GARDEN NOTES
(By "Kowhai.") ANEMONES. Anemones are now at their best. Day after day the buds come crowding up, the newly-formed llowcrs jostling their older sisters as they reucli lip and open out in the sunshine. Tlie beautiful _ llowcrs are borne ou long stems, and their brilliancy and diversity of colouring make them most desirable plants for every garden. Many people are under the impression that tliey are difficult f> grow. This is quite a mistake. To grow them successfully one must take a little trouble. But that is necessary for all plants. Anyone who has a light, rich soil can grow anemones to perfection, provided that the plants are never allowed lo suffer from root moisture. Heavy soils should be deeply dug. If cow manure is obtainable dig a good quantity of well-rotted stulf into the bottom spit. To the top soil add road scrapings) coarse river sand, and a dressing of bonedust. Seeds should be sown now in seedpans, To separate the seeds rub the), well in coarse sand. Then sow tho seed:; in pans of sandy soil. Water the soil in the pans thoroughly with tepid water somo hours before sowing the seed. Just cover the seed with fine earth and sand mixed, and shade the pans from the hot sun till the, seedlings are well through. As soon as the seedlings are big enough, plant them out in well-prepared soil. When they begin fo make new growth spread a light mulch of well-decaye<l manure round the plants, and keep them well watered till tho foliage dies down at tho ornl of tlio autumn. Then carefully remove any weeds, and spread another thin mulch of well-decayed manure over tlio ground. Plants that are flowering now must be kept well watered. I'rick a little boncdust into the soil round the plants, and water it in. Pick off all dead leaves, and pick, also, the more matured flowers lo give a chance to others coming on. They come bo quickly that one can afford to keep them picked.
POLYANTHUS PRIMROSES, Where polyanthus primroses are much grown tho borders arc now wonderfully attractive. Great bunches of llowcrß are borne on long, 'stiff Btems, rising straight up from a mass of beautiful green leaves. The white, croam, yellow, and buff Bhades aro generally considered moßt showy, hut tor those who prefer darker colours tb»rc aro rich. Bhades of red and crimson. Tho flowers of polyanthus primroses aro fortunate in being not only beautiful, but also Intensely fragrant. How ono misses fragrance in many exquisitely beautiful flowers!
During dry weather, polyanthuß primrose plants must be given plenty of water. Thoy are thirsty subjects, but given all the water they need, and an occasional dose of Boot water, they repay one by producing great bunches of bloom on good, strong stoms. Polyanthus primroses are easily raised from seed. It should be sown now in seed-pans. The seed is slow to germinate, and the soil in the pans must- be kept moist and shaded till the seedlings appear, The seedlings will bo ready for planting out in the autumn, and. will be good-sized, llower-boaring plants by the following spring.
Old plants may be broken up and replanted as soon as the flowering season is over. Mix plenty of leaf-soil and somo ■well-rotted manure with the soil. Attcr planting, water the planti very thoroughly, and spread &, light mulch all about, them. The best position for polyanthus primroses Is one facing south-east, or ono where they will be shaded during the middle of the day.
PORTULACA. Portulaca. is a charming little plant for growing on small rockeries, or in dry, sunny pnrts of tlio garden. Tho colours, of the flowers arc gorgeous, and the flowers arc produced most freely when the plants are given the conditions they like beßt. It is a mistake to make the soil too rich, for then the plants produce more leaf than bloom. It is tiresome also, after making a rich bed for them, to get a poor return of flowers, and then to ste them seed themselves on to a gravel path nearby, and flower there profusely. The soil should contain plenty of grit, as the little, plants love to dins to any gritty material they can find. Ordinary garden soil, with plenty of coarse sand a'ld some leaf soil, aro what the plants require. They must have, also, an open position and plenty of sun.
Portulaca makes a chnrming edging whero llower-bedß are edged with stones or large pebbles, and it makes a pretty finish to a rockery when used as an edging, and allowed to stray from the crevices of the stones down to the path, and all round the lowest rocks and stones. The tiny seedlings of porlulaca need protection from our hot sun, and a good supply 6f moisture, for they have very small roots. As soon as the plants begin. to spread over the ground, however, tlio roots rrceivo tho protection they need, and water should be supplied only when it is thought necessary. As Boon as the plants have become thoroughly established, they will flower bravely all through tho hottest weather. LATHYRUS PUBESOENS. The Argentine pea (lathyruß pubescens) is fast becoming a mass of glorious blue, for tho flower-buds aro forming and opening in quick succession. Tho supports aeainHt which the plants are growing should be examined to see if tliey are strong enough to withstand the eciuinoctial gales. Witter should be supplied in tho plants as often an it is necessary, and where possible a mulch of well-decay-ed manure should be spread round tlin plants. Soot water is a Bplendid manure for the Argentine pea, and greatly improves tho colour of the flowers.
WALLFLOWERS. Wallflowers are filling the garden with fragrance just now, and the rich colours of tho flowers are a continual delight to the eye. Stout stakes should be provided for each plant, for strong gales may bo expected during this month. Sow seeds now in seed-pans to provide plants for next year's display. Somo people root out their plants as soon as the flowering season is over, but if they are cut well back, and a mulch of well decayed manure is spread round thom, they soon put forth new growth and develop, by the following spring, into large and handsome bushes. VECETADLES. SHALLOTS. In many gardens, where the soil has been saturated with watfr throughout tho winter, shallots have not yet been planted. They should be put in now, however, as soon as possible. • Have the ground deeply dug and well enriched with mauuro and soot. Simply pirnh tho bulbs well into the soil, but do .not mako any attempt to bury them. Examine the bulbs frequently to see if they have beon loosened, and, if they have, push them firmly down. : Roots soon form, and then tho only' attention that is needed is frequent hoeing between the rows. Keep weeds pulled out, and supply water if necessary. BRUSSELS SPROUTS. Where these are to be grown tho ground should be prepared as soon as possible. It should be deeply dug and rich. In Binall gardens it is better to buy a few plants from, a reliable grower,'and a dwarf variety should bo chosen. Whero seed is to be sown, it should be done now, cither in seed-pans or in seed-beds in the open. See that the seedlings are never allowed to suffer from drought. Continue towing tho following seeds where necessary:—
Lcttuces.-Sow in drills 18 inches apart. Thin out tho seedlings to one foot apart.
Boot-Sow in drills 15 inchen a.pnrt, in light rich soil. As manure freßhly added to the soil may spoil tho roots, use ground that was richly manured for a previous crop. The soil should be made firm before sowing the seed. i Oniona.-llave the soil deeply worked, rich, and Arm. Blacken the soil ivitli soot several times boi'oro sowing the seed. Dust superphosphate In the drills at the time of Eowing. (Sow tho teed in drills 12 inches apart. Eadish.-Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground, and in a suuny position. Carrot.—Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Turnip.—gov.' in rich firm ground, and in drills 12 inches apart. X'eaß—Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. The ground Bhould be trenched nii(l manured. Dust bonedust in ihc drills when sowing. Parsnips.—Sow In ground that was well mami'cd for a previous crop. Have tho soil nnely worked to a, good depth. "Gordon Notes" uoxt week will, contain sea.sona.blo notes about:—Dahlias, gladioli, and vegetables.
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 12
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1,419GARDEN NOTES Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 299, 13 September 1919, Page 12
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