GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 211, 31 May 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

■ —. * ■ (By VKowhai.") • UOUTINE WOBK.. The weather early in the week was enough to damp the ardour ol tho most enthusiastic gardener, for with sleet driving against the window-panes and.a. southerly gale shrieking round the house, work in the garden eeemcd ,to telong to the dim and distant' future, With Wednesday, however, came brilliant sunshine, and just sufficient breezo to help dry and warm tho damp cold soil. Whenever it is posßihlo gardeners should seize the chance of a warm auuny day to hoe their gardeiiß, for by hoeing, the warm air that is resting on the surface of the eoil is admitted to the roots below, and root actiou is quickened.' Should plants arrive from tho mirserj while the soil Iβ very wet, they ehoula bo "heeled■in" till planting is possible. The following may bo planted now:— Koscs, paeonles, camellias, ericae, azaleas, daphne, flowering peaoheß, plume, cherrieß, and almonds, japonica, jasmine, and all flowering shrubs, delphiniums, antirrhinums, pentstenions, Michaelmas daisies, ehasta daisies, sweet scabious, uypsophila panieuhita, Oriental poppie3, perennial phloxes; coreopsis grandillora, gaillardiae, aiiuilegias, and rudbeckia (Golden Glow). i'lant out rooted layers of carnations, violets, flowering verbenas, and petunias. Sow seeds, in seed-pans, of perennials and hardy annuals. Cut back Michaelmas daisies, antirrhinums,' delphiniums, etc., that, have finished flowering. Lift and diviiio large clumps of Michaelmas daisy. Out back dahlias; lift and store the tubers either in a spare part of tho vegetable Harden or under trees. If they are placed under treeß the tubers , , should liave sand or. earth thrown over them. See that labels bearing the names aro attached to the different varieties. IJig some welldecayed manure or vegetable rubbish into tho ground that has jiißt been occupied by dahlias. Out hack early-flowering and single chrysanthemums that are over, to induce them to scud up strong young shoots, which may be used for. cuttings. Gerbera plants may be rrotccted from frost by placing pieces of manuka brush round them. Geraniums and pelargoniums will often survive frosts if wood-ashea aro heaped about their roots. The upper parts of the stems may be blackened by frost, but at Ojo end of the winter these may be cut off, and when the ashes are removed new growth will quickly spring up from the roots. ' Heliotrope plants should be cut back a little, and should have dry straw placed lightly round and over them. The pieces that are cut off may be used ae cuttinge. I'lveu tiny shoots will root readily if inserted iirmly in sandy soil. Examine sticke that uro marking the position of bulbs, etc., to see if they need to be replaced. Place a layer of cow manure over hyacinths, and narcissus albus plenua odoratus. It is difficult to get either of these to flower really well without a winter routing of cow manure. Liliums should have their steins removed, and should also have a covering of cow manure. Wallflowers and stocks are becoming very bushy and top-heavy now. It is as well to supply eacji. bush with a short, stout Htako. The loaves of' , ,early-flowering gladioli are already a few inches high. See that the stakes are ready in plnco, and Keep the clumps unite free from weeds. A little bonedußt may be sprinkled in among the green stems. It will soon work down to the roots. As soon as tuberous rooted begonias are cut by frost, the tubers should be lifted and spread out on a shelf for a few days to dry. They may then bo stored iu eand or dry earth for tho winter. I'OPULAIt FLOWERING TUBES AND SHItUBS. .HKOOMS. The garden broom (cytisus) is a, most useful as well as ' a moat ornamental shrub, for it is extremely hardy, may be grown iu even small gardens, ia very freo flowering, and, although it prefers a light loam, is really hot particular about aoil, provided it has been well dug, Plan'tß are increased by means of seeds' and cuttings. It is advisable to plant broom iii iis permanent position while the plants are quite young, for it does not transplant easily when it ie older. Cytisus alba, the white broom, flowers early, and is very attractive. Other good varieties are C. Kewen6is. with yellow flowers, and O. Andreanus, with yellow and brouzo flowers. For the first year or two the bushee should be cut well back to induce bushy growth. BUDDLEIAS. The old-fashioned Buddleia, globosa, is a most useful ehrub, for it docs not object to tho poorest of hillside soils, and, once started, makes rapid growth. It grows into » large shrub 10 or 12 feet in height. Buridloia Veitchiana is of more recent introduction. It is a handsome shrub, bearing, in suuimor, dense spikes of mauve-coloured flowers at the top of tho present year's growth. Loth varieties should be pruned hard back every year. DENTZIAS. Dontzias, or Japanese snowflowers, aro lovely, early iu tho spring, when the buehes become covered with masses of Biiow-white blossoms. Dentzia, gracilis is one of tho best. It in very hardy, niny bo grown in any well-dug soil, und is of -dwarf habit, and, therefore, suitable for small gardens. ' Bcntzias need very little pruning beyond thinning out tho middle of the shrub, and shortening leggy branches. Thie should be done in spring directly flowering ie over. Propagation is effected by meane of cuttings. rnuNus JiuME. Among the loveliest of tho Jnpaneso flowering shrubs nre the improved varieties of primus iniime. The variety with double pink flowers is exceptionally beautiul. Very early iu the spring most gardens ure rnther bare, and .the .landscapo generally has a bleak appearance. It is then that tho flower-buds of prunus mumo open, and in a short time the. trees aro

covered wilh inaHS'.s oi' dainty double pink (lowers. No wonder the .TaimnoßO have planted ihein a>l over liioir euunlrj'i Even'one Irch ifi Moor.i i; n. beautiful sight. What, then, must be tlio effect of hundreds -jf treon ullout in llower together? To obtain tlio best result* trees should bo planted in Saivly rich toil. PI! DIM KI NO ASTEU-UEDS. The cisler ia one- ot our most, valuable latu summer and autumn plants, and most gardeners depend upon !l durinc the few weeks when . summer flowers «;vo over and autiimu m)«s ecnrcoiy out. Byi many lovers of this beautiful ilowor is.ve to face, Borne time or oilier, au attack of the dreaded "aster disease." The iiojieless thiug about it is that tJioro is no known cure. 'The plants are apparently healthy, when ijiiitt suadenly they begin to die off rapidly, perhaps jusi when they are nearing perXection. As there is iio cure for the disease, it is necessary for u» to prevent it if possible. It it well known that aatefu must have root moisture, and' in preparing the ground plenty of decayed riibbisn should bo buried,' But it is not so well known that asters muet hot be planted in ground that has held stagnant water during winter. To do so, oven though at the time of planting the ground is apparently in nice condition, is to court en attack of the dreaded disease. Asters must be grown on well-drained land. Ground thai is not naturally well drained should :bu prepared now. The top soil should' bo removed. The subsoil should be broken up to a depth of at least a foot, and road grit, cinders, and stable manure should he mixed with it, as well aa some decayed vegetation. The top soil may then be returned. There is no necessity to leave the ground vacant till the time for planting the asters arrives, li amy bo iutcu in with early spring-flowering crops, such as ■wallflowers, forget-me-nots, crocuses, wood or grape hyacinths, or early-flowering narcissi. As soon as the 'bulbs have finished flowering they could be lifted and replanted at once in a, spare corner to complete their growth, ant tho bed could then be forked over, working in a. dressing- of bonedust, in readiness for tho aster seedlings. • r VECETABLES. ■ KOUTIKE WOKIC. Set seed potatoes of an early variety up on end in nhallow boxes to sprout. Plant where necessary, fresn plants of rhubarb, keep plants of the winterbearing variety growing freely by regular feeding and constant cultivation. Cover stools of tne summer-bearing variety with a mulch of decayed manure Gather and sture fallen leaves of deciduous trees. titoro garden rubbish in heaps for rottine down. ■ . ° Attend to'th& early staking of peas and Hoe between the rows of growine croni at every opportunity. ' "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about :-Plowers for the whole year, routine work, and vegetables