GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 14, 11 October 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhni.") SINGLE OHIiVSANTHEMUJIS. As decorative plants single chrysanthemums are charming, both for the garden and for tho house," for the flowers are so light and dainty that scarcely any disbudding is necessary. 11l the garden, busheß become a mass of beautiful bloom, and they never have tho heavy, tightlypacked look that double chrysanthemums have when disbudding has not been practised. In bowls or vases the singleflowered varieties aro so easily and effectively arranged that every year there is an increasing demand for them as cut flowers. Specialists have now introduced a type witli three or four rows of ray florets. The culture of single-flowered, chrysanthemums i 6 the same as' for tho oilier varieties. .Ouring September and October rooted cuttings are put out in well-prepared ground. As soon as tho leading slioot is about six -lichts high it is pinched back, t-everal othor slioota are then formed, and these in turn are pinched back as toon as they are several inches high. The result nf this pinching is that lino bushy plants of medium height- aro produced. During October ind November the.soil about tho plants should be-kept well hoed. Early in December a. little benedust, or blood and bonedust mixed, may be pricked into the soil about the. plants. The plants should then have a thorough watering, to be followed immediately by the application of a suitable mulch. Stokes should be supplied at an early date, and tho growths should bo secured to-(hem trom time to time. If a little thinning out of the buds is practised, tho flowers will be larger, and the naturally light effect of the tlower-laden branches much omphasised. LAVATEKA. Lava-teras make a brilliant show in tho summer garden. As the plants grow fairly tall and bush out in a delightful manner, an ideal placo for' them is at the back of the herbaceous border or among lOw-growing shrubs. As soon as flowering time arrives every plant becomes simply covored with masses of beautiful silkenpetalled, clear pink flowers. The cultivation of the plants is simple in the extreme. They seem able to adapt_ themselves to almost, any soil, but will, of course, give the best results on wellprepared rather rich soil. As there in of ton soino difficulty in transplanting tho seedlings, it is advisable to bow the seeds where the plantß are intended to grow. As soon as the seedlings aro up, thoy should bo thinned out to at least two feet apart each way. In Common with many dowering plants, lavateras aro partcularly showy when tho plants are massed. Among varieties, Sutton's Loveliness i 3 perhaps the most beautiful, for the colour of the lovely rose-pilk flowerß is intensified by the bronzy tint of tho leaves and stemß. Another good variety is Rosea Splondens. ROUTINE WORK. Anemones that have been flowering since the beginning of the winter deserve a rest now. Withhold .all stimulants from tho plants, and leave the flowers unpicked. Water should still be supplied, however, but in gradually smaller quantities, till tile foliage dies down naturally. As soon as 1 this happens the plants may be covered with a mulch of well-rotted vegetable rubbish, or yery old animal manure. So treated, tho plants will, bo quietly at rest, till autumn rains, soaking into the ground, call them to woidt again. The garden at present is rich with flowers of glorious shades of blue. After -the delicate shades of the early spring, ilowors, they come as a delightful clungc. Foremost among them is the Argentino pea, luthym pubescens, climbing' 15 wirenetting fences, and round baro tree trunks, to a. height of .ten or twelve feet. The vines are covered, from the roots upwards, with, their lovely blue flowers, A row of blue flag irises is a glorious sight. .Could any flowers be lovelier in form or richer in colour than .these? The long stems riso straight up above cool blade-like leaves, and on every stem aro two. or tlirco Mowers of the richcit blue Imaginable. Tho three petals that turn up, ana meet in a bunch in tho middle of the flower look as if they are fashioned from ilne-spun glistening silk, which is" ill delightful contrast to the thick velvety texture of the three alternate petals that lend so gracefully down. Tho flowers, moreover, f have the same delicate fragrance that belongs to primroses, but :t is a, fragrance that is strong enough to permeate UlO wliolo garden 111 tho warm sunshine. Bore and there in the borders and 011 rock gardens aro low-lying patches of vividblue. These are clusters of wood hyacinths, every Blender stem being laden with tiny blue and very fragrant flowers, AVOOU hyacinths aro splendid for growing in shady borders or in the dry, barren'soil beneath pine -trees. In ilio rock garden they are at their best, for their gloriouß colour is thrown into vivid relief by the dull grey of the stones. Further along, and sheltered from tho too-searching nor'-westers, are groupß of brilliant blue anemones, There aro other lovely ehadss, too. but we laro looking for blue flowers only at present. Prom these we pass to the clear -jiale blue liowerß of agathaea, coolestis. Every bush at present is studded with the lovely star-like little daisies. While nestling in every shady spot, forget-me-not plants are sheets of pureßt blue, which so well match the colour of tho sky that it would seem as if bits of it nad floated down to rest on the cool damp earth. , Plants of aquilegia arc now particularly attractive, for the dainty fragile-looking Itowers are out in profusion. Greenfly quickly attacks the tender shoots of the flowering stems, but syriuging with warm soapy water will keep tho plants clean and healthy. Hose busljes need careful watching! Greenfly, catjrpillai's, and mildew must all bo looked for. For tho first-mentioned,-syringing with soap-suds is necosßary; for tho toiond, Hand-picking; for tho third, dusting with flowers of sulphur while the foliage is still damp with dew. Mildew should be stamped out at its iirst uppearance, for the foliage becomes so crippled ny it that growth iB uocesßarily baaly checked. Sowings-of primroses, .polyanthus primroses, bwcet Willian, Canterbury Dells, wallflowers, early liromjton itocks,- aquilegias, frccflins. carnations, gypßophila, . antirrhinums, and penißtemons uiay be made now in seed-pans. Slugs have already found tho young buds of painy plants. The surest way of' getting rid of them is by catching them whon they come out to feed, jusi atier dusk. VECETABLHiI. Tho weather is so uncertain that one .must seii:e every opportunity of pushing on ivith the work in the vegetable garden. The siteß uhould be prepared for marrows and pumpkins, and ;-eeds should be sown without delay. Vegetable, seedlings that are in seed-panß must be constantly attended to keep the soil moist, but not sodden. Should' the soil become caked, loosen it with a pointed stick. Keep lottucea and cabbhges well syringed to kOep away greenfly. Don't' allow .luy of the cabbage or cauliflower tribe to become dry at the roots at any time.- Tho plants very soon "bolt" if they are allowed to sufter from dryness at the roots. Keep tho plants well earthed up. Sowings should ho made this month of savoy cabbage, llrussels sprouts, and broccoli. Sow a pinch of lottucs seed overy three weeks for succession. Make a new Bowing of radishes as soon as tho previous one appears through tho groumd. Continue planting potatoes. Earth-up oarly potatoeß while the soil is moist and sun-warmed. Sprinkle a very littlo nitrate of soda along the tows before doing so. Where necessary, tho following seeds may he sown:—Beet, leeks, onions, carrots, parsnips, peas, radishes, turnips, marrows, pumpkins, cabbages, cauliflowers, savoy cabbages, llrussels sprouts, broccoli, parsley, lettucqs, tomatoes, and -celery. "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about;— Violets, routine work, and vegetables.