GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 185, 1 May 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhal.") SWEET PEAS. I Sweet pea BeedUnßS rre tliolr : appreciation of the frea" -* .„ WV( The ' by growing Readily and I , m^ plants are now; RO\cial inc _ in spite oi their ( J UlC '}.^ l ? vel t'her has not and healthy. So tar Ul = If Vl\ P -n The been cold enough to cll C| f . j' . transsoil is now in co«d cond tionjm ira^ Vlanting reasonable caro moved, and provided tn.u ' nloVe is taker the plants do not mind tlie mm in the leaEt. but continue to grow they had never b«n to"c^ As a rule summer-flowering s*ce "break" of their own arc vd. Ua they have failed ,o do t.h he pinched ofl' {providod t ] l ? lh , m )0 three pairs ot leaves) to ™ • intra throw out fresh n v - wo o? fiireo toon as the new shoots are t.pown inches long. It is a? well to nut not own plants out into their nermanL ''J lOl in the irardcii. Once the nlant" g reached this stage thoy are not bo lwu o to he attacked by slugs, for the otdci tu*. shoots grow the lees no.lal.able thai -t It ,is tho sweet young ahoots that slues ° Before planting out sweet reaaat this time of the year, the qarneiicr must take care that his soil 10 -.veil dramed, ror they will not thrive in cold, sodden soiK But if the ground hafl I' pcn <H c,,l „ y nrt jf to a depth of at least two -eet-well-rotted. ' manure, or well roue vegetable rubbish, grit, and *oort aßhes have been .ludicioußly J/ 1 ® muchly mixed with It, the littie p J will at once become c staWl "V ple ady new home, and bHoviW ■ wal lo j growth. Great care should j^ planting to press finely-sifted[ Mil. w which some rubbish-fire ashes lia-(s added, firmly round the roots ■« ™ plants. Much of the future velHro or the plant depends upon tho manner which tho planting is done. Twiggy sticks, .or. better still, 1 ttio pieces of manuka, brush should be r-ut t'i beside the plants at once, and the ™ntß tied to them if necessary. It s impor tant to keen the shoots up off the »ron « from the start. . Water tlie plan.a n, and keep them shaded from the_eun for a fnv day? Soot or wood-ashes may biwtew round them to lieln -ward off ' i, Winter-ilowerin? peas are now a. couple of feet hiih. With these it is a niist-ike to pinch back the mam shoot, a™J™* effort should be made to keep it growinp steadily up its support. _. During very frosty weather I have found it an advantage to heap dead leaves round the roots of winter-flowering r.eas at night. Durinir the sunny Bart tf the day they should bo pulled awav. and soU ■ should b« well stincd to allow .he warm air to penetrate to the roots. But soon af ter lunch, tho leaves should be Bank in place Bhelterhm tho wotj and e j Din .' imprison the warm nir. If tho vincß havo manuka brush to cuddle into as they climb their supports,, the rilants have notJ™i-n .difficulty in producing their flowers oven at tho coldest timei year. But. when jrivinir these little helpful touches, always bear in mind tho fau that sweet peas are hardy subjects, ana must not bo coddled. It is permissible, during- the coldest part of the year., to capture and endeavour to hold captive a little extra warmth for the roots and to pive them eomethinf to their vines from the keen southerhes and .utter frosts that even human beings dread, but wo must be careful not to overdo such protective warmth, lep.t wc fail t9 secure that roost nccGßsary quality—hardiness. A further sowin? of sweet peas may to made in pots, or in the open Kround in sheltered places, for planting- out to wards the end of July.

• ROUTINE WOItK. May is a busy month in the flower den, and tho days are now so short _ that the. amateur gardener finds every minute of his time fully occupied. If wily ne could go steadily on, doins a little day after day! But rain and stormy weather upset one's calculations (especially at tho week-end), not only causing delay, but also brinrsni? sextra work to the already sorely pressed amateur gardener. Michaelmas daisies, . chrysanthemums, dahlias, cosmos, and. salvia I onflre aro still making our parden-beds glorious, so that tho work of tidying up the borders cannot yet be thoroughly done. But very soon now, alaß, dahlias and cosmos will be cut by froßt, and M'-jluielmas daisies, lovely as thoy are, cannot last for over. Even as' I wr?%3 <a northerly storm ia doing its beat to shorten the lives of these lovely autumn flowerß. Onco they arc over, the first chance should be poized to p.et all borders cleared made ready for the winter.

All perennial slants such as pentstemoni., antirrhinums, sweet scabious, montbre.tia, daisies, perennial sunflowers, scabiosa. caueasia, etc., that have finished 1 floweriug should bo cut bacl: ta within a few, inches of the Ground. The soil. Bhould l:e well loosened round them, and a dressing of boneduat worked in. Very large clumps should be lifted, broken un. and healthy pieces from tho outside planted back. Already tho .earlier flowcrine Michaelmas daisies may be lifted, and the clumps broken up and replanted.

Heliotropes and Eeraniums should liavo dead leaves and well-decayed manure or vegetable rubbish heaped round thorn to protect them from frost. Don't delay till frost comcß, but bo prepared beforehand. Cuttings of heliotrope, ceranluins, and pelargoniums may be taken, and if they are inserted firmly In sandy soil, and placed in a cold frame they will root quickly. Catlings of roses, antirrhinums, pentste'mons, flowering verbenas, netunias, daisies, and many other plants may bo treated in the same way. Narcissi are now well above ground, and should be kept weeded. ; Clumps of liliums 6hould be covered with well-decayed cow manure, or a littlo bonedust may be lightly pricked into the soil above the bulbs, and a mulch of we 1-de-cayed vegetable rubbish spread ever them. Madonna lilies are so far advanced as to need tyine to stakes. A hirht mulch of well-decayed cow manure spread Tound the stalks and tucked well In among 11cm helps the bulbs to send rn i'.ne thick stalks to a height of live feet or more, and to crown them later with huge heads of fragrant blooms. . Geums, aquilegias,. lioronicums, wallflrowera, forKOtrmo-inots, and all ( eaxiy Bprinc-flowerine plants should be in placs now. Keep the soil well stirred about them. Whwever it is possible-work soot 'into the soil about plants, for it is a fine feitilizer. . . . . Cuttings of pnnsies nrc now nicely rooted, and t,he little plants may 1 e nut out In tho borders. Seedling nannies and v tolas may also be planted out. liotli like deep-ly-dug soil, to which a nlcnui.ul supply of well-decayed manure or vegetable rubbish has been added. ... Hoses must be strictly watched. Mildew and greenfly quickly ma.ic their appearance. Tho bushes arc still tearing wel, and the fragrant flowers are most welcome at this timo of tho Y-ar. , ■ Chrysanthemums are now at their best, and are abßolutoly lovely. disbudding is a daily occupation, for tlie buds swell so quickly. 6ce that tlie plant* ate sccurely staked without cramping tlieir giowlh. Work soot into tho soi! about violet plants. Already the garden lfi fil-ed with the glorious fraErance of their fast opening flowers. . . , «. The edges should be trimmed and tho clippings burnt. The ash i-iay be put aßide in a dry place, or it. may be scattered over the garden at once. Paths need constant attention, for weeds Bpring up very quickly at this time oJ th-i year Tho time for roßo,and shrub planting is upon "us, and unless we- make the most of every, hour of line weather we sliall not have our gardens trim, tidy, well planted before winter Eets in.

vecetabi.es. Cabbages and winter oreens are enjoying all tho >vet woather we are having, and their leaves aro now looking clean and healthy. On sunny days, when the soil is warm, oart-h up the u'.ants, a little at a time. An occasional doße of nitrate of soda (Joz. to one nation of water) will help them to make the necessary quick growth. .„ , Lettuces and radishes nay still be sown for salads. Lettuces should fcc sown broadcast, and then transplanted to a warm, sunny part of the garden. . Radishes need a rich, well-tilled soil. A. good pla<ie in which to grow them is in ground that has been well manured for a- previous crop of neas or c' eons. They Bhould bo sown-iu drills nnd then thinned out. In our climate ono can have lettuces and radishes all tho year round. Other seeds that may bo sown this week are:—Carrots, onions, broad beans, peas, and turnipik

Garden Notes next \ceok will contain seasonable notes about-:-Floworing shiubs, routine work, and vegetables.