GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 138, 6 March 1920, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES

(. (By "Kowhai.") • ' .... ' - SOWING, SWEET : . Many growers prefer ta.-sow- sweet peas in pots aiid transplant the seedlings as jßoiju aa they-bave three.'or.four l.airs of leavc3.' This plan has several advantages, one being that thc' : seedlings can be moro easily- .protected from' sparrows, Plugs, etc. where' expensive 'seeds arc being • jeotwi, this isi" or course, a, , consideration. But' besides th'is -sowing, I always.-risk-one in the garden,-for it; seems to> 111 c •thaittho: seedlings' are -stronger* when sown iu the garden, and .'gron-ii straight on, and that,t.hey flower earlier. Those who have, light,' sandy 'soil- are fairly safe v.-ith, an out-door- sowing,. but .those . who liavo heavy, soil must .look;; ujon the' out-door ■sowing as an • experiment, and have plenty of-seedlings in. pots ready for transplanting. later,-, Threads of black,, cottbh" should be stretclied' across the' 1 seed-bed' 'as soou as .--the seeds- arc -sown.. Soot that has been well exposed 'to the air may ' be sprinkled about, to Avard l oil slugs-. As spon_as the flrst green shoot-appears,' thd , secd-bed must be carefully,-.' guarded. •',;.lt_is advisable that large-stakes should bo driven-into the ground-before the peas aro.sown. ■ , -,-v • .' ', ■ ■ ■Before sowing '.the seeds,,-'chin-off, with a sharp pocket-knife, a little, of -the outer skin,/ taking -care : to • make the cliiD well .away 'irom vho germ,-of the seed. Draw a shallow drill; and'sow'the seeds abotittour _ inches apart. Should every ' seed germinate, the soedlinps may bi thinned out to about six inches apart. -The seedlings so removed may: be transplanted to another par,t.'of ■ the garden,' br may 'bo • usecUor forming cliniips of sweet :peas in ; a -shrubbery. . • Seeds of both winter and Bummer (lower--oweet peas should be ..sown: -now at the earliest oppprtpnity, for by': sowing the seeds early dne- gives, the plantß a chance to make good growth'before win- . ter seta in, and flowering is consequently earlier. In our mild climate the- wiiiter-:-flowering varieties may,be had in flower as early as September mid in some districts even earlier, ~-fiy growing' both Jji? r a P, d ' ho B,lm mer varieties one 1, - .' Jc ttble to have sweet peas in v! o n°r m w- fl dst Piebt -months' of the year. Winter-flowenng pea? are slightly tha^nmm'i 1 a ot growth from the sammer-flowerine ones, for while- the plants of the latter class make lustv growth in the early' stages, 1 the plants of wfnti?? 1 ® 1 ?row °- uick 'y- -more Mipright, [..Winter-flowering sweet peas,may-be had m.bloom, provided strowth hasbeen steadv .Swi^he^l^ hi ' In preparing; the 'ground for the flowering -variety it is necessary - to see that it is well-drained, as, .if- the : vines - "''owed ;to have.-cold, stagnant 'water Ijing about . their roots during . winter 'to ' flower "atisfact9rily. Jfark out - the space :to be ?OT«1 by. the peas,, and tlieri" reniovl' irpnv u^ 0 . 1 ' lay f ne -, lt ? sWe in tt barrow. Break up the subsoil with a .fork, or Dick, if. necessary,, ;and- work., into.-it plenty of ,f r !| ln the fol'm of. cinders or coarse road well-decay.ed horse inanu're. Keplaoo tho t«5 soil arid thoroughly 'break 'it up, working iri""during the process .' some ground lime.' •. process, ; Ip..training the= viii.es; it is as .well to •'h?.!?i y V ' wlt !V.-Blenty-- of • • manuka . '^m h / pr ,' t H en '-i 1 - 0 nestle/into, as the?' s. t'ec'Uon f ereat "^ th '■*»*

" 'XARCISSI. ; '®!j® planting -of narcissi and other spring-flowering bulbs forms the most important part-of .the vqrk in; the garden At tile, present, time. • Experienced bulb ■fw W^ S -^ a l l a E r F d >"*» Wpoiittho necessity for . early -planting. It has i«Lf ovc S narcissi liko.nlehty of •• moisturff whefa' they are growing, vigorousI'uV i, ' t-hfiy like the moisture to pass through and not lie stagnant- in the «mi To secure those condition?- it'is necessary to dig thoroughly,. not- only the ton toil but als6'the sub-scil. T V arv nS •soils; cannot' hold sufficient •.moisture. A' lavef of Sotted sSo **aa&Bfß-jafSS remembered that narnhnrn i ome - ' Erltt y material,. such as sharp,sand or road' Tit in »i>» .v!i 2 they like wood ashes. ' These two' sub ' stances, should' be mixed with the "oU Although aiarcisai like deepiy-dug'' or trenched soil to, live in, they at the In lo °s° 8011. Thence.the necessity for earlv'xnil. Preparation. Ground that- has -been only recently dug or 'trenched -«hbuld?*whlS ■the Boil" is 'dry. be we'll- t™ n i.V y ~to_prdduce the lie'cessary firmness.' U " on -When-.-.planted, the depth''of "soil above n f 'be-bulb should' be one and J - i? ™ cs tlle depth of the bulb it. self, The .bulbs should be phced on a fiini base, and if possible on a. layer'of ■rnnnir i?°n s ' lo } ! ' t '-. 1)2 pressed firmly • i ft i. bulbs; . buj. the surface soil should, bo liepfc loose; » t ,ißoricdus"t I is- .Iperhapi* thd safest manure' i .tor.use: for inarcissi.-'-'-ir.fifiiy either--'be'' :mixed, with the.'soil.-at planting time or: u -? e .4', a8 ,. !l tomdressing-'.to be lijhtly-'prick- ■ ed in flireotly' after planting. ■'■ . : fn>rasiYe,varjrtles are best- planted in beds by themselves, and as the-beds-look very untidy \vhen. tho foliage is dying do 1?' 1!? best relegate.-fliem tp a "abler . will';npU be too notice-ma-kiiig. a show -in. - the garden, bold clumps-, of; capimonet- lnnds mav be 'plant- .•** 'n- mixed. borders,■ -where their untidiness at,.the ripening stage may'be concealed bj; ptlier .plants, growing about

!• • ■ , ■ scnizANTnus.', Schizanthus is one of the.moßt beautiful annnnVf °Tf "!| OSt eMily gl, ° wn ' of our ■ n j seeds .are sown now in a' well-drained, sunny position,' not. too exposed. to frost, ■ the plants will grow into, •large spreading-bushes, which will , X in the spring,.be a,, mass of dainty; brightcoloured flowera,.- As cut -flbwers'thoy are delightful, for . they-lfist a lonj time in'' • ca " l -A® ftjwnffed. lightlv and gracefully in the va'sej, Before sowing the seed dig the soil', to a . depth of at least eighteen inches, keeping"the ton, -,soil-to.the top. ] "-Work'in some leaf-mould - ,or. ivell-decaye<l. • vegetable nfhbigh and •.some sharp.fiand.-:• A little bonedust may :,intp,-,the surface• -of^the : soli and the .soil, should-be made firm before the seed 'Is fowii. ' ' " Schizanthus misctonensis - branches -fre* ".ly, but forms' a compact bush simply covered with exquisite buttcrfiy-like There is also a dwarf strain whiclr'is positions. Enrden6 ' itt

yECHTABL.ES. ' AUTUMN-SOWN ONIONS. ," : As potatoes .are lifted tlie 'plot mav be used for n. sowing of onions. Onioils from tiic, ' autumn mowing arc,- in many in* stanccs, .m,ore . those from the'spring, sowing...; Jor. one-thing, the Boil is now-warm, and the. germination 'of; the seeds and the growth 'of the ieedlings wll be dtuclcer. Also' heavy Idm una, warm autumn- rains supply the moisturethat . is•.gq.-.-neceasary/.to« the'- onion crop while • spring-sown' onions, on the other hand, very often have to face the dry' .heat of summer,'. ;• .. ■' After-the potatoes liavo'been lifted the haulm may be. collected and burnt on thie ground. If the plot waa well iinnuured . tlie 'potatocH, only a drcßsiiip which may be put in--the-drills with the' seed. The soil should Be' mado quite firm -before-the"' deed is sown After sowing, lay a-board on tlib drili ana trearl on it, to make sure : of thf I .necessary firmness of - the • soil. As Boon I a £ ' Be *2 lin S ß are /through, tho hoe! should be ltept at.,.work between tho> rows.

TUflxirs. ~ .A sowing, of .turnip seed may .boimade ® varieties for this .sowing are . .'J? 11 '® Stone or Golden. Ball. The tioil should be .rich," firm,; and 'moist. A blot that was used for peas or early French .beans is a. 'suit-able place'foi" turnips A dressing of bonedust may he-added totlu ■drills at the time of- sowing the seed, and soot should be dusted over the seedlings as often as possible, V ..SI'INAQH. v,''" Several ro.ws of -prickly/'spinach -may be sown, now, 'J'his is a most.,useful vegetiible for the winter. The soil-s]iould. bo rich'and well-prepared. , ; . PARSLEY'. ■> Plants that have come through the summer'arc beginning' to' fail ,uo'w.' and a,-treih--.row should 'be sown t<i • 'provide parsley, for whiter soups, etc.- - <• • ; Any. well-dug.Boil iviil dd. -Before sowing ..tlio seef have l-Jie.-soil thoroughly moist, and .afterwards Shade the seed bed till the. seedlings' are through. . Gfir'deii Notes - next 'week will" contain seasonable notes hbout tulips,'hyacinths ■ routine -work, and vegetables.' . .