GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 8, 4 October 1919, Page 14

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ANSWERS TO OOKKESPOXDESTS. "Gardener," llaveloclt North—lie spraying: Kerosene emulsion is not advised, as H IB likely to injure both trees and vegetable crops unlefs perfectly emulsified. For fruit trees the red oil emulsions are preferable. The summer dressings of these oils would not injure most vegetables. The winter strength would do so, but at that lime there are not many tender vegetables in the garden, ilordenux mixture as used in summer would not injure vegetables, whereas the winter strength would do so. l'robahly nothing bui leuuces would be injured by theinummer spra,-. The "Journal of Agriculture" jives clear directions every month for spraying in the various districts. Fragrant Flowering Shrubs for a Skndy Border.—As a rule, flowering shrubs are not a irreat success in n u.'iady border, for the plants do not have the sains, chance of ripening their stems as those •growing in the snade. Hydrangeas um! 'l'ritomns (lien-hot Poker plant) do well, and are very showy, but they are not fragrant. Among fragrant-flowering shrubs, the following nnould do fairly well.—for winter Dowering. UiimoiiaiHluis fragrant' and daphne. For spring flowering, Kibes sangui'icum (llowering curranii, tientein'uer; Syriuga, vulgaris (common lilac), I'hlliiuelnhus coronavius (mock orange), Choisya lernata, October; Diosmu erlcoidoa (lireatli of Heaven), almost per-petual-flowering. For summer llowering, Jessamine ofiicinale. Among evergreen shrubs the following have scented foliace: —Aloysia eitriodora (lemon-seemed ver hena), rosemsry, arieinisia abrotanum (old man), and the mivjlt-de-ipised but perfectly charming common sweet briar. IiTJLBS FOH I'RKfiEKT PLANTISQ. Tuberous-rooted begonias sire among the finest 01-' out summer and autumn garaen plants. The flowers are exuuisite both in colour and form, and the plants are most accommodating as to soil and situation. They will grow in the sun or in the shuac, in a, wet, heavy soil, or fn a dry sandy one. 'J'hey are Bplendia plniils for growing in a shauy garu.cn. But the ideal position for them.is a semi-shaded one, and the soil ►hould be a mixture of good soil, lealmould, old decayed manure, and sand The best way to obtain a good stock for iieuding-out purposes is to buy a few good named varieties and to increase troin these, i The plants very much appreciate a mulch of well-decayed manure .during i/ummer, and," in dry .weather, piciitiiul supplies of water. As soon as frost, cuts uu: plants, the tubers should be lilted and spread on a dry shelf in a shed for a low days to dry. They may then be s;ored in sand or dry earth for th* winter. Now, however, the tubers thou!d be started into growth again by piacing them on- a layer of leaf-uiould and sand, and constantly Keeping them moist, a warm greenhouse is the best place for starting toe tubers, but a, warm Kitchen answers the purpose equally well. If it is desired to increase the stock, as soon as the shoots are an inch or two long, they should be cut'off with,a "heel" aim treated as cuttm.ts, or the tubers may slm;dy be cut In hull', care ' eing taken to lea,a at leaßt one shoot on each half. The cuttings or tubei's may he planted in boxes containing a, mixture of soil, leafmo'iikl, and statu. Is i-oon as all danger of frost is o\er tliey iau be put out into their periuauent quarters. DAHLIAS. Dahlias are such useful plants for the ifummer and autumn borders Hint they should be given a place in every EMden. Tim flowers, especially of the iety, are so diuuty in form, and may be had in such a variety of exquisite colours that one scarcely wonders at their popularity, . Pneony-llowered dahlias arc most showy, for they produce large loose flowers on long atem», and the colours are gorgeous. ■They are splendid, for massing on the edge of a shrubbery, or,tit the back of a herbaceous border. The flowers are very useful for cutting. - Collarette dahlias are charming both for Urn garden, and as cut flowers for the house. The flowers are exquisitely dainty, and the tufts of tiny floretß-gcnerally of a different colour to the petals-which stand up all round the central disc, add much to their charm. Seeds of both collarette and single dahlias may be sown •now, and the plants will flower towards the end of the summer. The soil for dahlias must be very thoroughly dug lo it good depth, and well enriched with cow manure, ur with .welldecayed vegetable matter and bontxlust. After preparing the (rronnd, do not, as is necessary for other plants, make the soil firm. Dahlias like to be-planted in .loose, rich, deeply-worked soil. Tubers that, were stored away shi.ild i.c brought out and sprouted. To da this, plant them hi a spare sunny part of the' garden, eo that they are only just covered with earth, and keep the soil moist, all the time: Shoots will soon appear, and pieces of tuber containing one or two strong shoots may be cut away from the clump, and planted in the prepared bed. They should then be kept -well watered ; : 11 the shoots appear above the gro.iid. when a mulch of well-rotted manure should be provided. Dahlias are difficult to grow well- in very dry, hot districts', because they are-Such thirsty pianls, hut by preparing the ground as directed above, and by. attending to mulching, dahlias may bo grown almost anywhere with only an occasional good watering. GLADIOLI. Few plants make such a iTilliant show in the borders as the summer-flowering gladioli. One has only to look at the collections of flowers in the florists' windows during January to realise the possibilities of the plants' when grown in fairly largo clumps in a mixed border. When decently treated, tti3 corms scud up enormous spike* of glorious bloom, and the colours nowadays are so rich and so var. ied that the enthusiast feels lhat lie must buy, buy, buy, regardless .if cast. Gladioli, moreover, are most easily grown. They will grow in any soil provided it has bt'on deeply dug and is well drained. If possible, some well-rotted manure should be dug in, buUdecayed vegetable rubbish is quite a good substitute. At planting time a handful of bohedust should be worked into the soil, and, if possible, tho corms should be surrounded by coarse sr.nd. As soon as the leaf-blades are well up. a slight dressing of superphnsjmale should be pricked in. Uio clumu should be given a- good watering, and /a mulch should be provided. Corms at the best varieties may seem expensive to buy, but they increase so rapidly that one is well repaid for ihe u'' - ney Bpent Corms sbculd he planted six inches below the surface soil. HYACINTRUS CANDICAXS. Hyacinthus Candic.ans pr. Galtonia C, as it is sometimes called, is a- moßt handsome and stately bulboiiH plant. The lovely ■waxy, bell-like flowers are borne ou stems four or five feet long, and are very fragrant. The bulbs should be planted six inches deep, and a foot apart in well-dug. light, rich soil. VEGETABLES. TOIIATOES. ■ Many amateur gardeners are in a. great hurry to put. out their tomato plants. As •a result, they often buy plants that were raised in a. hot-house, and that are often not very robust. Experience proves that when sturdy plants are put out later, they uot only catch, up to the earlier-planted ones, but in the. end prove better in every way. If the tomato patch has already been prepared, it is a good plan to sow seeds now where the plants are to grow. The seedlings may be thinned out later on, and the "thinnings" planted in another bed. Those that.are left where they were aown make, good and quick growth, and are, as a rule, much stronger than plants that come from, a seed-pan. When sowing, sow the seed very thinly, so that sturdy plants will be produced. Plants from this late outdoor sowing that are grown on steadily without check are less likely to be attacked by disease later on. HOTJTINE WORK. Continue planting main crop potatoes. fieoda that may be sown this week are: —Tomato, celery, cucumber, cabbage, cauliflower, beet, onion, radish, carrot, turnip, peas, broad beans, lettuce, and parsnips. Plant potatoes, cabbages, cenlillowerß, and lettuces. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Chrysanthemums, Lavatera, and vegetables.