GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 245, 10 July 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

1 (By "Kowhai.") "1 . ■ " BTOOKB. • Seedlings from the autumn sowing are* Already in their permanent positions, and the appearance of flower buds on some o£ the moßt forward warns us that it is time to make our next sowinir. For iummer flowering, both ton-week' and Nice varieties may bo sown. For filling tip empty spaces for the summer few plants are more suitable than teivweek stocks. Stocks are always popular with 'all classes. One sees-an isolated plant or two in every' cottage garden, however Bmall; one sees them used extensively for bedding out in large private gardens and in nearly every publ'o one. Their fragrance alone is sufficient to endear them to everyone), but in addition to this the flowers me .bright and attractive, the plants very hardy,- and the flowering season long. As •cut flowers they are absolutely charming. Ten-week stocks are so called because they are supposed to flower in ton weeks from the time of sowing. A small sowing could be nyide now, and another one towards the end'of. August. It is usual to sow .rtook seed In shallow boxes of sandy 6oil. The boxes may be put into a cold, frame. a greenhouse, or even a sunny, sheltered corner with a Diece of glass over each •box. As soon as tho seedlings are large enough to handle they should bo transplanted into other boxes of rich soil, and later on into tho garden itself. This .double Bhift may seem unnecessary to tome, but experience proves that the plants are all the better for it. When 'planting the seedlings into their permanent quarters, examine each ono.and.cut ; -.©ff' any tan roots that may have formod. ■ One. wants a good supnly of fibrous roof* in stock and wallflower plants to ansuro bushy growth. Thoso that are left with a tap root are apt to erow up leggy. Tho soil for stocks must be rich: otherwise poor little specimens with poor flo-w----•er spikes are produced. Heavy soil should be very deeply dug. Dig in plenty of well-decayed cow manure, if obtainable, or plenty o£ well-decayed vogotablo rubbish. A little bonedust should bo worked into. '.the-bottom of each hole when planting. 'Make the Boil very firm about each plant, and provide a suitable 6take at once., But. the variety that is indispensable in the.garden is that known as the "Nice" • family, for by making successive sowings one may have these Btooks in flower the 'whole year through. They should *o treated in the same • way as ten-week stocks. .--..- ■• Beauty of Nioe. with its.long spikes of salmon pink fragrant flowers, is one of the glories of tho winter garden, no amount of bad weather seeming to make the least difference to it. In the spring • garden It blends well with all the deli-. cate tones of narcissi, primroseß, and' aquilegias, with rich blood-red wallflowers, and with gay and brilliant anemones. .Then in the summer, how naturally one expects to find it mingled with all the lovely pink and flame-coloured antirrhhv, urns, jostling, fragrant carnations, encircling well-filled rose-beds, and giving shelter to the pansies, mignonette, and phlox crowding about its roots. When autumn, comes, bringing us gaudy zinnias, richtoned chrysanthemums, dahlias. Michael- '. mas daisies, and masses of asters, how glad we are that we have filled in so . many spare corners with Beauty of Nice, for with all their gay and brilliant colouring, many of the autumn flowers are -.- sadly lacking in fragrance. »..' There are many othor members of this ..family all worth' growing. Monte Carlo . is pale yellow:" Queen Alexandra has rosy lilac flowers:.Oiant. deep lilac, is a, glorious shade. ■ ' • - The sowing. that is made now will provide plants for summer flowering, and if - others are made durinp October and Nov«,ember, stock will be in bloom in the garden right on to tho end of next winter/ ~ : -One great charm of these stocks is that -one may pick them freely, for no'sooner are the plants deprived of their fragrant —load than- they at once nut forth fresh .spikes of bloom. • '"', EOMNEYA COUWEBI. '-~, E.omneya Ooulteri is not very often seen among flowering shrubs, and yet it is one of the most handsome. The flowers are like enormous'white popples, with a mass of golden yellow stamens. It is Quito e-hardy in our- climate, and makes such rapid growth that hard pruning is necessary. The soil should be trenched and good drainage provided, The plants are •sometimes difficult to establish at first, as they/resent disturbance of their roots, but if they-are shaded from the sun.for a few dayfl.-.and. kept moist, no difficulty ...need be experienced. ".'- ; ■■).-'■ ■ •' i.' .;:,;..:. - mantjbing ; fruit trees. • r \., fruit trees generally show auite plainly ..when they are in need?.of manure, .for ' then the' growth 'is short and unsatisfac■■■tbry," and the trees'bear a great many "'flower buds, and consequently iarge crops -.-of• poor, undersized fruit. As soon as vgrowth, is satisfactory, and -a good crop ■: of' fair-sized ■ fruit, is prcduced, the . tree .i does, not need-..-manure; After a very heavy, good crop, however,' the tree will need a little help. Stable manure is gen- '' '.er'ally - considered the most satisfactory 1 .'•-for fruit trees." This- should bo spread ifwell' round each" tree, but not touching -'the trunk. Failing farmyard manure, use, «,on heavy land; basic slag at the rate of ~.40z. to the • Buuare yard, and on light superphosphate at the same rate. . These should be applied now. . '-Early in spring a mulch of "well-decay-ed, vegetable matter should he spread ground each tree to cover a space to cor-..-.-respond with the spread of branches over- . -~.., Stone fruits appreciate a dressing of ..i.ground lime at the rate of 4oz. per sauaro '"yard every three or four yeas. •~ VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown this week, soil and-weather permitting, are: Peas, broad f. beans, and carrots. In the open ground •vafurther sowing of.peas and broad beans '-may be:'made. The ground should be and-should have well-decayed ,!,;mamiro u>r ' vegetable- rubbish .buried ;■•..about,a foot below the surface soil. Whore , v peas. are to be sown, wood-ashes "or rub-bish-fire ashes should be mixed with; tho peas are'.soaked in warm water "• for an hour before sowing they will come .; up all the sooner.. It is necessary to put' ; .. : threadß of .black, coiton along the rows as .. sooh :as. the Deed is sown. This protects ...it from sparrows. Dust soot or lime '.along the rows-, at the first sign of a " green shoot. ~ ■:'.'-'" '- .' „ OARROTB.'. i --•On-well-drained soil a small sowing of ..carrot..(Early,Horn), may be made. - Car■/lotß should be grown in around that ww '....richly manned "tor peas or gome mem -■- crop last seaßon. The soil should be 'worked'to a, fine tilth to a depth of one ...foot. It is a good plan to place a layer, • about halt an inch thick, of dry woodashes m the drills at,the time of sowing. • Drop the seed into 'the ashes and just cover with very fine soil. Press the'soil lightly, but firmly, with the back of the hand after covering tho seed, " SEED IN PANS. Where necessary, a small sowing of cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce seed may be made in seed pan*. Those who have a frame or a jrcanioiise to supply bottom . .heat' may make a sowing of tomato and '•.•Capo gooseberry. '■":'' '".': PLANTS. """' Plants of cabbage, oauliflower. and let- ' tuce may be nut in the ground provided •the soil is In a suitable condition. The ground should be trenched and manured bonedust in the bottom ot ea.cn hole at tie time ot vfontinz. Out the end of the tap too\, oil caWjago ana. cauliflower plants to encourage the prowth ot IWrjw roots. Press the earth, -very firmly roujid each plant. ROOTS. Boofs of rhubarb. Jiorse-radi'sh, shallots and garlic may all be planted. CELERY.. Where Blugs are spoiling eclerv In the trenches, a llttlo lirae-wator will send "them in search of another feedinc ground, ■■-V Place a handful of quicklime in five w.\. -Jons of water, stir it up, and let it stand ... over night. Wafer the soil and the celery „..a few times with the solution, ajid the plants will, be free from the nest for a time at any rate. Garden Notes next week will contain seaipnablo notes about :-Hosc-prunning. routine work, and vegetables.