GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 20, 18 October 1919, Page 14

GARDEN NOTES

fßy "Kowhal.") VIOLF/TS. Tho flowerinp Hcauon o{ violets is over now, and plants need careful attention to keep them healthy and strong. For a month or. six weeks longer tUe plants should be left with their thick growth upon them, for the leaves aro biley securing food for the now exhausted plnntß. Three-year-old borders should bo lifted, and the old plants done away with. Jf runners and cuttings have not already been taken and rooted, secure from the old plants all the strong youiny growth possible. The old woody pieces are of 110 use. As soon as the old plants aro lifted, trench the ground to a depth of two feet. One can easily manago this without disturbing tho rest of tho garden by proceeding as follows:—Marl; OX a piece of tho ground to be trenched about two foot long and one foot wide. Lift the top-soil ana wheel it away to the other end of the border. Now break up the subsoil and mix with it, plenty of well-rotted, manure or decayed vegetable rubbish and a, dressing of bnncdU3t. Jlark off the ncit strip one foot wide and two feet long. Lift the top-«oil aim place it 011 the strip you have just b.'en manuring. Then proceed to treat and manuro tho subsoil in tho second strip. The topsoil from the third strip will go cn -to the subsoil in the second strip, and so on. The subsoil in the la6t strip will be covered with the top-soil frojn tho iirst strip. Trample the soil well down, rako it tidy, and hoe it. ]f soot can bo obtained blacken the surfaco soil with it, and hoe it in before planting tho new border. Plants that are not to be dug out thi6 year also need careful attention. As toon as the lej.ves have had tim,o to storo a. supply of food they should bo cut right off, and nil suckcrß should bo removed. Oarcfully prick out from among tho roots any dead leaves. Get a Bniall tin of concentrated lime sulphur froui a seed merchant, and thoroughly syringe the plants, using a very weak solution. The directions ou the tin rccommend one gallon of limo sulphur in 125 to 130 gallons of water. For a small supply measure a small quantity 0£ the limo sulphur solution into a bucket, and then and 140 or 150 times the amount of water. Churn up the mixture with the syringe beforo using it. Ab soon as possible after Bjringiiig the plants, thoroughly stir the soil about them with a hand fork. Work in a dressing of bonedust, and if soot can bo obtained spriuklo this round the plants and afterwards work it in. Keep tho plantß well watered and clean during tile summer months. Ited Bpider is one of their worst enemies, and must be kept away by frequent syringing. Plants that aro well looked after all the summer are so vigorous and strong, and so supplied with a storo of necessary food, that they are only waiting for tlio cool rains of lat-o autumn to penetrate to their roots before bursting into bloom. FLOWERING PLUMS AND CHEKMES. .Flowering pluoiri and cherries have been at their best during the last two weeks, and well-;;rown treeß have had their branches covered, to the very tips, with masses of dainty flowers. They are tmong the showiest of the spring-flowering shrubs, ,and their habit of growth makes them possible for even small gardens. 1 mong varieties I'runus sinensis alba has double whito flowers, while P. sinensis rosea has doublo ro[;e-uoloured ones. I'. triloba has semi-double pink flowers, and P. Vesuvius has beautiful metallic crimson leaves. There are many other varieties, all of which are beautiful. As soon as tho flowering is over, the trcca should he fairly hard pruned. VEGETABLES. ROUTINE WORK. Now that the soil is warmer there is work for every minute of daylight, while during the evening Blugs and snails shoulu receive the drastic treatment they deserve. After seeing the rapidity with which they can account for whole rows of tender seedlings, the average gardener has I little mercy left for theso petite. Hut hard work in a vegetable garden seldom goes unrewarded, for vegetables are wonderfully responsive, ana quickly show their appreciation of good treatment. Seedlings that aro well through the ground may have a little superphos,pliato sprinkled about them. This will be hoed in, and the first shower will carry it to the roots. It is a quick-acting manure, and gives tho plants a good start. Thinnini'-out should bo attended to as soon as tne seedlings are biff enough to handle. (Jivo the rows a good watering as soon as the thinning out process is completed. Moot need never bo wasted. Sprinkled along tho rows of seedlings and hoed in, it is a. valuable fertiliser. '■ I \ 3EISDS TO BE SOWN. Radish.—Sow broadcast in rich, firm soil. Carrot (Short Horn or Intermediate).— Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Turnip.-tSow in ground that was richly manured for a. previous crop, or in ground that wa» manured early in the autumn. Make the soil very-firm: Sow thinly in drills 12 inchoß apart. Keep the ground as moist as possible, and aust soot over the seedlings frequently. Garden Swede.—same treatment as for turnips. Bow thinly in drills 18 inches apart, and thin out lo 6 or 8 inches in the rows.

Peaa.-'Sow in drills from two to three feeb apart. Oround should bo trenched and manured and should have woodashes mixed with it. Duit boned'jßt in tho drills at tho timo of sowing. Soak tho peas in warm water for a few hours before sowing. Provide strands of blaok cotton, as otherwise sparrows will dig up and eat the seed.

Parsnipii.-ijow in ground that was well manured for a previous crop. Work the soil to a fine tillli for a. depth of eighteen inches, for any luiups may cause deformed and worthless roots.

Onions.—Ma ko the soil Very firm by treading on it beforo sowing. Sow the seed in drills 12 inches apart in deeply dug, well enriched soil.

French Beans.—Sow 111 drills two feet apart, and have the seed six inches apart in the rows. Dust bonedust in tho drills at the time of sowing, and givo a slight dressing of superphosphate as soon as the plants are a couple of inches high,

Beet.—A light Bandy soil is tho best for beet. 'Sow tho seed in drills 18 inches apart in ground that was manured l'or a provious crop. Fresh manure would bo harmful to tho roots. Tho ground should bo deeply dug, and made hrm again before sowing tho seed. Dust bonedust in the drillii at the time of sowing. As' soon as tho seedlings aro big enough to handle thin them out. Seeds of cabbage, savoys, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and cauliitOHcre should bo sown thin month. Great care must be taken to prevent the seedlings Buttering from drought at any time. Sow seeds oi pumpkins, xuarrowß, pie melons, and cucumbers. SALADS. Endivo is one of tho hardiest of salad vegetables. Plants Irom seed sown ill the autumn have como through the winter well, and are uoiv ready l'or blanching. This ib done by tying the leaves closely up togother with raffia. Do not- tie all tne plants up at onco. A few may be done every two or three weeks. Endivo likes a deoply-dug, fairly rich soil. A pinch of seed sown at intervals of about Bix weekfi will keep a constant supply cf plants in tho garden. LETTOCE. Lettuce seed, at this time of the 5 ear, Bhould ba sown in drills in tho garden. Sow two or three seeds at intervals of a, foot in the drills, and have the drills about 18 inches apart. If all the seeds germinate, cut out the surplus plants. Tllio soil should be fairly ricn and (.ecp> ly dug, but should bo made firm again before the soed la sown. Lettuces "heart'' more quickly if grown in firm soil, llotli tho seedn and the seedlings need protection from sparrows. Husy 'amateur gardeners will Hud that it is a great saviug of timo and labour to make a supply of wire-netting protective frames to iplace ovor their drills until vegetable secdlingß are sufficiently advanced to be free from tho attacka of birds.

MUSTAED AND OE-ESS. Mustard and cress aro quickly groft'n salads, 'l'he seed may bo sown either in prepared beds in the garden, or in boxes on a sunny verandah. Aa is necessary for all salads, tho soil must be fairly rich and thoroughly worked, for <iuiclt. growth is essential, lieforo sowing, make the soil firm. Sow the seed broadcast and rather tliyslt. Do not cover it with soil, but immoaialtly water tho bad thoroughly. Cover tlio bed with brush or some light material till the Beed germinates.

RADISHES. One must still look for a warm, sunny corner for radishes. Ilavo the soil deeply worked, rich, and firm. Once tho seedlings are up, keep them well watered and well led with weak liquid manure.

Garden Noten next week will contain seasonable notes about perpetual flowering carnations, routine work, and vegetables.