GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 197, 15 May 1920, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") DELPHINIUMS. Helphinlums have bean makiiie a wonderful snow duriuK the past few weeks, but as soon as tho flowering Is over, the plants mu6t.be given every chance to recuperate before their next season of growth. Such indefatigablo worWors they are I They were in bloom during. November and December, their lovtel.y, stately, richly-coloured flowers making eay bits of colour in thie beautiful early summer imrdonß. Evon with suoh a wealth of other flowers in bloom at tho same timo they called forth' admiration from all who saw. them. Then tho flowers Jaded, and tliK storms were cut back to the around. At such a'busy tlrao the exhausted ulantß scceived but soant attention. A eood ivaterinir, a mulch of cow manure, another watering or two, and behold! TJn came preat strong shoots again in no time. Tho stakes fortunately had not been reiboved, for almost at once they wero needed ayalri. By Maroh tho alorlous blu'e flowers wero opening once more, but then flowers were growing scarce, and the delnhiniums camo io for all the attention that was their due. Fitaouent waterings wero given during dry weather, and, once a, fortnight, a good soaklne of manure water, mado from oow manure and soot. As a result of this treatment they flowered wonderfully, and the soot in thie manure water intensified the richness o£ /colouring- In tho itlorious shades of sky blue, royal blue, -and purple. But now that our cardans are full of chrysanthemums, we are content!to allow the delnhiniums to Vsnjoy a well-earned rest. The old stems muat be cut baft, and a good mulch of cow manure should be spread over the nlants. » The manure should be softened in a bucket of watei' before "beintr apnlied. Thoso who cannot <ret manure must manare us beat they can with bonedust and a little well-decayed vegetable rubbiah. Then, as soon as the new shoots a-miear. soot water may be given regularly. Seed is generally sown during tho a®tumn, but thoso gardeners who want only a few nlants could buy roots from a nurseryman. Tho ground where delphiniums are to be nrown should be, deeply due and kjn-riched.-if Bossible. with farmyard manure; If this cannot be had, 3, Rood aumjly of well-decayed vegetable nubbiah fhould be dug Into the soil, and bonedust could be worked. In about the' roots-at the time of plantlne. EOTJTINE WORK. Polyanthus Primroses—Large roots of these may still be broken un, and strong young nlecca nlanted back 2 gain. Dig tho soil very deenly. for the nlants send their roots down to a good depth, and add l to it plenty of loaf-mould, well-rotted manure and sand. It is surprising how much'finer and more freely-nroduoed the llowerß are when w%ll-rotted manure is added to the soil. By dividing ud the plantß each year, and ropjanting the pieces la carefully-prepared) and enriched soil, one gets enormous bunches of flowers on long, thick stems. Grown under these conditions, bord'Gra of polyanthus primroses make a great show, in the spring garden. Heliotrope—Cuttings of heliotrope may be taken now. Even tiny shoots will root readily if nlanted in pots in Bandy coil. Where nlants run tho risk of being "cut" by frost they should be cut back, and should have dead leaves and well-decayed manure heaped about them. Pelargoniums—Pelargoniums Browing in exposed nositions should be cut back, and should have dead leaves heaped about them, puttings root easily if planted firmly in a sunny nosition, where frost cannot reach th\?m. Place a layer of sand In the drill for the base of the cutting to rost on. As soon a,s growth commences tho cuttings may bo pinched back to mako them ''break" freely and grow into bushy apooimens. Carnations.—Plant out rooted layers, and rooted cuttings of carnations In their permanent ouarterß. r Begonias.—As soon as frost "cuts" tuber-ous-rooted begonias, ,11ft tho tubers and spread ,them for a few days on a shelf in a shed to dry.' They may then be stored in sand or dry earth for the winter. Perennials.—Perennials that have finished flowering should be cut back to within a few inches of the ground. Some of the mumns may need lifting and breaking un. Strong nieces from the outsido < f the clu&n should be nlanted back. 'Dahlias.—As soon aa dahlias aro oretr they Bhould be cut hack, and tho tubors lifted, These may be stored undor a tank or, under - the shelter of an evergreen tree. Each clump of. tubers should have the namo attached to the stem. Wood ashtis or soil may: then he heaped over the tubers to keep' them olumD and firm. ; Tho ground wlioro dahlias have been growing and flowerin" all the eii'mmer will bo much' impoverished. It should now bo thoroughly turnod over, and should have some manure dug into it. Gorbora,—Gerbera plantß may bo nrotected from frost by placing niecos 1 of ma-' nuka brush round them. .Lobelia,—A number of- lobelia nlants should be lifted, nlanted in tins or boxys, and put in a sheltered place till frosts aro over. .Thoy will then be ready to follow primroses in the borders in spring. ■ Seedlings.—Seedling "pansies, violas, roppies, larksnurs, eodetias. clarkias, sweot scabious, antirrhinums, pontstemous, Star ■of thie. Veldt, annual gynsonhlla. etc., should all bo nlanted out as early as possible. Most, of tho above will flower early in October if the.v are planted out now. i Labels,- etc.—Examirfa sticks that aro marklne the nosition of bulbß to see' if thoy need to be replaced.. Labels should be looked over and renewed whore necessary. i .Bulbs.—Place a layer of cow manure over hyaomthß and narcissus (albus plexus Odoratus). It is difficult to get either ot theße to flbwar really well without a winter coating of cow manure. Liliumß.-Liltums should have their old stems removed, and should also have a covermc of cow manure. Violets.—Keen all runners,cut off,'and r?»'i j about the plants a «i "cdußt' every few weeks. Gladipll.-The leaves of early-flowering gladioli are already Boveral inchbs high. See that the are ready in place, and keep the clumps ; quite freb from weeds. A little bonedust may lie sprinkled in among the green stems. It will soon work down among the corms. Mignonette,—Thin out mignonette seedUngß till the_plants aro a foot apart each Km intervening epaces will soon be tilled in and the flowers will he all room Der ,tho D,ants 5la ' !!o plenty of Precßiaß.-Freesiaß that are well up in pots or boxes should bo moved! to a Bunny position. Keep them wioll supplied with tepid water. Plenty of sunnoS 6 i aD ? BU ® cient water are what they need during tho next fdw weeks. VECHTABLES. Preparations for early spring should be 55,„ eTe ry vegetablo garden. The oil is in fine, condition for working, 8^ 0 '. lld b0 pushed on with tahl£ 6t v a 'ill' i. vegea f "hould bo worked into the ?W w / or love'-to send t „® rphnL i vn to mati? can pet an old "stack j e stu ? for hnrying in the vegetable garden where tho ground is not wanted for sometime; thesurfaco soil sweetieh* r ° U f ° r the woather t0 Peas, broad'beans, oarrots. turoins and of a,l . be B ° wn - Early varieties of cabbage and cauliflower may bo now!) it plants are not available. The bM« b ?, st " v 7 l straight into thla drills to avoid tho cheok that plants aro subject V hm transplanted. If tho seeds of cabbace and cauliflower arc to bo Knwn in the drills the soil should Na made verv firm, arid two seeds should. J)c * sown at intervala of one foot< Later sui®lus seedmay bo Dulled "D and transplanted OabbaMß, etc.. that aro balnTsown ct nlanted out now should bo in drills threo feet apart. For tho next two months the cround between tlio drills should to turned over and over, timo after ti mp ® and plenty of manure and decayed voaa! table rubbish should be dug deeply in Care must be taken, however not to f i;« too near the roots be damaged. After a time, as the cabbage plants are carthed-up with ihis S j ii'i a trench will bo formed Uatwcon the rows. Go on wort I 1 tronc h decayed vegotabl," .Si 1 ? n r d , raaa ure. and then about th'e middle of July, or earlier in mild districts plant your early potatoes then* How they will lovo the thoroughly worked and manured ground between tho rows 'of cabbages! Thc oabbaMs, too. will koon them warm and sheltered from frost Aarly in syriue as tho cabbages are cat for use, the rich soil that was oarthliw them up will be turnod back to earth-u» tho potatoes. 4 ttro a '? -ay . 3 -after young greens and tender t pea shoots, and unlesß the gar. denor is continually on tho warpath dCcdlingß disappear in an alarming mouner The slugs may bo picked up and dropped into a pail of salt water, or'they may simply bo out in halves with a sharp nalr ofsciSHors. Both methods are eflbctivo Weeds grow very ouickly. Dig in tho'ie fhoLThflt n y f olm, i : and burp those that aro forming aeed. Collect and rot-down rubbish, leaves and woods, for digging into tho Boil or for mulching. Burn such things as docks or weeds that are in seed, and snatter the aeh over tho vegetable garden. Waste nothing. . "Garden NotWs" next week will contain seasonable notca about: —Daisies, routine work, and vegetables.