GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 263, 2 August 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") THEE I'AEONIES,

The treo paeony (I'aenia Moutnn) has not become as popular as one would expect, and yet there is an ideal placo for it in nearly overy earden-n, place, moreover, that is difficult to Jill otherwise. Have vou a shady Bido of a house, or a semi-shady patch near a ton to or under trees where it is difficult to make an effective display? It seemß to mo that nearly every garden has somo such cornor, and yet it may bo made beautiful, for it is just the placo where tree paconios will grow well.. But do not mako tho mistake of thinkm* that Paeony Moutan will succeed in the poor soil that is so often to be found in such a position, for all pacomes love rioh soil, and a. deep rooting ground. Before PlantiM. therefore, trench deeply, mixing with the subsoil and the surface soil ft f °od fupply of decayed manuro or vegetablp rubbish, and some road grit (if the soil be heavy. I ght soil should also bo deeply worked and should have a. good supply of, cow manure or half-decayed vegctablo mattor ""onel plauted in w ell-prepared soil, tho plants may be fed subseouently bi surface, mulches. When plan ing see that the graft is about two inches below the surface of the soil. Spread tho roots out evenly, cover firmly with fine soil, and at once provide a strong, neat stake. Owners of town gardens aro often not able to procuro animal manure,.but this need not deter Uicm from growing these showy and exceedingly beautiful plants. It is surprising what results one can /ct from really deep and thorough, di-ging, especially If plenty of humus In the shape oF decayed vegetable rubbish and leaves, and a good dressing of bonedust be added t„ tim noil Every gardener is able to s?ore ami rot down vegetable rubbish, and boncdust may bo procured from any seed merchant. BOMJfETiJ. OOOMEBI. Rorancya Ooulteri, tho Californian Tree Poppy, is another delightful Bhrub that ehould be more generally grown. Xho flowers are like enormous whito poppies, with a- mass of golden-yellow stamens. It is quite' hardy in our climate, and grows into a fairly largo Bbrub. The soil should bo trenched, and good drainage provided. Tho plants are sometimes rather difficult to establish at fiwl, as they resent disturbance of their rootn, but if they are shaded from tho ran for a few davs and kept moist, this difficulty should bo overcome.

COREOPSIS. Coreopsis is a most useful, as.well as a most showy garden plant. It is roally surprising what a number of flowers one Plant will produce dur ng the sett-son. provided tho flowers aro kept picked, and no seed pods are allowed to form. Onco aeed pods form tho plant i» aoomed, for it uses all ita strength to develop its offspring. Coreopsis will grow well in any well-kept garden as long as it Is riven a sunny position. It is especially useful for town gardens. and.makcß a croat show of colour. Coreopsis grandillora boare largo golden-yellow flowers oil lone stems. The best flowers are obtained from plants raisod from seed each autuinn. But plants may also be pronacated by breaking np each year tho old roots and planting back small outside nieces This may stall bo done whore Sd plants have not been broken up. Tho plants from seed aro tho best, however Coreopsis Drummond., and CocrooSi f Tinctoria, are lovely "hades o£ yellow, brown, and crimson. The nowering season continues throughout the .Hottest woatl er from early in November till May. Ej who intond purchasing plants should get them in as early u Possible.

SWEET PEAB. PItEPAEING THE GROUND. The timo will soon arrivo when we must think about making tho spring sowing of sweet peas. The ground where they are to bo grown should be propared as soon as possible now. Remove the top so . and thoroughly break up tho - subsoil, working into it plenty of manure. If animal manure fs not to be had. use decayed garden refuse, dead leaves, or oven green manure, such, as weeds that have not gone to seed, and also ashes from a wood or rubbish lire. Mix everything thoroughly with the subsoil, and also ft dressing of boncdust. Iho subsoil .should l»o worked to a depth of a .east two feet, as sweet peas are such deep rooters. As spring-sown poas have to onduro tho hot summer weather, tho deeper and cooler the root-run, tho mora lit the plants will keep. Return tie top soil, and thoroughly blacken ..ho smface with soot. After two. or Hiree days hoe this well in, and again, blacken the surface soil with soot, hoeing if in as before. Contimm this treatment until tho timo arrives for sowing tho seed

BO'UTL\"fi WOttK. Weeds are besinniiiL' to b" very noticeable on some enrdon pallia. Whore honing is not noisililc, a few pood (Irassiues »l coininon suit ■will often du'ntroy the growth. . Continue planting out perennials, flowering shrubs. licdßCß. and rosea whenever the soil is suitable, for their rcccptioh. It sometimes happens Hint a. very freefloiverinc climbing rose exhausts a.ll the

soil around it to such an extent Hint new Eoil is necessary. Carefully fork out tlio soil from iibout the roots, taking caro not to damage tlicuii moro than can Do helped. Cut off with a sharp Unite any roots that are damaged during thu process, and any very large old roots. A clean cut noon licala, and the removal or any very strong roots will encourage the growth of liljraua once. In placo cf the old earth, supply a mixture of good earth, decayed leaves, and ashes from a rubbish lire, ilam this new earth well under and around tho roots, pressing iirmly as you proceed. Firmness is most essential. The rose, if the old wood is cut out, will take » new lease, of. Mo after this treatment. Violets that are flowering -well may be given an occasional dose of soot water, varied at limcß by one of Buano (*oz. to 1 gallon of water). Apply the latter round tno roots when tho ground is damp, 'i'he soot -water may be used as a spray for the leaves as well as a manure fur tho roots. Pick all dead leaves oft roses, geraniums, violets, primroses, etc., and burn thorn. To allow tnem to fall and lio about tho garden is to givo a sure invitation to blights,

VEGETABLES. Dig and manure nil vacant plots, and, where insect pests have been troublesome, dig in some soil fumigant. r'arsnips that have uecn m the ground all tho -winter should now bo dug out and stored. Tne ground they have been occupying- shoulu be deeply dug ana manured lor a crop of greens, nuts, and French beans. Silver beet should be kept growing vigorously by constant cutting of tno leaves mat are ready, by hoeing when possible, and by feeding with nitrate of soda (loz. to 1 ffallon of water). Plant out young cabbage and cauliflower plants that were sown at the euci of the autumn, The ground should bo trenched and well manured, for the ground that is manured for greens, peas, etc., this season, -will be the place lor a following root crop of carrots, parsnips, etc. iho ouo manuring supplies. tne two crops. Mix a little boneuust with tho earth in each hole. Out the Jong tap root off cabbage and cauliflower seedlings to onoourago tho growth of hnrous roots. Plant very tlruiiy, and sprinkle soot over thu sunaco soil about tho plants.

PAESWPS.\ Paranipa liko a deeply-dug and finely-brolten-ui) soil. Ground that .wis manured for eroens Iswt sprinc will now bo used for parsnips. No manuro should be added to the around, but ylentj of eld soot and ivoou ashes. ~lUx lie ashes thoroUßhly with the soil, and blacken the anriMO with the soot, When tho plants aro threo or four inones high, Bive them a Blight dressing at superphosputo. Parsnip seed may now be mixed with dump sand in saJJow trays, ana set on a warm self to sprout. , ... , . Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about :-AadeM, now to umbo a hotbed, and vetfetflblca.