GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 241, 5 July 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

|' _ tf (By "Kowhai.") ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "H.N.," Pahncrston North-Take chrysanthemum cuttings as soon as yom like. Strong, thick shoots that are furthest away from the plant arc the best. VIOLETS. Shop windows havo been displaying masses of these lovely flowers for weeks past now. In flor-ists' windows they aro massed in big flat bowls, and form a pro- 1 mineut part of the -window decorations. In the windows of fruit shops thoy are equally attractive, especially when thoy aro massed on top of a mound of golden oranges or rosy apples. Sometimes a whiff of their glorious fragrance comes out to the street, much to tho delight of many a passer-by. But from how many • gardens round about tho city and suburbs does tho whiff of violots come out' to passers-by? One would think that every tiny garden would havo a few plant* of theso fragrant winter flowcrß. Yet in tho majority of cottage gardons, tho violet is, strange to say, not a, success. Tho average gardener has his plants given to him. That is the first mistalte. The plants are probably woody pieces obtained by breaking up old loots, Tho next mistake,is genially the way in ' which theso pieces are planted. As a rulo they aro stuck in along tho edge- of a flower border, no special preparation having hecu'inado for them. But tho greatest mistake of all ]ica in the fact that so many people plant'a border of vlolct6 and expect it to last for over. To obtain good, strong plants cuttings should bo taken and ■ rooted. Those cuttings are taken from tho long, bare runners that are sont out from tho <-.entre of tho Dlant. If theso arc cut off now and inserted firmly in very sandy soil, they will bo ready for planting cut before tho hot weather sets in. These are the plants that will bear the best flowers next winter, for the biggest flowers, on the longest and stoutest 'Stcniß, are- always derived from maiden plants. One or two runners may bo pegged down, and allowed to root, but as tho strength of the parent plant ib wanted at present to produce fine flowers, it is better to remove tho cuttings, and root them elsewhere. As soon as you have all the cuttings you need, keep all others severely out off the parent plants" till flowering is over. In tho meantime, tho ground may be prepared for tho new plants. This is all tho better for being trenched to a depth of eighteen ihchcl. In'heavy clay soils add plenty of docayed vegetable matter to tho bottom spit, as well as road grit or coarse sand. To tho top' soil add leaf-mould, coarse sand, and a dressing of basio Blag. Very poor sandy soils may huvo decayed animal mauure worked into them, and a 'dressing, of bonedust at tho time of planting. ■ Planting should tako place not later thaudho end of September, as this allows tho plants to becomo established before the hot weather sets in. Violets need a sunny position, cspeoially if they are to flower during the winter. The ideal position for them is one whero they will get the full force of, the morning Eim, but bo slightly shaded at noon. For Iccping off cold southerly winds, a little fence of manuka brush is excellent. It need not be more than a foot high. To get violet plnntß to flower well and early, runners should be kept cut off. Any decayed leaveß should be removed at ouoe, Keep the. soil along the rows well stirred, and during dry weather water the plants well. The lifo <-i a violet border is about .three vears. To got good flowers during tho second and third years, the plants should have a little of tho top soil removed after flowering is over, and a layer of good soil from a compost heap may tako its place. -The roots will soon find their way into this new soil, plants Bhould be fed now with soot .water. Two varieties that are well worth growing aro Princess of Wales and California. Both havo large flowers on very long Btems, and the latter are early and very sweetly scented. ROUTINE WORK. Work in the garden at present consists mainly in removing faded leaves from violet and primrose plants, and in" protecting various plants from attacks by birdß and slugs. Hya'cinths need very careful watching, for no sooner do they push through tho soil than slugs hasten to foaßt.upon the. green topß. They climb up into daphne bushes, and not only eat the tips of the buds, but also so cover tho. buds with slime that the flowers cannot expand. Tho binds of narcissi, and even :he common daffodil .are included in their "bill of fare," unpalatable a 8 one would think them, and violets and pansies are evidently prime favouritcß. Ousting the Hoil with soot docs not check them much during wet weather. The only reliable way of catching them is to trap them by meanß of juicy pieces of carrot or potato spread about, and ly slipping out into the garden with a lantern aftor dusk, wheu they come forth from their hiding places to foed. Sparrows, too, at this time of tho. year are capable of doing much mischief. Thoy nip tho points off carnations and tulips, and they pick oil tho flower buds of violets, pansiea, and primroses, and leave them lying on the path. Such wanton destruction annoys one beyond measure. Sweet pea seedlings are in danger of attacks from both 6parrows and slugs, and in planting them out at this time of tho year it is wißor to put them a l.ttlo closer together to avoid, tiresome Hanks later on. Stretching threads of black cotton just above plants will generally .protect them from sparrows. The buds of early narcißsi aro already showing colour, while polyanthus narcissi and paper white aro in bloom. Two or three short neat stakes should bo driven in round each (lump in preparation for encircling tho growing lcav.es and stems with a strong band of flax or raffia later on When ■ Btaked in thiß way narcisßi, hyacinths, tulips, early-flowering gladioli, etc.. aro left fairly free, and are yet protected from strong wind or very heavy rain. It is, indeed, sad to see their lovely flowers beaten Cown into tho mud lor want of a little attention at the light time. Sweet wean must bo kept trained up their supports. Wallflowcrß and stocks should be scourely tied to ueaJ, firm stakes. Christmas roses aro fast opening their lovely flowers. A llttlo weak soot water may bo given to them onco a week. Rose bUßhcs are beginning to look vory shabby, but it is too early jet to commence pruning. WBrk.a littlo boucdust into tile soil about each plant aB opportunity offers. A FEW FRAGRANT ROSES. Ohatoau do Clos Vougeot, bcarlet; La Franco, pink; Madame Abel Ohatcnay, car-mine-rose and yellow; Elizabeth Barnes, pink; Hugh' Dickson, crimson; Mrs. John Laing, pink; Rayon dOr, canary-yellow, Marcchal Niel, yellow; and Beauto Inconstant. THREE GOOD WINTER-FLOWERING ROSES. Whero they aro not pruned too heavily tho following roses bloom well light up to pruning time:—Geueral Gallien, Rainbow, and ComtcßSO do Cttyla. MANURING FRUIT TREES. Fruit trees generally show fjuito plainly when i-hey are in nccci of manure, for then the growth is short and unsatisfactory, and the trees boar a great many flower buds and consequently largo-crops of poor, undersized fruit. As soon as growth is satisfactory, and a good crop of fair-Bized fruit is produced, the tree docs not need