GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 287, 28 August 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ROUTINE WORK. •A few hours of aunshine, after days of rain, -worked wonders in tlio flower borders For days crocuses had been waitIn"'with tiffhfly folded buds, .anemone; hn~d unußcd, heads bent, in. their nMnrima vfolettf were hidden btiieatji theff lcivcd. ami half-oponrf polyauthua primroses looked so miserable that one felt tempted to cover them with straw. For tho time being growth was arrestud. Then the long-hidaon itun shone out. The effect was wonderful. At onco clumps and drifts of crocuses turned themselves into sheets of gold, anemonos Btraightenea up and openSl their lovely (lowers, givinj vivid touches of scarlet and blue violet borders became a miracle of soft irrean and purple, wbil© anowflftUcs and narcissi nodded gaily in the sunshine. Iho gttrden waa alive once -J-oro. lor Bow loin:, I wonder! With ovcil moderately fine weather tlio spring garden should ho •charming. Primroses are fast open ng their daintily-coloured and delica.Uy pei fumed tlowors, and the scent ot \ioli.ts, freesias, and hyacinths comes in at e\ery open window. Forget-me-nots, snowilikM. crocuses, and anemones are unsceutcd, but one would not be without cbeir gay. Kow"'111" be' carefully gone over, weeds should bo pulled out, and anj slouw"eL{ a nd to M fast; crocuses, anemones, liyaeintli3, \|)° c ■ lets, and forget-me-nots are Mil H, <•"« gardens with all tho delicate colour- that belong so essentially to early spiipg- ihe pink flowers of Beauty of l\ico stock and early-flowering snapdragon add. jet an othor pretty shade. b P™ K ;"° fter ','Uiing ciduous trees and shrubi »a clothrig themselves with the daint estof flow ire before putting forth then nesh green orchard, early plums, almonds, and peaches are already in other trees are fast swelling their buds. And as a- setting for all this fresh beauty the soil must bo well tilled, borders and paths free from weeds, and lawns well mown. Once all the borders are thorouglij ly in order, a top-dressing of half-rotted manure or well-decayed vegetable r„bbish may be given. Primrose veo , oreciute a top-dressing of haJl-iotien manure iu6t. now. It should be tucked in well under the leaves and around to plants. Ono quickly soes the result of this attention in the added length of stem, and the inoreased size of the (lowers. too, are all the better for such a top-dress-ing fust now. Hold aside tho leaves, etc., with one hand, and work the manure well in .-under the plants with the other, ruo plants have already been flowMlnp f°r a long time, ard a good toivoressmg will help them to keep up the quality of tho blooms for some time to coine. ltoea bushed, ixias, gladioli, lliiums, stocks, and many other plants appreciate this early spring top-dressing. There Is, however, one thing to ba careful about, and that is not to give a heavy top-dressing. Itemember that it is important to admit as much warmth as possible jupt now to the soil surrounding the roots of plants. Push on with tho planting of rose bushes, fruit trees, shrnli?, etc., whenever the soil is dry enough and set in orders for new chrysanthemums, dahlias, nnd Michaelmas daisies. Stretch threads of block cotton across carnation plants to prevent birds nipping oil the new Blioots. HARDY ANNUALS. Larkspurs make a brilliant show when they are well grown. They are among th-.> finest of the annual flowers, and are splendid for massing. Their rich colouring. their height, and their branching and light graceful habit make them deservedly popular. 'A packet of mixed seed gives one plants in every slmdo of pink, rose, light -1 blue, royal blue, ;ind purple, and ir they are massed and grown in fairly, rich soil, .the branches interlace, causing the colours to run into one another until the whole effect Is brilliant In the extreme. Hose pink larkspur is a beautiful shade, and is splendid for mixing with double pink godetia, Sutton'o rosy-EcnrJet is glorious, and should bo given a bed 10 it-, self. Larkspurs like rich, generous treatment, and repay one with a wealth of . rich-coloured, lon.i-stemnied flowers when they get it. Well-crown plants roaulre staking. PHLOX DKUJIMONDII. "Wox Wrnmmondii is one of those beautiful old-fashioned flowers that -we have been associated with all our lives. The colours of the flowers aro varied, Bomo being pure white, others dninty shades of pink, salmon, and lilao, whilo others again, especially in the crimson and scarlet shades, are rich and velvety, Tho plante spread over tho ground; ooon covirlug bare spaces with a wealth of beautiful flowers which arc produced over a very long: period. Seeds may be sown now In pans of very sandy soil. To get llio best effect It w better to buy packets of separate colours, for one can then use tlie plants for borders or for parpet work without fear of tho colours clashing. Before planting out tlie seedlings Uie tops should be pinched oil to induce bushy growth. The soil in the beds should bo tttn-p-'i'Mv cooH. but not too rich. A dressing of bonedust and the addition of sand to the soli will help the plants. A sunny position' should be given. Phlox drummondii is one of the few plantß that does really well in a seaside garden of pure sand. BKAOHTCOMB. Brachycome, or Swan Eiver daisy. Is u delightful little dwarf plant hearing lovely blue tlowors very much like cinerarias. It grows splendidly in hot, ui-y soils, and, if taken a little care of, will thrive even in a clay. one. "Purple King" Is much deeper in colour tlinn 1 the well-known blue varioty. Planted 111 long lines,-or in bold groups in tho front of a mixed border, Swan Eiver daisy Is very cileecive. 'implants are dwarf, and very compact in their manner of growtn. Those who have not yet grown this pretty nowcr should certainly try it, for It Is a gem amonz dwarf plants, LA\ A7KKA. liavateras a brilliant show In tlie summor garden. As the plants grow fairly tall aiid bush out til a ffilfglitful manner, an ideal place for them is at the back of I tho herbaceous border ur among low-grow incr shrubs. As soon as flowering time arrives, every plant bcoomes simply covered with masses of beautiful silkeii-potalled, clear pink flowers. The cultivation of tno plants is simple in the extremo. Tliey seem to he ablo to adant Ihemßelves to almost any soil, but will of course |,'l\e the best results on well-prepared, rather rich Boil. As there is ofton some dililculty in transplanting the seedlings it is advisable to mako a sowing where the plants are to grow. As soon as tho seedlings are up thoy shouM be thinned out to a foot apart each way. 11l common with many-flowering plants, lavateras ar« particularly shovy when the plants are massed. Among varieties, Sutton's Loveliness is perhaps tho most beautiful, for* the coionr of tho lovely roec-pIUK flowers is intensified by the bronzy tint of tha leaves and stems.

VEGETABLES. At pretent most vegotablo gardens aro Bodden with rain, and In many places it has heeu necessary to dig drain!) to carry 011 tlie water, but should there be a few days of "drying wind before tlio week-end, the following seeds be sownKadinfi.—Sow broadcast in rich, Urn, ground and In o .warm, aunny position. Short Horn Carrot.—Sow thinly in drills 12 moncs apart-. Turnips.—How in ground that was richly manured for a pre'vioua crop of greens, or in ground that was tgunnred early In the autumn, ilake tho ground very llrm. Row thinly In drills 12 inches apart. Peas.—Sow in drills from two to three feet apiirt. Ground should 6e trenched and manured, and should have wood-ashes mixed with It. llust boneSust in ihe drills at the time of uowing the seed, Parsnips.—Row in ground that was well manured for a previous crop. Work tlio soil to a fine tilth for a depth of at least ciglilccn Indies. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about.—itardy annuals, routiuc work, and vegetables.