GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 305, 20 September 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") p . DAHLIAS. Dahlia tubers that have been stored all the winter should be brought out and induced to sprout. To do this, plant them in a spare part of the garden, and keep the soil moist. They will eoun throw out strong young shoots that are to make tho plants for the coming summer and autumn, The shoots may be used to form cuttings, or they may bo taken away from tho md tubers by taking a good slice of tuber with each shoot. It is a mistake to plant too much of the old tuber, as new roots and tubers form jo quickly. The beßt plan lor amateurs is to take a shoot and a good slice of tho tuber attached to it. Cuttings produce tne best Bhow Abwers, but they really require a little artificial heat to make them root quickly. The ground where dahlias aro to be grown nliould bo very deeply dug, and it cannot bo too rich. Cow manure is ideal for dahliaß, but where this can--not be had, plenty of decayed vegetable rubbish Bhould be worked into the soil, and a good dressing of bonedust. When the plants beein to grow, it is best to reduce the shoots to two or three, and prejerably theso should be .outside ones. Keep tho soil loose round the plants always, as thoy very much dislike firm soil about them. Onco they begin flowering dahlias require c plentiful supply of water and liquid manure. The beet varieties for general purposes are cactus, single, and collarette dahlias. All of those are easily raised from seed,' and many beautiful colours are thus obtained. Seed should be sown now in pans. Dahlias are so useful for garden anil hoUee decoration that a :pkce should he found for them in every garden. They flower all. through tho summer and autumn, and right on till winter frosts cut them down. They provide such a supply of beautiful flowers over a long period that they are well worth a little cultural trouble. GLADIOLI. Corms of summer-flowering gladioli should be planted now with as little- delay "as possible. Planted in groups of from six to eight corms all along tho flower borderß, gladioli make a most gorgeous display during summer. Ono can get now such exquisito colours, and such onormous spikes of bloom, especially among the gandaveiißis and the Kelwayi varieties. The best varieties are expensive to buy, but money spent on gladioli eorms is really money well invested", for the corms increase 60 rapidly. If ono conn is bought aud planted carefully now, in a few years' timo it will have increased to quite a nice clump. When preparing the ground it should be very deeply dug, preferably in tho autumn or early winter. AH gliidioli.liko a. fairly rich soil from which tho water drains away readily, and a sunny position. Some well-rotted manure and a good supply of well-decayed vegetable rubbish should therefore bo mixed with the soil. When planting the corms woi'k in also a dressing of bonodust, and pjSieo a layer of river or silver sand for them to rest on, Plant tho corms about Bix inches below the surfaco of tho soil. As soon as the first blades of leaves appear above tho ground, thoroughly' water the> soil, and then place a thin mulch of well-' rotted manure above caeh- clump.- - The first of the gladioli, gladiolus tristis, 1b already in llbwcr. The long Bpikcs of greony-cream flowers are beautiful by.day, and very fragrant by night. The flowers and leaves should ha loosely enclosed by a circle of wire fastened to inconspicuous stakeß. Plants should never be forced to.suffer the indignity of having their beautyspoilt by their being hastily tied, in a tight bunch to a rough and ugly-looking stake. Left to. themselves plants are naturally graceful, but the high winds which aro all too frequent in Now Zealand make it necessary for us. to stake and tie them up to prevent their being smashed to the ground. But at least, let us so. tie up our plants as to have them ae natural looking as possible. The early flowering gladiolus, Tho Bride,, i* showing signs of bud 6 being formed. Both Tho Bride and Tristis f should be kept supplied with' water from now onwards. A little boncdust may with advantage be pricked in round about tho roots of The and also the Blushing Bride, and all the beautiful salmon, crim- | son,' and scarlet varieties of early-flower-ing gladioli. 1 SLUGS AND DELPHINIUMS, ETC. I Jfany amateur pardenors find it almost impossible to grow delphiniums and pyrethrumß, for slugs make such determined raids on these two plants that the young shoots are'eaten off as fast as they push through the soil. If a few "sifted dry ashes are placed on tho crownß of the plants, thoy will help to keep slugs from eating tho tender young v shoots. KOOHIA THICHOPHILA. This is a charraw: little annual that, "ib grown entiroty for its foliage. - Tho - loave» are very finely cut, and during the summer are a- pretty shado of green. But it is not until the autumn that .the plant attains its full beauty. Then the foliage becomes the most wonderful shades of crimson and purple that blend well with tho rich tone of chrysanthemums and dahlias, and-the delicate shades of cosmos and Michaelmas daisies. So far one does not of ton seo.it in prjvato gardens, but as soon as it is better known, koohia will take its place in eyery gardon. The bushes arc upright and compact, growing to a height of two or three feet. Tho soil should not be too rich, but yet rich enough to allow evengrowth. Seeds Bhould be sown now in a frame or in a hothouse to give the plants time to reach their full height.

VECETABL.ES, JfAHEOWS, PUMPKINS, AND, MELONS. Seeds of marrows, pumpkins,- and melons may bo sown now, either in seed-pans or in tho open -ground. It is 'a good plan to ninko a Bowing In both ways, as, one is suro then of having plenty of 'plants. Those that arc aosyn. in pans may be planted out later on between the -rows of main crop potatoes. Those that are to be aown in the open now should be sown in prepared heaps or holes. The soil must have\ a good quantity of welldecayed manure, vegetable rubbish, or "stack bottom". mixed with it. As soon as.the seedlings show through' the ground,they should bo night till all danger of frost is over. Pumpkins, mar\ rows, and melons all • lovo to fend their' vines climbing up a- grassy bank-.or d fence, or in and out among rows of maize or "carthed-up" potatoes. . Some gardeners always now.a few scods of maize among ' their pumpkins, eta.

MAIN-CKOP POTATOES. Main-crop potatoes may be planted at any time now provided they are . well sprouted. It pays to wait, till they aro sprouted. Two of the strongest sprouts Biiould then he left, while the othem should- bet well rubbed out. The ones atthe top of the potato are the beet. Open out the trenches on a warm sunny morning, and, as the soil in them is thoroughly sun-wanned, plant the seed tubers. If soma thoroughly' decayed manure, - or come-good soil from'a compost heap'can be. lain in the bottom of the trenches, so muoh the better. A sprinkling of wood üblios should also he added. Have the tubers, when planted, just below the surface of tho soil,' and one foot apart in the trenches. The rows should he at lea3t eighteen inches apart. LETTUCES. Small sowings of lettucos should he mado at frequent intervals. At this liiac of the year it is better to bow the seed thinly in drills, afterwards thinniug out the plants to one foot apart. As soon as the scedliugs are up they eliould ho hurried on by means of diligent hoeing and by fortiiightly doses of liquid manure (loz, of nitrate of soda in 1 gallon'of water), applied-after a good - watering or after a Bhowfcr of rain. As soon as the soil iB sufficiently dry again the hoe must at once be brought into übo. Lettuces should be grown in deeply dug, but firm, soil. They lieart more quickly if their roots are kept near the surfaco. PARSLEY. Parsley seed is slow to germinate, and eliould therefore be soaked in warm .water hofore being bowu. The plants should he thinnod out to about six inches apart as soon as they are big enough. SEEDS TO'BE SOWN. In Seed Pans.—Tomato, celery, cucum ber, Oaipe gooseberries, melon, pumpkin, and marrow. In the Open Ground.—Beet, onion, radish, carrot, turnip, peas, broad beans, parsnip,' lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower. In Seed Beds.—Brussels sprouts 'and early broccoli. . ' THE HOE. Tho lioe must bo in, constant übo at the present time.' It is a safe practico to take it with you every time you go round the garden, llcmeinber that hoeing makes tho crops grow. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about aquilcgia, routine work, and vegetables.