GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 144, 13 March 1920, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kpwhai.") , ' HYACINTHS. ■ Hyacinths liko rather rich soil. A good Quantity' of well-decayed cow -manuro should ho dug in whero they, are to he prown, and a. little bonedust should bo pricked into tho surface .of tho soil' after the bulbs aro planted. Bpread a layer of river or silver Baud, for the bulfe to rest on, and have them about five inches, below the surfaco of'.the soil. Utter planting, sproad, if possible, & layer-of sifted cow manuro ovor tho ground; Hyacinths aro so vory fragrant, and so .useful both for garden and houso decoration, that they should be given a place in every garden. Ouo or two bulbs soon increase Into a fair-sized cluimp. .. Soman{ hyacinths aro among the earliest to (lower. They aro small, very fragrant, and very dainty. -They are splendid for 'planting in pots for indoors. Tho compost for the pots should bo a mixture of loam, leaf-soil; Bharp sand, and.- sifted, cow manure. As many aa four .bulbs can be placed in a five-inch pot,-, and tho -top or' crown of each bulb should bo just, above the surfaco of the soil. The' bulhs should be planted aB early as possible, now. - After planting, water thoroughly, and plunge the pota into a bed of ashes, or some such material till the roots aro well developed, and the top growth is starting. The.v may then ba removed to a sunny window. V TULIPS. " ' In preparing a bed for tulips strict attention should be - paid to drainage. Those who have a light well-drained soil need add only a little bonedust when planting the. bulbs. Afterwards a light mulch of thoroughly decayed 'manure ioay - be over tho surface. manure ' ehou-Id never bo used where tulifcs are being grown. Heavy soiL should be trenched and should have added to, it sand or road grit and • leaf-soil.'' Soma' growers' follow: the' ulan of putting, their bulbs into rich soil one year, and .poor soil, the next. ' Pig bulbs . that are. lifted from rich soil,'-and replanted in poor soil,'will split vp and ..make considerable"' increase.' The' new bulbs will be small and • medium •in size, but if planted in rich soil- the following year 'will grow into nice-sized bulbs.

When-buying, bulbs do -not . choose the largest. It is the medium-sized srund bulb which-generally produces the purest and most refined (lower.

• Tulips are wonderfiiljy accommodating, growing e'ciually well in tiny'gardens'in a smoky "town, and in . cotintry gardens where the air Is of the ireshest, and the sunshine is undimmed by fog or smoke. They are the hardiest of flowers, and will grow quite well in the-, most ordinary soil, provided it is deeply .dug. A. little, limo mixed with the soil holpa to . keep tho ■bulba healthy.

The colours of the. flowers are, most ■varied, some being, oositivcly gorgeouß, whiie others are chaste and delicate. Tho flowera. moreover, are very sweetly .perfumed, and their length rf atalk, and ability to keep fresh for a long ;time'in-wate;--endear them--to- all -who lovo to make their rooms beautiful w.'t-h flowers.. • When planting, the. bulbs si e.' that they are deep enough to have. about three Inches of soil above them. They should bo four or five inches apart., I'lace them on a layer'of, aarid,. arid 'sr.rinkle sand over them before covering, with' earth.', Tulips are- divided iiitd four classcs:— Single late), double/ parrot, and Darwin. ' - ' . ROUTINE. WORK. •' Break up,.where'.necessary, old rootß of 'dcronicumb,' primroses, and. polyanthus primroses, and replant, in well-prepared sandy, soil, the strongest, pieces. - Work a little bonedust, into '.the soil about tho plants as soon as they are planted. Plant out seedling antirrhinums, pfritstemons, geums, wallflowers, stocks, Sweet Williams, Canterbury-. bells, perennial phloxes. primrOEes.' aquilegia. Oriental poppies, .etc.' - Wallflwiers"- and- stocks' should have, their long.'taproots nipped off to induce them to make compact, bushy growth; " Take cuttings of- violas, and plant them in a. spare.part.of tho garden. where they, .will crow into nice little plants-that will make attractive spring borders or dainty" carpets for tall-growing flowers.

Speciosa- lilies, nerines, and belladonna lilies are at their best just now. They must, be kept' supplied with sufficient water, and a, little weak liouid manure.

Miilches about chrysanthemums and dahlias should be inspected arid added to where necessary. A little' disbudding is necessary. among dahlias. ." OhTysii'nthemuras need careful attention now''that they are nearing perfection; for caterpillars'are already, at work amons earlyforming buds. - The Dlants should be tied to stakes aa they grow.

Weeds mii9t.be very severely dealt with. So. determined are they-, to, mature and scatter their,'-seed.that tliey,. grow, ; right in.,.ambns,tfce,.,rbqta :,q( ...giirdeii: .Splimts .where , they might easily ,be overlooked. 'At this time "of. thn year," tfot>, lie'eds often : matae their seed while'they are so small that one is apt to overlook'them aa a source of danger. Th'o.hoe should be kent constantly at work stirring-.up-the soil. SEEDS TO BE SOWN. • Perennials—Beauty. of .Nice., stock ;and all the- early Brompton section, wallflowers, coreopsis, Sweet William, sweet scabious, ajiemoncs,. antirrhinum, aquilegia. delphinium, pansy, viola, pentstemon, pinks, carnations, primroses, ; polyanthus primroses, pyrethrum, genm, verbena, ga.il-' lardia, gerbera, gyjcaphila, Canterbury hells. Oriental poppies. Iceland -poppies,' lobelia, linaria, petunia, and lavender; Hardy phlox, drunimondii, forget-me-not, -larkspur, , double pink godotia,'. ehirley poppies, scbizanthus, g.vpsonhila elegans, salpiglossis, and clarkia. . .. ; •

' \ BUM'S TO BETLANTED. Frcesiaa, - crocuses, scilla, snowdrops, snowflakes, anemones, sparaxis, mu'scari, /Roman Hyacinths, early-flowering gladioli,' ixias, tulips, hyacinths, narcissi, cyclamen, irises (Spanish and -English), ranun'culas, chionodoxa, and 'lilhim caudidum. ' VEGETABLES. < ROUTINE WORK. ■ " ' V Potatoes.—Dig up potatoes as soon as'the.haulm' shows signs of withering, .' Store! tablo potatoes away from the light as Boon as possible, but expose those selected for seed for a few days "to green,'l ■ Leeks.—Leeks muat be kept, well supplied -• with water. Feed once a week with weak, liquid manure (Joz. nitrate of soda in 1 gallon of water), to' be applied .after a. good soaking with clear water; '." Marrows and Pumpkins-Stop the long ' runners to induce them to throw rut Bidegrowths. These produce plenty' of'fruitbearing flowers. ■;• Keep tho plants well supplied'with' water. ~Out; the fruit as Boon as it is ready, leaving only- one fiuit, to each vine to ripen for winter use. 1 , - French Beans.—A last small sowing of. French beans may be made in a sr.iiny Spot, sheltered from early frosts. Dig atrench about 12 inches deep, and place in.it about 6 inches of stable manure, or decayed vegetable rubbish, and four inches of good loam and well-rotted stable manure mixed. Have Hie contents of the trench thoroughly v/ct some hours' before sowing tho Eeed.. As the seedlings grow •they may be earthed-up a little, 'i'hey' should be cncouraged to grow quickly by constant cultivation, and by attention lo watering. • * <• Plants Wat are bearing fruit must be kept well watered, and' the pods should be picked regularly. , ' . Tonlatoo3.—Outdoor "tomatoes, are ripening fast now. Keep all lateral and-basal shoots pinched out. Hoc constantly round the plants. Weak liquid manure mado from cow manure and soot may be applied once a week after a good'watering. Or Jo:, of guano may be added to every gallon of "water used. "" Cabbage, cauliflowers, and celery seedljngs may still bo planted' out. First water the ground thoroughly, and as soon as it is dry . enough again to work plant out the seedlings. Shade them from the sun till they are. well established, and do not allow them to, suffer from dryness at lh? roots at all. Hoc frequently between tho rows of Frcnch beane, peas, carrots, turnips, etc., that are coining on. Tho. following seeds-may be sown* where necessary :—Cabbi)ge. cauliflower, lettuce, carrot, turnip, silver .beet, -prickly--srinach, and onions. . . , . . . - Garden Notes" next, week will cuifain seasonable notes about:-Chrysanthemums, spnng-flowering plantß, and vegetables.