GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 32, 1 November 1919, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowliai.") MICHAEIiJIAS DAISIES. Michaelmas daisies, when well grown, are ;i perfect glory m the autumn The plants are very hardy and increase l-apkllv. It is not yet 100 late to break up and replant old roots shou'<l tlio work have been nenlected early in the spring. Everv year tlicre is some, addition to the ranks of these beautiful flowers, and gardoners c;>.m now obtain quite ;i collcction. Almost every shade cf lavender and inirple is represented, the (lowers varying also in size and the bushe3 in height aim habit. White Michaelmas daisies arc always beautiful, and may be ha-tl with either small or large tlowcrs. .Michaelmas daisies like a. j airly rich soil, with plenty of well-decayed vegetable rubbish mixed -with it. Old bushes should be lifted and broken up t very two Early in January a. little bouedust should, ho pricked ..into i.he soil about the plants, and if posiible a mulch cf well-decayed manure should be spread around theiii. The following are a few good varieties: —Climax, largo clear blue; K I. Lowe, largo pale blue; Hon. Edith Gibbs, pale blue flowers, branching habit; St.. Jidwin, large soft pink; William Marshall, clear maoivo. Plants may still be put in. PEHENNIAIi SUXFLOWEIiS. Perennial sunflowers aro most useful. They will grow in the mnniest and driest part of the gai-deu provided the soil was thoroughly prepared before tho plants wcro put in. The plants need not bo lifted for several years, l-ut when tboy aro cut down after Dowering Is over, a good mulch of some well-decayed material should bo spread over the rootß. Plants of perennial sunflowers may be put in now. EODTI.NE WOJiIC. Begonias.—Tuberous-rooted begonia 3 that havo been started into growth may bo planted out now in the open borders. Tlicy are splendid for filling up shady parts of the garden, though tho ideal position for them ia a semi-shaded one. Before planting the tuber.-?, the soil should be very deoply dug. and Bhould have leaf-mould, old decayed manure, and sand worked into

It- n • ' Gladioli.—Oorms of Bummer-floweriDff gladioli should bo got in without delay. Tho ground for (hem should bo very deeply dug, and should have some well-rotted itauuro mixed with it. When planting tho corms, mix with tho soil ft handful of bonoduat, and place a layer of river or silver sand for them to rest on. Plant them about six inches below the Burfaco of tho soil, using from six to oiglit corms for each clump. As soon as the first leafblades appear above ground, thoroughly water the -soil, and thou place a thin layer of well-rotted manure above each clump. The oarly-flowering varietie? gladioli aro just coming into flower. A littlo very weak mauure may be supplied to them onco a week, after a good watering or after a shower of rain. Chrysanthemums.—Hooted ruttings should bo planted out as soon kb they are ready. Drive in a noat stake besido each plant at the tiniOv of planting. Forgot-nie-Not.*—Root out forget-me-not as soon as it is over. Pork over tho soil thus made vacant, at tlio samo time working in a sprinkling of bouedust. These empty spaces may be li lied in with seedling annuals that aro ready to bo planted out, or seeds of phloi drummondii, star ot tho veldt, nemeaia, brachycome uSwan luvcr daisy), etc., may be sown in tlieni. Harcissi - The- foliage cf clumps of bulbs that aro over should to lied up until it w ithcrs. Seedlings may be placed near the clumps to take the place of the bulbs. Ten-week stocks, pansies, violas, French and African marigolds, nomesia, asters, and phlox drummondii aro all suitable for filling up spaces left vacant by bulbs. Dahlias.—Dahlias should have strong shoots by this time. .Slice olf part of a tuber with each shoot, and plant out in richly-manured loose fioil. Or one wholo tuber with a strong shoot showing may be planted. Dahlias require a looto soil, and' plenty of moisture and manure. Anemones.—Anemone (or.il E"«'n now will produce plants that will Howcr next spring. Anemones are easily raised from scud, nr.d a good deal, of pleasure is derived from watching the plants eome into llower. Tho seed should lo sown thinly, and the seedlings should be ready for planting out in February. The plants must not be allowed to suffer from drought at any tinio of their growth. Dryness ai the roots is a too frequent cause oi' anemone plants not flowering. The little tubers shoukl not be planted more than an inch or an inch and a half deep. When the young foliage comes up it should be given protection fiom heavy frosts. Keep staking and tying up plants as they grow. Remember that strong growing, vigorous plants resist disease much more readily then weakly-grown ones. Constant attention to the soil is a great help to vigorous growth, and frequent spraying of tho leaves and 'ileuis of plants with clean water keeps away in:;cct pests and helps to prevent the necessity of usinij insecticides. Keep' faded flowers picked oil' pansics, violas, roses, geuui, Argentine pea, anemones, aquilegia. etc. VEGETABLES. In buying tomalo plants caro should bo taken to choose short, sturdy ones. Don't plant in ground that is too' rich. Food can bo supplied to tlio plants from tho surface v.-hen it is needed. A rich bed at the Htart produces rapid and luxuriant growth, but tills is not what is wanted. Wo want strong, sturdy plants bearing plenty of fruit. The ground should be thoroughly dug, but should be made firm again before the plants are put out. Allcr thoroughly digging, and before putr ting out your plants, hoe over lho surface, working in ;i slight dressing of superphosphate. A strong stake should be provided aB soon as tho plants aro put In tho ground. Two eterns are quite enough to allow tho plants. As the plants grow rub out all lateral growths and new growths from tlio roots. PEAS. Autumn-sown peas are already bearing pods. These must be picked regularly to keep tho plants bearing. Another sowing of poaa should be made unless there has bean one recently. For peas sown during November, December, and January, the ground should be dug to a depth of at least two feet, and a good layer of manure or decayed vegetable rubbish should bo buried about a foot below the surface of the Boil. This will give the plants a cool root-run, and will help them to withstand the hot weather. Sprinkle lime over the surface of the soil, and hoo it in before sowing tho seed. Soak the seed in water for several hours before sowing. The seed should be sown a little deeper now. Protection for the young shoots from sparrows must still be provided. Attend 1o tho staking of crops of peas ti;nt are a few inches high, for once tlio vines fall to tho ground they never do so well. Draw llic earth -up about the plants just as you do for potatoes. One row of peas, or any other vegetable, well grown and attended to, will yield more than several rows carelessly grown and not properly attended to. Keep tho hoe at work. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Nasturtiums, routine work, and vegetables.