GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 217, 7 June 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(liy "Kowhai.")

FLOWERS I'Olt THE WHOLE YEAE. Host peoolo have plenty of tlowers during , the lato spring ami early summer, but unless care is taken in choosing one's plants there is apt to lie a blank during the winter months. Let ue consider the flowers that are out during the lirst •month of winter—May. 'there arc chrysanthemums, daisies, mignonette, stocks, antirrhinums, violets, perpetual flowering carnations- and roses. Among shrubs the heathers, hydrangea, and abutilon aro out, and viburnum sieboldii is gay ivith large buuohos of small scarlet berries. Holly hedges are very attractive throughout the winter with their load of scarlet. berries and pretty glossy leaves, -while crimson berries crowd the bare brown stems o,C hawthorn. During this month there will be:—Late chrysanthemums (scrim protection will be necessary), mignonette, violets. Brompion and Nice stocks,' iris stylosa, and agathaea coelestis. Among the shrubs there will be heather, abutilon, pyrus japonica, lauruatinus, and camellias. In July thero will be violets, iris stylosa, Brompton and .Nice stock, paper .white, and polyanthus narcissi. Also camellias, heather, daphne, japonica, jasmine nudiiloruui, laurustinun, wattle, las : iandra, early rhododendrons, and brugmansia. After July comes a perfect Tush of flowers—violets. snowilakes, anemones, chionodoa (Glory of the Snow), narcissi, stock, wallflower. Christmas rose, grape hyacinth, forget-me-not, arums, and the blue evorlastiif? pea; "while fioiveriug peaches, plums,- and almonds, lilacs, hawthorns, mocl; orange, deutzias, and a host of other shrubs will bo bursting into bloom. Then come the spring-flowering perennials—Doronicitm, ge.um, antirrhinum, luiuile'gia, campanula, primroses; polyanthus primroses, piinsieß, violaß, tulips, hyacinths, Spanish irises, and flags, to be followed by early-flowering gladioli, sweet peas, and spring-flowering annuals, such as poppies, larkspur, godetia, clarltia, schizanthus, etc. These bring us well into November, when roses, carnations, liliums, verbenas, scabious, pyrethrums, pelargoniums, geraniums, heliotrope, delphiniums, coreopsis, gaillardias, irises, glodioli and poppies (Oriental and Shirley) take up the running. Tile end of February and tile beginning of Jfarch is sometimes a difficult time for flowers, but if pentstem&us, cactus dahliaß, salvia bonfire, antirrhinums, flowering vqrbena, valotta lilies, asters, phlox drummondii, rudbeckias. French and African marigolds, and gaura lindbeimeri aro grown the garden may be kept bright. Then como the Japanese anemones, .Michaelmas 'daisies, autumn crocuses, liliums (speciosa and belladonna), ncrincs, early chrysanthemums, late roses, and ,late-flowering 'annuals,, and so oil, till wo again reach May. ; Daisies may he had in flower all the year round, also mignonette, and, in sheltered places, nasturtiums. Antirrhinums flower continuously, if not allowed to bear seed, fo mino or ten months. The winter is the hardest time for flowers. but with the help of flowering shrubs this difficulty is overcome. Even very small gardens could contain one- plant each of heather, daphne, japonica and jasmine mniiflorum. Tho japonica and jasmine may bo trained against the ivall or fence. In larger gardens flowering shrubs for all seasons, are a great acuuisition. '' LABELS. When tidying up the garden for winter Bee that tho names of plants are still legible on labels. Renew labels where accessary. Nurserymen stock an indeliblelead pencil, which is very useful for writing names on labels. Neat labels, also, may be bought at a small cost. Labels, like stakes, are very, necessary, but both should be as .inconspicuous as possible. ■ BPIREAB. ' Spireas' are beautiful shrubs to grow, and those who have a naturally moist part in their gardens, such as the bank of a stream or a pond, Bhould not fail to grow one or two varieties'. ' The taller growing kinds look very fine when grown near clumps of our native flax, or some of our hardy fernß. Spireas may be grown in. the garden, too, if they are kept well watered, and are well mulched during hot heather. They also add; very, much tp tho charm of tho inevitable' shady garden of small properties. LILAC. This is undoubtedly one of the most popular of flowering shrubs, and deservedly so. When lilac .is well grown the bushes are covered with masses of delightfully fragrant flowers during Bprlng. Lilacs aro too often spoilt by being overpruned. Pruning should be done just after the flowering .is over, and only the old flowering stems should be cut out. U, is hopeless to try to trim a lilac bush into shape, because in doing so. so many flowors are sacrificed. Lilacs flower bcEt When grown in soil that is not too rich. A light sandy soil aiid, a sunny position suit them admirably. All suckers should be kept severoly cut out, and dead wood or weak growths should bo removed. The old-fashioned mauve or white lilacs are always satisfactory, and, there are aleo many delightful up-to-date varieties,. Manure should bo given only to plants growing in very poor soil, and then weak -liquid manure should' be used. -Heavy soils should bo considerably lightened by means of sand, ashes, etc., and a heavy subsoil should be well broken up. The majority of plants object to water lying about their roots' in winter, and unless a heavy subsoil is attended to, this ; a inevitable. ROSEMARY. This is an old-fashioned shrub, but its delightful fragrance makes it ever popular. It grows most readily, even in poor soil, as long as it is sheltered from draughts. It is a splendid shrub for hot, dry elimatcß. Rosemary is easily propagated from cuttings of tho young shoots. At this time of the year a sunny window makes a splendid place for striking cuttings. Insert them flrmly in a mixture of. sand and soil, and water with tepid water. * LILIUM SULPHUREUJL Lilium sulphureuii) is one of the most charming of the liliums. The flowers are trumpet 6haped and very sweetly scented. When buying lilium bulbs it is more satisfactory to get large bulbs that will flower the first season, even if tliey cost a little more. All liliums may be planted during the next few ■ weeks. Before planting, remove the itop soil, and thoroughly break up the subsoil, enriching it with well-rotted cow manure, leaf mould, and a little bonedust. Theu replaco the top soil. . . , , .. Liliums dislike boing disturbed; therefore, the ground should be very thoroughly prepared for them before they are planted. When planting fork a little bonedust into the bottom of tho hole, and give the bulbs a layer of silver or river sand to rest on. After planting, a layer of well-rotted cow manure may be spread over tho surface of the soil. The apex of the bulbs of some liiiums should bo six inches below the surface of the soil, for they make.roots above. as well as below the bulbs. The following varieties make this double set of roots: Auratum, Batemanii, Brownu, Oroceum, Elegans, Hansoni, Hcnryi, Krameri, Longifloruin, Speoiosum, and Tignmum. RHUBARB. New roots of rhubarb may bo planted during this month and the next. • The ground Bliould first be well .dug and richly manured. The best rhubarb for owners of small gardens to grow is a win-ter-bearing variety. - This bears through the whole winter, at a time when fruit for pies and tarts is scarce. It is quite hardy,and the'flavour is. good. Plants that are coming on now will be benefited by an application of the following manure:—3oz. of soot and 6oz. of guano, -placed in a piece of sugar bag, and then'allowed to stand in 10 gallons of water. Give each plant a good soaking; Guano is obtained from seed merchants. . ' ~ , Remove decayed leaveß from old plants, fork round them, and cover them with a mixture of decayed leaves and manure.y stable manure cannot be procured, work into the soil round the plants some bone, dust, and then cover with decayed leaves. VEGETABLES. Seed potatoes of an early variety should be stood up on end ill shallow boxes to sprout. Cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce plants may still be planted. Bend a leaf over cauliflowers or broccoli that are maturing. Avoid, if possible, walking between tho rows of vegetables when the ground is very damp. If you must do so, it would bo better to lay planks to tread l)ig, trench, and manure all ground that is not in use. Bury plonty of vegetable matter, and leave the surface soil rough, for the winfl, rain, and frost to work upon it. , Garden Notes next week will contain Hetisonable notes about Christmas roses, routine work, and vegetables,

A British leave train came inlo collision with another train, which, lmd slopped owing to engino troubles, near Cnnaples (north of Amiens) railway station on March 8. {t'liere were about ten persons injured.