GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 205, 24 May 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

—*■ (By "Kowbai.") FRENCH MARIGOLDS. Fronch marigolds arc sidondl:! for tho autumn garden, especially v. hen I ho pUnls aro massed In bcdß or. in bald groups, lor thou tho rich tones is t'os brown ana colden flowers ar» brought our with great eUcot. On tho other hand, a- solitary piam dotted hero and thero in a mixed border is ouito insignificant. To b9 really successful with French marigolds the ffirdener must tako a littlo troub'.o with the plants, for, like all autumn-dowering annuals, they have, during (heir early stages, to come through a trying timi?--tho Bummer months. The soil wliero they are to bo grown should be deeply dug, and «hould have plenty of decayed vegetable rubbish mixed with it. Heavy soils should have some coarso sand or grit added, and should be trenched at least two feet deen. Tho seed may bo Bown In boxes in August, and tho seedlings planted out as Boon.as all danger of frost is ovor. Work a, littlo blood and bonedust (mixed) into the soil where oach plant Is to go. As soon as tho seedlings are well established ninch out the tops to make then) bushy. During November a light mulch of wc.ll-decayca manure or vegetable rnbbißh snread over tno beds will bo of great tcneiii* to tin* plants, and will help to protect the roots trom drought during hot weatner. Endeavour to get the pHnrs "sell forward before they begin to flower, and it is onlv by giving the roots every clianco to malts good growth that Riis can no accomplished. THE OAHE OF THE LAWN>?ow that'lawns aro not making such vigorous growth, nmatour gardeners ahouid endeavour to get them clear of all weeds. This is a task that taxes tho patience most gardeners, for it is only'by carefully extracting each weed with its roots intact that they, can hope to eftoctually dear their lawns. But when next season they have the gratification of looklug ai a beautiful velvety lawn, treo of -weeds, they will feol that the result justifies tho onergy spent. As soon as the weeds have been taken out, empty Bpaces may be filled in with lawn sand, and tho lawn may afterwards be rolled. Now is the time, too, when a slow-act-ing manure such as basio slag or bonedust may bo spread over tho lawn, for winter and spring rains will wash it down to the roots, and it will be given the necessary t.ime to act, ■ . Some people defer the. use of basio slag till lato in tho spring, and in doing so overlook two important points:— (1) That basic slag is very slow in its action, and therefore is not available for uso by the roots at a time when they most need it-tho beginning of their active season. / (2) That an artificial manure can only be used by the roots of plants when it is dissolved, and there is often not sufficient rain during tha summer montlmf to dissolve it. It would therefore lio unused in the soil till the following late-autumn or winter.

• A worn-out looking lawn can bo wonflerfully improved by thn application or a good dressing of basic slag early in tho winter. . FIiOWEBING PEACHES. Early, in spring the flowering plums, cherries, and almonds are absolutely glorious. Even one well-grown treo Is a wonderful sight when its naked branches aro covered to tho very tips witu masses of dainty white, pink, or rosu-colourea flowers. But whon the trees are massed they make, when in bloom; a picture that, onco Been, can never bo forgotten. Tho flowering peach is less often to be seon in our gardens. Yet its lovely double flowers are quite as beautiful as those of s the plum, cherry, or almond. The purple-leafod variety is a great acquisition, for the dark purple foliage keeps tho plant attractive even after the lovely flowers are over. Tho flowering poach likes much the same treatment as the rest of t]ie prunus tribe-a light, welldrained, rather rich soil. Little pruning is needed heyon'd trimming- into Bhape. and keeping tho\trees fairly open in tliq middle. * , LABURNUM. This is a charming Bnring-flowcring treo It is suitable for large or small gardens, and will grow in any position or any soil. The treo is too well known to need any description, but its graceful beauty and its accommodating nature should recomit to all. PAULOWNIA IMPEEIALIS. ■ Paulownia is a noblo tree, grown, in oolder countries, for its handsome foliage, but in our mild climato trees flower well once they reach ft certain age. The flowers aro deep violet In colour, and are borno in largo terminal panicles. Where heavy frosts are experienced tho yonng trees need some protection for tho first two years, but any troublo spent in establishing no beautiful a subject is trouble well spent. OfIIMONASTEUS FBAGBANS. Chimonantlius fragraus, commonly known as the allspice tree, Is tho winter-flowering treo of China and Japan, and should he more popular with us than it is. Here in New Zealand it is perfectly hardy, and itß fragrant yellow flowers atb borne in profusion all through tho winter. One great charm ol this flowering tree is that it ilowerß freely whon still only a tiny plant. Froa> tiia tlnj plant it develops into the sbjub-liko bush, which goes on increasing in size until there emerges tho full-grown spreading tree. It is beautiful in cvety stage of its growth, and is suitable even for small gardens. Anything that flowers freely in winter. IB wortft cultivating, but chimonantlius fragrans is in addition beautiful, hardy, and fragrant. The soil' most suited to it. is a ricU: sandy peat, but it will grow well in any well-worked garden soil. KOWfIAI. Kowhai la one of the most beautiful of our native flowering trecß. The habit o£ the treo is graceful, and tho foliago is light and of a delightful shade of green. 'I'ließo attributes alono would entitle it to a prominent place ill any shrubbery or garden, but when, early in spring, it is covered with a wealth ot golden yellow pendulous flowers it stands out a gem among flowering trees. I have seen it growing on baro clay hillsides, clinging to Iho rocky faces of windswept sea cliffs, springing irom crevices in dry rocky gorges, and growing Bedately along the river edge in the rich silt ol gountless iloodß, and everywhere it was healt&y and beautiful. PpHUTUKAWA. For seaside gardens this is a tree almost without an equal, for it defies the fiercest onslaught of salt spray, and is, through-, out tho summer mouths, a vivid glowing mass of scarlet bloom. Further inland it is more difficult to grow, for frost cuts tho tender growth, but with care it can he established, and with age it seems to feel the frost less. ALMOND. . 'l'Ue almond (Amygdiilus) is one of the glories of tho early spring garden, for Hie whole treo becomes covered with dainty pink flowers. As a spocimen tree for a lawn it is exquisite, ror it flowers at a tlmo when the grass is vividly green, and when the dall'odilß are in bloom. With the biuo sky overhoad, and tho green grass studded with golden daffodils beneath, tho dainty llower-iaa'en treo make's a picture that even the most indiil'erent must. enJoy.

AMELANOHIEK CANADENSIS. This is another treo that is very beautiful in spring", for then it is covered with masses of enow-whito flowers. Amelanchier, or tho snowy mespilus. as it is sometimes called, is said to be most oil'ectivo when it i 3 surrounded by low-growing shrubs with pale green foliage, for then it spreads to branches above the shrubs, and l the wliito ilowors in spring, and the brightly-coloured leaves in autumn, are thrown into vivid relief by tho pale greeli of the -undergrowth. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown this week are:— Peas.—Sow in drills two or three feet apart. The ground should be trenched, and manured. Dust bonedust in the drills when sowing. Broad iioaus.—Sow iti drills from two to three feot apart. Tho grouud should bo deoply dug, aud should have a good dressing of lime worked into it. Onions—Work into the soil plonty of soot, some Vubbiah lire ash, and a dressing of bonedust. Make tho soil very firm by treading on it, but take care not to tread when it is wet. Sow tho seed in drills 12 inchoß apart. Lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflowers may lie sown In seed pans, and the seedlings planted out as booh as they arc big enough to handle.

Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Popular flowering trees aud shrubs (continued), routine work, aud vegetables.