soil thoroughly about tho plants, give them a good watering, and thou ono dose of weak nftrato of soda (Joz. to each gallon of water). This will give the plants a start, and constant hoeing must then keep them growing Btoadily. Anemones need constant- attention fiom now onwards. Once. growtli commonccß the plants should not be allowed to suffer from T.oot dryness. Work a little bonedust into the soil about the plants, and give, tliem soot water whenever it can be spared.

Carnations and other cuttings that havo been rooting in frames should be planted out as soon as possible to make way for seed nans. Save'aster seed as it ripens. It is easily freed, from the fluffy parachute's, by rubbing it through a colander. Seeds of antirrhinums, sweet scabious, nigolla,- phlox druinmondii, • gaillardio,, sweet peas, mignonette, coreopsis, godctia, and many other hardy plants may bo gathered, cleaned, and sown at once. Seeds of nasturtiums, sunflowers (Sutton's lied), asters, dahlias (simple and collarette), French and African marigolds, and any plants that are injured by frost may bo gathered and stored away till spring. STKAV7HERTIIES. Those who are making new strawberry bedß this autumn should get the plants in now lyith as little delay as possible. Strawberries,,although they like a. deeply dug rooting place, also very much disljlie being planted in loose soil, and should they be so planted will produce plenty of leaves but, very little fruit. Hence the importance of preparing. the beds beforehand in time to allow tho .soil to become firm. Should' the bed have been dug only recently,, it should be well trampled' over while the soil is fairly dry, before any attempt is made to plant out the strawberries. Before putiing out the plants, tho surface soil may be lightly forked over, and a dressing of Vonedust, about 402. to the ftiuaro yard, worked in. It is important that strawberries should be grown in an open sunny position, i They cannot havo too much sun or exposure. In order to provide a cooi moist root run, the ground must be trenched and should have plenty of well-rotted manure and decayed vegetation ■ worked into it. .•■..■■•.

In planting strawberry plants care must bo taken to spread out the roots nicely, and to cover.them very firmly with lino ■soil'. Tho plants should not be planted too deeply. Look at the plant before making tho hole, and then have ft so that the crown of the plant just rests on tho top of nice firm soil. Tho crown Bhould ho neither buried nor left high above tho surface Bolt. Plant in rows two feet apart, the plants beiiu; IB inches apart in tho rows. Water thoroughly. Pinch out at onco .any runners that appear. *• VEGETABLES. .ROUTINE WORK. Lift onions that are ready and store thorn in a cool, dry place. Bend over tho thick-necked ones to help the hulbs to swell. Lift potatoes that are still ih the ground. lieeirool ana carrots may be lifted unci stored in dry sand; parsnips are better left in. the ground and dug when required. Tako advantage of any plots being vacant to trench and manure them in rradiness for a future crop. Tho following Beods may be sown whero necessary:—Carrots, onions, turnips, broad beans, silver beet, lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflowers. • The soil should bo mado. very firm before onion and turnip seed' are planted. Garden Notes next wool;, will contain seasonable* notes about rhododendrons, routine work, and vegetables.