GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 26, 25 October 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") rratI'ETUAL-TXOW BRING CARNATIONS. Cuttings of perpetual-flowering carnationß may bo taken now, for thia is the time when- the plants produco good ones. If you examine the flowering pl-ems you will probably find, midway between the flower bud and thu base of the flowering stem, lateral shoots about three or four inches in length. These are the shoots to take for cuttings. A good way of rooting them is in clean, puro sand, l'lace 60Dic crocks in a pot, and then throa parts fill it with sand, liemovc the lower loaves from the cuttings, plant them flmly about two inches aparL in the pots, and water them well in. They Bhould root in four or Ave weeks' tirao. Aa Boon as they have rooted, the plants may bo transferred to boxes containing sandy Boil and a little leaf mould, there to Btay till planting-out timo. As Boon as the little plants are fire or six inches high, they should haTO the tops pinched off to within three inches of the Eoil. Tliiß early stopping is most important, as it gives one busny instead of weedy plants. . When tho new growths hare grown to about six joints, they should be pinched again, and the plants should then becomo fine bushy specimens, ready to bear plenty of flowers oarly in the spring The preparation of the soil for porpctuals is tho samo as for border carnations. The ideal Boil is a sandy loam, but both, clay and sandy soils may be so treated as to suit the plants. In the first place, the eoil mUBt be very deeply dug, for carnations arj impatient of water lying about their roots (luring winter. A sandy soil should have plenty of cow manure and leaf soil dug into it; clay soil should liavo road scrapings, grit, wood a,ahc6, and decayed leaves. It is advisable to dig a clay soil in the autumn, leaving it rough and exposed to the weather during winter. At the timo of digging, grit and wood ashcß should be worked in, and also basic slag at the rate of Jib. to the square yard. Early in spring, work in somo well-rotted stable manure and decayed leaves. An important ipoint in growing perpetual-flowering carnations in tne border is to attend to the staking at onco. Tlio growths may then be trained upright from tho start. Once the Boil has been thoroughly preparcid, animal manure should 110 L be used again for the plantß, as it mala'B Bappy growth instead of the harder growth that is necessary for flower production. A recognised prepared carnation fertiliser should be usod alternately with soot water. It must bo remembered that carnations are fond of lime. If it is not already present in the soil, it should be added as a top-dressing and hoed in.

Keep the soil about the .plants well hood. and supply water during very dry weather. (.ireeiilly on Hie shoots must riot lie tolerated, r.c it docs much harm to them, and ol'tcn paves the wuy tor diseases. KOUTIIiE WORK. Seeds of hardy annua Ib may be sown now in Liic open border, and gardcuorn should always aim at making' a thin sowing. Seedlings that come up crowded are iiuvcr so HUnnii a-i those thai cumc ui: well spaced out It if a good plan to oow such things as French marigold?, phlox dnunmoiKiii, mignonette, cte., louin, about patches <d' Ciocua, seilla, etc., that have linißhed flowering. My the time tlu seedlings are growing up the leaves of the bulbs will have withered, and the anmnilt will then cover the empty spates thus left. Sweet peas aro growing so rapidly that the.v provide constant work. Stakes need strengthening occasionally lo sup-

port the weight of tho vines in. windy weather. The vines must bo kept tied in bo that they will giwv r.trajght up the supports. The soil must b.i constantly loosened, and a sprinkling of lime should occasionally be worked in with the hoe. Now is a good time to give autumn-sown plants a stimulant. DieBolve 2oz. of superphosphate and loz. ol mil pint to of iron in 4 gallons "f water. Give the plants a good watering with this. Syringe tho vines occasionally with clean water to keep tho leaves and stems clean. Keep the dead flowers picked oil gcums, doronieums, punsien, tulips, pinks, antirr hinums, aquilegia, and lathyrus pubeseens. Autumn-sown aimuals-popp.es, larkspurs,, liriaria, nchizaiithus, annujil gypsophila, and candytuft—are already in (lower. They are quickly over if aliened to form seed. Itoses and carnations must be kept free from greenfly. Sweet-scented pinks aie blooming gaily. The plants make splendid harbours for blusb, and should therefore be examined frequently. A littlo lime sprinkled under tho mat-like growth helps to keep slugs away. Pinks should ba dug up every two years, and some of the healthiest shoots should be planted back again. Out back the flowering stems of deciduous flowering shrubs as soon as they lin--isli flowering. Any weak growths may bo cut right out. This is a good time to sow delphinium seed, and, in fact, seeds of all perennials for flowering next year. Tile seed of single chrysanthemums may ho sown now, and the plants should flower next autumn. Single chrysanthemums are moat vigorous growers, and yield a great supply of benutiful sprays of flowers for cutting. Koota of named varieties may bo purchased from nurserymen during this mouth, but there is a great fascination about raising a batch of plants from seed. VEGETABLES. SCARLET HUNKERS. Tho ground for scarlet runners should be deeply dug, and tlio subsoil ,veil treated with decayed manure. The plants Eliould be encouraged to root deeply, «o that they may withstand any amount or drought. At the time of sowing the seed, sprinkle a dressing of bonedust m the drills. Have the seeds from six to eight inches apart in the drills, and about two inches deep. Dover with fine earth, prcsing it firmly down with the back of tho hand. As soon as the seedlings are well up, sprinkle a littlo super,phosphate along the row. ,Stakes must ho driven in before sowing tho seed. The plants will want littlo further attention, with the exception of regular hoeing. WINTER GREENS. Sow this month where nccessary: Brussels sprouts, cabbages, savoys, broccoli, and cauliflowers. In small gardens just a pinch of Bccd of early variety will bo sufßcient. Theso crops do well if planted between tho rows of potatoes after they have been earthed up for the last time. As soon as tho earthing up tas been finished, diu, if possible, eome well-rotted manure into tho bottom of the trenches formed by the ridges. Uroccoli, cabbages, etc., like to root into soil containing woll-rotted manure. Malto the soil firm, and plant out, the sccdlingß, taking tho precaution of "puddliiig" each one into place.' Where seedlings are not available, seeds may bo sown straight into the prepared places, two or three seeds being sown where each plant is to grow. It all tho eeedß germinate, surplus plants may be cut out. When the potatoes are lifted later 011," the cabbages, cauliflowers, etc., will bo far enough advanced to appreciate the earthing up they will receive during tho potato-digging process. PUMPKINS, MAMUJWS, |ETO. Seeds of pumpkins, marrows, pie-melonk, etc., may be sown in the placcs prepared for them. Where water la scarce during summer it is as well to sink a email drain-pipe vertically liero and there among the plantß. When in positio/ the topß of tho pipes should be an inch or two above the level of the soil. It water is poured down these pipes, one can feel satisfied that it reaches the roots of the plants where it is ivnnted, instead of running all over the surrounding ground, where it is waßted, Another advantage of the pipe system iB that one can supply ■water to the roots of the plants without caking the surface soil. ROUTINE WORK. Plant out now:—Tomato plantß, pumpkirn, marrows, pic-melons. cticmntjerS, cuub.Sges, and cauliflowers. Keep tho soil free and open, and plants will go ahead quickly. Keep silver beet well cut or it will go to seed. Ab soon as the plant?, have been pretty well stripped of their leaves a good watering, a little weak liquid manure, and frequent hoeing will soon set them going again. Keep potatoes well earthed up. Keep peas and broad beans well staKed. Thin out carrots and parsnips as soon the plants can he handled. Keep the hoe at work whenever possible. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about nasturtiums, routine work, and vegetables. -h