GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 199, 17 May 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowliai.") POPULAR FLOWERINC SHRUBS. DAPHNE. In many gardens daphne iB already in flower. It ib ouo of tlie carlicsi of the .winter-flowering shrubs, ami may bo depended upon to produce its exijuisitolyBceuted llowers during the dullest of winter weather. Even tiny gardens may have one shrub of daphne luezcraiin, for it takes up very little room, mid is quite hardy. Some people make the mistake of eoddlinsr daphne, and are disappointed when they get plenty- of leaf-growth but 110 flowers. Daphne likes a cool, moist root-run, and an open position, but one that is shaded from midday sun in Bummer. The soil should be a mixture of loam, leaf soil, peat anil sand in eijual parts. The ground should be trenehed, and the subsoil thoroughly broken up. A mulch of well-decayed manure aud leaves 6pread about tho plants now will holp them through their long flowering Eeason. Failing manure,, some boneduet may bo pricked into the soil, and a mulch of thoroughly decayed vegotablo rubbish spread around the plants. If the Uowera are picked freely during the flowering season, the plants will need scarcely any pruning. JABMINUJI NUDIFIJOBUM. Jasmiuum uudiflorum is another winterflowering shrub tliat bears intensely fra grant ilowei'B. These are borne 011 the naked stems of the plants, which become entirely covered with bright yellow, sweet-scented, star-like blossoms. Jaßminum nudiflorum likcß rich, loamy soil, and a position against a sunny wall or fence. ERICAS. Among tho earlier-flowering ericas, the atoms are already crowded with lloweriiig buds, and it won't be long before their dainty flowers are brightening our gardens. The Scotch heathers (Erica vulgaris) are very beautiful, and most easily grown. Tliey may be had in white, pink, or purple. ' Other beautiful autumn and winter flowering ericas are:—Autumnalis (pink), Pyramidalis Gracilis (white), and erica Oarnea (flesh-coloured). Ericas like a deeply-dug, sandy Boil. Heavy Boil should bo lightened by the addition of coarse river sand, and decayed vegotablo rubbish. It is useless to plant ericas where lime is present in tlie soil, and liino should not bo placed near them at any time-after they are planted. Animal manuro also should bo kept well away from them. , Tho Scotch heathers grow very liaippily on killßides from which manuka scrub has been cleared. , PYBUB JAPONIOA. Japonica is a shrub that is invaluable in the winter garden. Tho beautiful flowers are borne, as a rule, in clusters 011 the bare brown branches, {ill tlie bushes are covered with a maso of bloom. Tho old scarlet japonica oovors itself with brilliant Bcarlet llowers till it becomes a glowing mass of colour that would cheer one on the dullest of dull days. Any deeply-dug garden soil Is suitable for Japonica, though it, prefei'B a fairly good loamy one. Tho variety ivitli pure white flowers is beautiful and very useful. AZALEAS. Azaleas flower more towards the end of tho winter, or early in the spring. Tliey are among the most beautiful of the. flowerirg shrubs, and everyone should make an effort to grow at loaßt one. The ground where they are to bo planted should be deoply dug and well worked, although they are shallow rooted. Leaf or peat soil may bo added to the toil, but 110 manure. Well-rotted manuro may be used as a mulch to well-established bushes.

Azaleas are moisture-loving shrubs, and as their roots are very near the surface every effort must be made to kcop tho Boil about thom moist. During summer .liul autumn a good mulch should be spread over their roots, and water should be supplied regularly. LAUBUSTINUS. The giant laurustinus (viburnum slahdiflhil) ia of tho most useful Shrubs that one can possibly grow. In wintor it bear.3 huge bunches of beautiful snowwhite llowers, which aro specially valuable at a time when white flowers aro very .scarco. Laurußtinus grows most easily iu any good,' well-dug soil. OHIJfONANTHUS FItAGHANS. This Japahcso allspice 13 a beautifm winter-flowering shrub, which bears largo fragrant yellow flowers. It grows into a large shrub,, and is very liardy. ICE It It IA JAPONICA PLOBE I'LENO. This is a. well-known winter-flowering shrub, commonly known as "yellow buttons." It has largo double yellow (lowers growing up the long shoots. It. is a most showy and graceful shrub, and sttcceedß well in any soil or situation. It makOß a splendid climber, but grows equally well ns a bush. LASIANDEA. _ Lasiaudra is a charming wiutcr-flower-ing shrub. Tho beautiful, rich, violetcolourcd flowers aro produced over a lengthy period, and at such a dull time of the year that the shrub iB well worth growing by all who can manage it. Heavy frostß are apt to play lmvoc with lasiaudra, but if the plant is kept to a shrub, and not allowed to grow into a tree, it can easily be protected by throwing a 'picco of Ecrim over it 011 severe nights. ABUTILOJt. Abutilons are already in flower, and the dainty bell-shaped flowers make the trees look very attractive. The old variety with orangc-crimson flowers is well known,, but there are also other varieties which bear flowerß of the following beautiful eliad'esPure white, clear pale yellop, deep golden yellow, crimson scarlet, violet purple, and bluish pink. Abutiloii3 aro quite Jiardy, aud will grow iu any veil-dug soil. WATTLE. Towards the end of the winter wattles aro lovely, for each tree becomes one huge maBS of soft-looking, yellow, scented blossom. Acacia liaileyana, (the Uootamundra wattle) is one of tlie most beautiful. Another variety—acacia armata grandiflora, the golden prickly acacia-is splendid for growing near the road whero cattle are likely to cat the trees or shrubs, for tho foliage is ns prickly as gorse. Wattle is fine for massing on hillsides, or 011 tho outskirts of shelter belts of fir treeß, nnd it is charming at the back of a'shrubbery. VEGETABLES. . ROUTINE WORK. < Earth up cabbages, cauliflowers, and Ilrussels sprouts. Kemovo decayed leaves and burn them. Hoe between the rows on every possible occasion.

Broad beanß, peas, aud lettuces may still be sown.

Preparations. for early spring should be going on apace in every, vegetable garden, and trenching Bhould be pushed on wltX before winter sets in. Well-decayed vegetable rubbish should be worked into tho second spit, for vegetables lovo to send their roots down into decaycd vegetable matter. Those who can get an old "stack bottom" havo fine stuff for burying in the vegetable gardeu. Where tlie ground 10 not wanted for some timo, tho surface soil may be left rough for the weathor to sweeten. Oabbages, etc., that are being planted out now should bo in drills three feet apart. For tho next two months the ground between the drills should be turned over and over, and plenty of manuro or decayed vegetable rubbish should bo (lug into it. After a time, as tho cabbage plants aro earthed up with this enriched soil,. shallow trenches- will be formea between the rows. Go on working into these trenches plenty of decayed veeo table rubbish or manure, and about tho middlo of July plant your early potatoes 111 them. Early in spring as the caboages are cut for use, the sweet, rich Boil that was earthing theiii up will in turn be nscd to earth up the pot«toe». Collect and rot down rubbish, leaves and weeds, for digging into the noil or for mulching. Burn such tilings as docks, hedge-trimmings, or weeds that nave gone to seed, and store the ash in a dry placo.

Garden Notes next week will'contain Bcnsonable notes about :-Populnr flo-ver-mg shrubs (continued), routine work and