GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 203, 22 May 1920, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES

(Br "Kowhai.")

DAISIES. During April aud the early part of this month our gardens have been exceedingly gay, for cosinoa, dahlias, salvia bonhre, 'aud chrysauthemunis have been mailing a brilliant show. The cosmoß, dahlias, and salvia are, alas, over, and there remain to ua only tho chrysuntheinuniß, and these, too, must before long come to tho end of their flowering season. It is now tliat treo daisies prove their right to a good aharo of the garden beds, for already bußhen aro bedecking tiieinselves witn .countless atarry • while ilowera, and ; throughout tho lMater Tlrcy will present a fresh, dainty, and spotlessly clean appearance. Daisies are undoubtedly a great stand-by. They will Brow well in any ground, and may be planted up against a fence, or in any odd corner. In email gardens they may be iwed„aß a hedge between the flower and kitchen gardens. They aro ail fho better for constant picking ami cSpplng. Jiy cutting back bushes at different umea always have at least oria bush .in flower. As Boon aB tho flowering Beaaon Sb over the bush 6hould bo cut,' right back. In this way the bushea are always composed of nice new growth, and ono avoids the aoraggy, woody bushea that aro an eyesore to all gardeners. Thero aro several good varieties among daisies. The shaata daisies aro beautiful, and produce an abundance of long-Btcmmed ilowera that are most uaeful for cutting. Lady Hume Campbell is a pure white daisy, litoilc d'Or has largo pale sulphur-yellow flowerß. White Pearl (has beautiful double white flowerß, while lire. Bander has very large double white flowerß, which aro produced, in abundance for the greater part of the year. Constant picking of the flowers is one of tho greatest aids to successful daisygrowing.

GLADIOLUS COBMS. Gladiolus corma may be lifted, tied in bunches, and hung to a roof of a shed to dry. Be careful to label each kind aa it is hung up. CHRYSANTHEMUMS. Savo all tho dead flowers, leaves, stems, and old roots of chrysanthemums. As soon aa they aro dry enough burn them, and savo tho ash for mixing with the . soli when putting out the new plants in the apring. It is a good plan to put the aah in a tin With, a lid and to label it "Ohryaanthemum aßh." Begin preparing a compost 'heap specially for chrysanthemums, for they must havo a good mulch of decayed vegetation plaoed Tound their roots towards the end of December. The ground round chrysanthemums should not he forked over after December, for the plants begin then to make new roots just under the surface, and it is moat important not to injure these rootß lest the flowers suffer.

FLOWERS FOB THB WHOLE YEAE. Most people have plenty of flowers during late Bpring and summer, but unless care is taken in choosing one's plants there is apt to be a blank during tho winter months. Let ua consider tho flowerß that are out at 'present—the first month of wintor. Thero are chrysanthemums, daisies, mignonette, nasturtiums, Block, antirrhinums, violets, coreopsis grandiflora, iria atyloaa, perpetual-flower-ing caroationa, a few roses, fuchßias, aud, in sheltered placca, polyanthus narciaai. Among ahruba there aro diosraa, heather, hydrangeas, abutilon, lasiandra abelia, and viburnum sieboldii ia gay with large bunches of Bmall acarlet berrieß. For next month there will bo:—Late chryßanthemuma (scrim protection will bo necessary), mignonetto, violets, Broinpton and Nice stocks, iris stylosa, nnemoncß, daisies, and, in sheltered places, paper whito and polyanthus narcissi. Among ahruba there will be the onea mentioned for May, and pyrua japonica, and camelliaß. In July thero will be violeta, iris stylosa, Brompton and Nico stocks, paper white, polyanthus naroiaßl, anemonee, and, in sholtored places, primroses and polyanthus primroses. While, in addition to tho flowering alirubß already mentioned, there will be daphne, jasminura nudfflorum, laurustinus, and cany rhododendrons. After July cornea a perfect rush of flowers—violets, anowflakea, anemones, chionodoxa, narcissi, stock, -wallflower, Ohrißtinaa i'obc, grape hyacinth, forget-me-not, arums, the Argentine pea, primroses, and polyanthus primroses; while flowerina peaches, almonds, lilac, wattleß, and a host of other ahruba -will be bursting into bloom. Then come the apring-fiowering perennials—doronicum, geum, antirrhinum, aquilegla, campanula, pnnßicfl, violas, hyacinths, tulips, Spanish irises, flags, followed by the earlyflowering gladioli, awcet peaß, and apringfiowering annuals, such aa poppieß, larkapur, clarkia, godctfa, soblzanthus, candytuft, etc. Theeo bring ua well into November, when rosea, carnations, liliums, vcrbena.B, Bcabiouß, pyrethrums, pelargoniums, geraniums, heliotrope, delphiniums, coreopßlß, gaillardias, irises, gladioli, poppies (Oriental and Shirley) take up. tho running.

. The end of February and tho beginning of March are aometimea difficult timea for flowora, but if pentfltcmona, cactuß and collarette dahlias, aalvla bonfire, antlrrhinuma, flowering verbenas, asters, valotta lilies, nerlnea, phlox drummondii, rudbeokia, French and African marigolds are grown tho gardon may be kept bright. Then come the Japanese anemones, Michaelmas daiaiea, autumn crocuses, liliums (speciosum and belladonna),' early chrysanthemums, rosea, late flowering annuala, and so on, till wo again reach the present time.

Daisies may bo had in flower all tho year round, also mignonette, and, in sheltered places, nasturtiums. Antirrhinums flower continuoualy, if not allowed to bear seed, for nino or ten montha. The winter is tho hardeat time for Ilowera, but with tho help of flowering shrubß this difficulty is overcome Even vory email gardona may contain ono ahrub each of heather, daphno, iaponica, and jasminuni nudiflorum. In larger gardena shrubs for all seasons are a great acquisition. SCABIOUS. That charming scabious, Azrire Fairy, ia still flowering in sheltered gardena, and, judging by the number of buda still being produced, the plants seem to be unwilling to bring to an end their flowering season. Cut back to within a few inches of the ground buahea that have begun to look shabby. Fork well round the old Toots and given them a good watering with nitrate of soda (Joz. to 1 gallon water). In a very short time strong basal shoots will appear, nnd tho old planta may then be lifted and broken up, tho outaide piecea being planted back in good garden aoil. If the planta are to, occupy the aame flowering nuartcra again, tho ground mußt be enriched with well-rotted manure and boneduat. Scabious plants flower moat prolificallyj consequently they aro greedy feeders and soon exhauat the surrounding soil. vecetabLes. The following seeds may be Bown this week, where necessary:— Peas—Sow in drills from two to threo feet apart. The ground should bo trenched and manured and should havo woodashes mixed with it. Dust boneduat in the drills When sowing. Broad Beans.-i Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. Tho ground should bo deeply dug and should have a good dressing of lime worked into it. Carrots (Short Horn).—Sow thinly, in well-worked ground, in drills 12 apart. Work soot and a sprinkling of bonedirflt into tho aoil befbro Bowing fne seed. Onions—Work into the aoil plenty of aoot, aomo rubbißh-flre ash, and a dressing of boneduat. Make tho aoil very firm by treading on it, but take caro not to tread when it iB very wet. Sow the Beed in drills 12 inches apart. Lettuce.—Sow thinly in drills 15 inchea apart in a aunny part of tho garden. Tho ground should lie deeply dug, well enriched with well decayed manure, and made firm again. Cabbage and Cauliflower—Same treatment aB for lettuce. Dust aoot along tho rows of vegetable seedlings at every opportunity. Keep a eharp look-out for Blugs. Watering with a weak solution of salt—loz. in 1 gallon Of wator— helpa to keep them in check. Hoe on warm aunny daya. Make the aoil firm round cabbage, broccoli, etc., plants after heavy wiud. Keep hoeing between tho planta aud earthing them up. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notoß about cinerarias, liliumß, and vegetables.