GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 293, 6 September 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ROUTINE WORK. Now that the coldest part of tho winter Is over, gardens are beginning to look vcrv 10 ' ,Vti p in g currants are charming ntli lieit bunches oi pinky-red liowcis and their half-opened sott, i»rceu leaves, While narcissi, anemones, primroses, violets, and irrapo and wood hyacinths aro (lowering in profusion everywhere. Small twiggy sticks should be placed round clumps of narcissi to Keep the ilower "terns upright, for the least Bhower of rain (illicitly beats down inin the mud tho lovely heads oi bloom. Violet3.—Violet borders arc now purple with countless fragrant flowers. Keep tho soil loos; about the roots of the plants, and work in wcil-ripeucd soot whenever it is available. Hyncinthe.—Hyacinthis are fast pushing up thick heaas that promise to be tine Bnikes of bloom. Sparrows aro most troublesome about picking tho tops off tho Ilower buds, while slugß nibble at them before thoy aro really above ground. A few sharp cinders placcd round the clumps will help to keep slugs away. Black threads stretched abovo the buds often frighten sparrows away. Another device is to push a stick, about two feet long, into the ground in a slanting position, 'from tho top of tho stick suspend a tin lid, and from a little Sower down Buspentt another, arranging them so that they knock tozethor with the least puff of wind. Weak liauid manure made from cow manure and soot should be given to hyacinths regularly now. Begin with it very weak, and gradually increase the strength. Thoso who cannot get cow manure could get some guano from a Eeed Bhop and übc it at the- rate of 102. to one gallon of water.

Koses.-Wurk into the soil about rosea a good dressing of bonedust. Watch the youiijj shoots for greeolly, and at the first sign Byringo the bushes with hot soapy water. l'erpetual-ftowering Carnations—Now that the plants are fast swelling their flowerbuds, see that the ttems are kept tied to their slakes. Starlings love to nip oil the points of the flowering stem 6, and must be kept in check by means of black thread stretched across. Watch the shoots for any trace of greenfly, and, at the first appearance, wash freely with snapj water. Work into the soil about the olants a dressing of superphosphate. Pansics.-iScodlmg pansies inay bo planted out during tlie next few weeks. To have good results with pansies the noil must be deeply worked and rich. Dig in, where the plants are to go, plenty of welldecayed manure, and when planting work a little boiiedust into each hole. Pick off any flowers or buds that may be 011 the seedlings to encourage the immediate growth of fibrous root;i. Plants that were put out in the autumn are now beginning to flower. Feed them regularly with weak liquid manure, and keep all faded flowers picked olf. If a good mulch is spread round the plants, and tncknd well in under the shootß, constant watering will not lie necessary. A really good watering may bo given once a week, being followed immediately by weak liquid manure. As soon as all the liquid hiw been absorbed, stir the mulch about lo keep it loose and in placo. Hardy Annuals.-Sceds of hardy annualß may be eown in the open ground at any time now. When preparing the soil It la ndvisable to dig in i-ome noil fumigant, such as vaporile, to destroy insect pests. Mix plcuty of nana or road-grit with tlio soil in the seed bed. Small seeds should be mixed with sand or fine earth before being sown, and they should lie barely covered with soil afterwards, llcmcmbcr that thin sowing is most important. Tlio seed bed should be thoroughly watered Eomc hours before sowing. Afterwards, if a few pieces* o[. manuka brush or some twiggy branches can hi. spread over trie seeds so that they ihelter, but do not rest 011 the bed, the soil will be kept moist, and germination will be quicker and surer. Try lo avoid waloring till the seedlings are w.cll up. Once up, they may be allowed plenty of sunshine. Pansies. poppies, jihlox drnmmondii, nnmesia, antirrhinuniF. stocks, nicotiana larkspur, clarkia, godntia, linaria, candytuft, calliopsis, and mignonette may all I be sown now in the open. ' j Seeds of asters, cosmos, salvia, petunir.n, salpigloimis, lobelia, scnizanthus, verbenas, and dahlias should bo sown in seed pans! OMIYSANTHEMUjrS. All cuttings should be secured now and planted out in a spare part of the garden. Chrysanthemum* strike easily and

quickly, nnd tlic cuttings, if put out now in a Minny part of tlio garden, will bo ready for transplanting in a very short time. When taking llio cuttings, choose strong young shoots from the outside of tho plants. Malic the cut just below it joint with a sharp knife. Insert the cuttings flrinly in Handy Fall, and shade them from hot sun for a few days. Get the chrysanthemum bed prepared as soon as possible now. Chrysanthemums will grow well in <1 uite ordinary garden soil, but it must be wcil dug and sweetened before thb phtnts arc put out. Turn the soil over now, and leave the surface rough for a few weeks to allow the sun, wind, and rain to work on It. Dirccay the old plants are lifted, it is a good plan to sow a crop of oats in the chrysanthemum border. If these are turned in early in the spring, the chrysanthemum plants need only a little bonwUist added :i! planting time to ensure their f;«od growth. Ono of the most ;mpori.iini operations in the growing of chrysanthemums is the application of a food mulch during December. It is as well lo begin preparing the material for the mulch now. Begin storing, ditlici ni a heap or in a holt', weeds, grass cuttings, dead flowers and wood ashes, and rot down these materials with washing water, etc. Where animal manure can bo procured a splendid mulch can be made. Put a layer -bf freshly-gathered manure, about a foot in depth, in a secluded spot, and then spread wood ashes or a little earth 011 top. Then add more manure, and more earth or wood ashes, and so on. Do not have the heap too high; have it rather flat and spread out. Pour over it water, soapsuds, etc., from time to time. It is as well to make a little gutter round the heap. Into this the surplus liquid will run, and it can be scooped up and returned to the heap. Lime should be sprinkled over the heap from time, to time. As soon as the heaps, both of vegetable rubbish and manure, are well rotted, they should be turned over once or twice, anil watered if necessary. They are then ready for use. VECETABLE3. When peas are being sown threads of black cotlon Bhould be stretched along the rows at the lime of sowing. Soaking the seed in kerosene for an hour beforo sowing will often protect it from birds, etc., lor a time. Where peas are already a few inches high, seedling cabbages and caulillowers may be planted between the rows. Thin out autumn-sown carrots to a fewinches. apart. As toon as the seedlings are big enough, begin pulling out every second one. In a few flays, do this again, and keep gradually thinning out till those remaining are the required distance apart. lfocing on warm, sunny markings makes the crops grow quickly. An you hoe between the rows of cabbages and cauliflowers, push the sun-ivarmea earth towards the plants, thus earthing them up during the process of hoeing. Give a weak solution of nitrate of soda to all green crops that are making'good growth. Always first soak the ground •with clear water. Seeds that may be sown t.his ■week, where necessary, are:—liadish, carrot, .turnip, peas, broad beanß, lettuce, cabbage, cauliIlower, onion, and parsnip. Garden Xotes next week will contain sea-sonable-notes about:—Anemones, routine work, and vegetables. .