GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 229, 21 June 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Subscriber": The '.awn should be mown as soon as tho grass is a few incheß high, and kept well mown from then onwards. "Iris' -, iris lectorum requires tlie same treatment o,b other irises. It docs best in a light, sandy soil, and in an open position. Sufficient moisture must be provided during the growing season. It should bo perfectly hardy in your district, but it must bo left undisturbed and allowed/to become established if it is to flower successfully. I regret that I am unable to identify the shrub. MARGUERITE CARNATIONS. During tho last week or two nurserymen havo been exhibiting for sale sturdy little carnation planis. Carnations of , every description are a sheer dblight to everyone, for the colours are so beautiful, and tno scent so exquisitely fragrant. It is only natural to haulier after expensive varieties, but quite a large amount of pleasure may ue derived from growing quito ordinary ones. A packet of good seed will supply a number of lino planis, very many ol them producing double (lowers. Marguerite carnations are easily iaißed from seed, and if sown early in ihe spring and grown on without check, will llower during tho Bummer and yield i.uantities of delightful flowers for cutting. Where heat can be provided, feed may oe sown now. Plant out every needling i.nd allow it t.o llower, lor very often the moßt backward ones Have tho best flowers. At the end of the season undesirable varieties may bo rooted out, and the stock of the nicest may bo increased by layering or ly cuttings. A light, sandy soil with a little cow manure dug into it suits carnations well. A heavy clay soil should be lightened with horse-manare, and sand or road grit. Whon the seedlings aro planted out they should-be 'veil watered, and thould afterwards have frequent 'loses of soot water. When sowing;, the seed should be well scattered over Hie seed pan, for aB a l-ulo nearly every seed germinates. Marguerite carnations form nice compact busny plants. As a rule tho seedlings "break" naturally, but should they t'aii to do so, tho top of each should bo nipped off us Boon as it is threo or four inches high. This will cause tho plants to "break' 1 and send out a number of strong side shoots. ROUTINE WORK: In most gardens work lias not been possible during the last week, but whenever the Boil is in a mituble condition any digging that has to be done should be 'pushed.on with. Where dahlias have iccently been lifted, tho ground should bo very deoply aug, aud a good supply of decayed icgetabio rubbißiv should be worked ,n. lioses, shrubs, and trees may be planted where the soil is well-drained aim in a friable condition. Where the soil is heavy, wet, or cold, planting should be deferred till later. All perennials such as Michaelmas daisies, pentstenions, delphiniums, antirrhinums, etc., that have not already been attended to thould not be i:eglecicd longer taaii can bo helped. Sweet peas from tile rarly aatsmn sowing are growing well. Keep them well truined up their supports, .md see that tho soil is kept well worlied about them. Chrysanthemums should be cut back as soon as ihey have finished flowering to encourage the roots to scud ip strong new shoots. Daphno is very lovely just now. As a rule a little mpport is necessary to keep the branches uif the ground. Slugs sometimes eat the llower buds just as they aro forming, keep a sharp llook-out for them. Arums are once more opening their lovoly white flowers. Were they not so common we would appreciate Inem more, lor they aro beautiful winter subjects. After a neavy frost the leaves of the plants Bhould be well watered with cold water before tho sun rises. Many a 3ne clump is spoilt at tlie beginning of tho winter for want of this precaution. Once tho sun strikes tho frost-coverod leaves, the damago is done; therefore, the 'rost 1 Bhould be washed off in time.

Violets are becoming overy day more plentiful, and'their bciSuty and fragranco bring juy to everyone at iliia time of the year. Plants should not be allowed to suffer from want of water during 16ng spellß of frosty weather. 'Keep stirring the soil along tlie roots, working iu a mixture of well-ripened soot, and blood and bonedust. Anemones must not be allowed to suffer from.dryness at, the roots at any time. Wherever it is necessary to water in winter, try to do it'during the middle of the day. Anemones also appreciate a mixture o:.' soot and blood and bonedust worked into their soil. Do not ajlow seed-pods to form.

Winter-flowering tarnations need careful slaking, for the tall flower stalks aro easily beaten down by wind or rain. The flowers are not produced in grail Quantities at this time of the year, but those that do come are large, well-lormed, and very fragrant. Soot and a iittle bonedust should be worked into the ooil about the plants trom timo to time. Keep the soil loose round t,hum,. and avoid the übo of animal manure, as it tends to make sappy growth rather than flower-bearing stalks.

BIIUS (SUMACH) COTINUS. As a rule the sumachs are grown for their foliage, which colours so brilliantly in tlio autumn. Wlion planting shrubs or trees tor tho purpose of providmg'briliiant colouring in the grounds during auiumn, caro should bo taken to plant them in ground that is not too rich, l'or, as a rule. il is tho bushes growing in rather poor soil that colour bcßt. lc(ius cotiuus, in addition to colouring brilliantly in tho autumn, bears miring tho summer the most curious-looking he,»ts of fruit. These neads uro not unlike tne llull'y, silky seed-nods cl' iur native clematis, but the colour is heliotrope tinged with green. Not only are they curious, but they aro also most beautiful, and make good room decorations, '.tno Bpikes of heliotrope llulfincss look icry light and gracefiij wneii arranged in bowls or vases and thei last tresh in water for a very loug time. • ItilUS MJCCJ3DANEA. This is another beautiful sumach. The loaves, wliieii iurn crimson anu limit m tho autumn,' arc glorious lor putting in ■bowls, in tiiu house. Tne trees themselves lualie brilliant splashes of colour in tho autumn garden, I'ANSIES AKD VIOLAS. In many gardens plants that were cut back early in the autumn aro again iu llower, and among tile Dowering shoots may often be founu young sliootß that are suitable for cuttings. Willi care these may be pulled out with a little bunch of roots. Insert them (irmly 'n sandy soil, and they will soon be ready lbr translerriug to tneir (lowering quarters. ASPARAGUS. The ground for asparagus should bo troncheit at loast two feet deep, tho nubsoil being onriclied with manure and bonedust. Where now roots jro to be planted

this year the ground should he mado ready at onco. August is generally considered to ho early enough lor planting the roots. Three-year-old roola should be iroeured for planting. Asparagus is grown now on the flat, and not in the old : arrow raised beds. The Tows f-hould be from two to three feet apart, .lid the plants two feet, apart in the rows. When /.lanling mark oil' a row, aud then, with a hoc. draw along it a shallow trench. '.raw_ up the earth Ironi the Fides into the middle- of this trench imfil a ridge is formed, 'l'ho plants will rest <n this ridge with the roots spread evenly down the sides of it. When, the earth is all filled in again, the crowns should be 'wo or .hree inches below the turface of the soil. ROUTINE WORK. . After a heavy wind or Etorm go round all cabhngc, cauliflower, qnd Icttuco plants to Bee if they have Jiecome loosened. Cabbages and cauliflowers are. so top-heavy that they soon become loosened, and the poor plants aro blown (his <■ ay and that, until the unhappy roots can scarcely boar the strain of it. The ground round each plant should bo mado firm at once, and pressed well down with tho too of a strong boot. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes i(bout-Schi/,anthus, routine work, and vegetables.