GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 156, 27 March 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

♦ (By "ICowhni.") BORONIA. Boronla Megaatigma, tT!6 swcc-t-Ecentcd boronia, ia one of the gems of the early Bpring garden, foi' its tiny copper-coloured flowers are intensely fragrant. Before tho plants aro put in the soil should bo vory deeply dug, and should have sand and -peat (if possible) added to it. The roots of tho plantH should be kept cool and moist at all tiroes, and during hot weather watering and mulcting Bhoulu bo attended to. Iloronias are apt to become scraggy after two or thrtvo_ yearß, rn ttwf. it ia advisable to keep ~ raising fresh plants ovory year. Thi6 may be done either by means of cuttings or by sowing secil. Cuttings root ■ easily if they are planted very firmly in sandy soil, and arc Kept fairly moist. Tho tips of tho Bide nhoote, about two inches in length, may be taken at any time during the summer and autumn. Young plant.n should be ninclml onco or twico to encourafc bushy growth. Other varieties are—Elutior, with deep red flowers, and Pinnaki, ' with , rosecoloured flowers. Boronia lutea is a sport from megastignia. and possesses the. Bamc delightful frazruu LATHYRUS PUBESCENS. Lathyrus. Pubesceiiß, tlie Argentine pea, begins flowering towards the end of tno winter, and throughout tho Bpi'ins months tho bushes, which become covered with matses of pale blue flowers, are wonderfully beautiful. The flowers are longBtoiEinod when tho plants are well iiiul last for a long tune in water, llicre is one point that would-hc growerj of this beautiful plant often overlook, anil that is that Icing such a er. it is also a gross feeder. Without the necessary supply of has a stunted look, and bearfl only P'jny flowers. Give it a. goo<l 1 3tl 5 t ' il >xniri and vou will he amazed at lto rapm and luVuriant growth. Di? out a hole about three feet dcen and two feet safari, half fill it with a, mixture eaf soil, a- litle loam, and grit, and then fill up with a mixture of oam, wood ashcß, and well-deeay«l vegetatjon AIIOT tho contents of tho hole to settle down thoroughly before putting m tho plant. Old-cßtablisheil bushes should he cut b»cU ns soon as they have finished f|oJv?"n--and the roots should be covered mulch of well-decayed manure or yP» et^ 10 rubbish. Water should be siipplied dnr ins. dry weather. A sunny position uccessary for tho Argentine pea. LII.Y OF THE YALLEY. When planting lily of the valley choose a place whe-re tho plants need not l e disturbed, for they recent root d^sti rbonce intensely. Left Jo themsehea, the., soon take poßsession of the. to them, tho only objection to bui g that, unless they are watched, they vr) 1 send their roots along underground and come "aily up where they aro not want ed. But tho dainty, flowers aro so fragrant that one forgives tho plants tn s tiresome habit as long aB tlicj i >atlp down happily and fiowor well in the rorihr. Beds should be top-drcssca now with a go J od layer of manur to bo followed by a sood waterin,. Ihifa Is the only attention the lib of the v..i ley asks of the gardcncr-thc annual topdressing with manure—find lt WJ® ij?{ |>y riving a fine number of beautiiul flowers towards the end of. the sprm,,.It is a very hardy little flower, and although it lilies a position where it is Bhaded from tho midday Bun, it- will buccoed eveu where it pets no shade. jHov clump? should he planted as earlv. as the nurßerieß. will supply them. Before planting, dig in some well-decayed manure or vegetablo rubbish, and some sharp sand. STOCKS. jt is hard to say what time of tho year stocks particularly belone to, for thoy are really all-the-year-round subiccts. However, one can scarcely imagine a-i-pring garden without these popular and fragrant plants. Seedß o[ ten-week and Nfce stocks may he sown now. The earlyllowcring Nice stocks are most satisfactory ones to grow, for the plants keep on flowering over a long period, and the flours aro long-stemmed. In this section the' best-known . variety is "Beauty ol Nice." with pale nmk flowers, lhere aro other varieties witli lilac, 'purple, or nalo yellow flowers, and all are beautiful. Stock seed Bhould always be Bown in a shallow pan the idea being to discourage any attempt at- a tan root being formed. Plants that do produce a tan root, should have it cut off at transplamniK tinv>. Stocks should be grown in well-i ropared and well-manured ground. The foil should be kept well cultivated, and tho urowth of fibrous roots encouraged. That the plants like sand in their soil mav bo acen by the flourishing appearance of those that are growing in sandy seaside gardens. JOEiAN]) p o ppi f :S. Seeds of Iceland poppies may be sown now Mix the seeds witli a little fine sand before Bowing, bo that they may lie well distributed. As oobii as the flecdhngs are biE enough to handle plant them i nt. in their flowering quarters. A lrttle sand ■ sprinkled round the roots when transnlantins? will be much appreciated, by the plants. In gardens where the soil is heavy and not too ivell-drained. it would bo as well to leave'the'seedling in-the seod nan until early in the Bering, when plenty of sand should be added to the soil before the 6eedlingß are planted out. AQTIILEGIAS, The dainty-coloured nquilegias are among the most charming of tho spring flowers. The plants will grow either in tho cun or in the shade, and any well-dug garden soil is suited to tucin. Once planted, tliev laßt for many years, and .becouin more beautiful each year, especially u an oarly-winter mulch of well-decayed manilrc be given to them. Seedling plants should bo put out now. and seeds mav be sown. SEED-SOWING-Seeds that may be sown this week where uccessary are:— Carrots.—Sow thinly in drills 12 inches 8 Tiirnips!—Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous crop. Make the ground very firm, and thoroughly saturate it with water several liours before sowing the seod. Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Shade the drills from tho hot sun till the seedlings are npj then hoo constantly. Matured Boot should be dußteil over the seedlings as soon aa they appear, for it in the firtjt smooth leaves that the fly attacks. Silver Beet.-Sow in deply-dug, fairly rich - soil, .in drills 18 inches apart. Una out the seedlings to ono foot apart. Onions.—Hake the soil very firm ..by treading on it before sowing.'' Do this when the soil is dry. Sow the Bcod in di ills 12 inches apart. ' ' . ~ Cabbage, Cauliflower, and Lettuce—how thinly in seed pans in moist, sandy sml. Keep the pans under the shade of trees till the Bced-lings are up; then move them out into tho sunshine. Do not allow the scedlingß to suffer from drynesi at the roots. . . ROUTINE WORK. Thin out seedling carrot, turnip, etc. Keep winter greeiiß supplied with water. If rain haß fallen make sure that li haß penetrated to the roots, before fotgoing the usual weekly watering, Remove all crops that aro over, and at onco prepare the ground for the next Make a. Bowing of some crop to_ be diiß in for green manure where the ground is not wanted for immc-diate use. Clear away, rubbish, and -"ther add ll to tho rubbish heap or hum it, am. sru'c the ash. ~ ' Cut marows and pumpkins aB -tlicy ripen. Earth un celery where necessary.. Attend regularly to the needs of tomatt plants. „ . Harvest onions that are ready, keep uu hoe at work. . Garden Notes next weeh will conty'.i seasonable notes about-Ooreopois, touii*< work, and vegetables.