GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 305, 18 September 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO COKHESPONDENTS. "Amateur."—(l) Wood ashes may be applied ao a top-dressing whenever they are available, and then toed in. They may also be placed in tho drills with seeds at Bowing time, and in tho bottom of tho trenches when potatoes are heing planted. Caution—lf they aro being stored they should be liept dry. (2). They may bo applied at the rate of throo or four ounces to tho sauara yard. (.5) Wood nsheß improve the tone and vigour of tho plant, potash-starved planta being the first to suffer in a bad iieaeon. They aro necessary for all plants.that produco sugar aud starch in abundance, such, ns beet, ipotatoca, fruit trees, maize; leguminous plants, ij also, are very lond if potash. Heavy soil* are, .as-a rule, "well supplied with potash, but very light or sandy soils are much benefited by its application. AUTUMN-FLOW3H.ING A NNUALS. :e Autumn-flowering annuals m.iv be '. o,|V . n i- in the open garden whenever tho soil iB ~. not too sodden with rain. This season it ,; is difficult to. Ret one's sowing in the ' open done, bocause the ground scarcely has time to dry , before more rein setß in. [~ Those who have light, sandy soils have a 1- better chance than those with heavy ones, l for heavy soils, unless they were deeply » dug early in the winter, aro Btiil hope- ( leesly wet and cold, iteforu sowine tho ' seeds work a fair dressing of lionndust ' into the soil, just pricking it lightly nitu '' the surface. Sow the seeds very thinly, }' and just barely cover them with Ana -• soil and wood ashcß mixed. Wherever it e is possible spread some light material e over each seed patch, keeping it thero u until the Beeds germinate, but taking care that it does not press heavily upon the '" soil. As soon as the seedlings are big n onoush to handle, thev should be thinned '■- out. COSMOS. :s Cosmos iB generally siwn in fine, firm l_ soil, and tho seedlings are transplanted i- afterwords to other parts of the garden. The bushes grow to such n size that s only ono can with safety ho left in the ;' seed bed. When the seedlings are ready for transplanting mix up some good soil, , leaf soil, finely-sifted manure, and sand. [l Have the mixture moist and sun-warmed, '- and put a littlo of. it in taeh hole when '- planting: out the seedlings. A dusting cf a bonedust also in the l.oles will help thn g plants. Never plant out seedlings into .. cold; wet soil. Cosmos seedlings may bo transplanted -when thoy are just showbiz ' their true leaf. Plant firmly, and shade 1 from tho sun, should there bo any, for i a few days. As soon ns the scedlingi are a few inches high, pinch- the tops off to make tho plants bushy. ASI'EBS. Asters should be sown in ground that was thoroughly trenched and manured early in the year. Without .asters in the garden it iB 'difficult to have n, good dis b play of flowers during the end of Febru--3 ary and the beginning of March. At the time of planting out, work'into the eml n little bonedust. As soon as hot weather 3 set 6 in, thoroughly soak the ground with - water, and then apply a lieht mulch l of well-decayed manure. '. MARIGOLDS. ; Marigolds rovel in a sunny position. - Knowing this, many people give them tho I sunniest and driest Dart of the garden, j but thoy overlook the fact that marigolds also like well-prepared soil, and then wonder why the Wants are so stunt- ' ed. The soil should be deeply dup, and : ' should have a tfood supply of well-do- , cayed vrgatnblo rubbish worked into it. 1 A ' little bonedust should bo added just > before Bowing. As soon as the seedlings j arc big enough they should be thinned out, and during their whole period of growth the hoe should bo kept at work j among the plants. zinnias! | Zinnias are most ucsful'Tor providing a 1 flno dißplay of flowers just at a. time

> when the summer flowers arc over, am i the autumn oiicb rcarcely out. For dry i Eunny gardens, thoy r.re exceedingly use i ful, provided the soil is well prepared be I forehand. To grow ?inuias successfully I tne soil should be due; to a good depth and a good Quantity of well-rotted nianun 1 should bo worked in. Special attentioi 1 should bo paid to the subsoil in hoavj soils, as zinnias will not thrive milesi good drainage is provided. Zinnias lilti plenty of sunshine, but they also liki ' good, ricli decayed manure or vegetabh . rubbish to root into. Like most annuali thev appreciate a little limo in the soil Seeds may be sown in tho open ground and the seedlings transplanted as soor as they are big enough to handle. Pineli out the tops of the seedlings as soon ai the plants aro a few inches high, to in fluce bushy growth. Double giant zinnia! make a brilliant show when mixed colour! ' aro grown in groups or masses. Tin 1 flowers laßt for a long time iu watci when cut. SWEET SULTAN. Sweet Sultan is not often seen in the small garden, and yet it is one of the most easily grown of i.lants, and out that makes a great display all through the summer and autumn. Tho plants ar« quite hardy, and seedlings sown in the autumn come through the winter well, and flower early in the summer. The flowers are beautiful—soniethiiie' like a glorified thistle—and the colours arc white, yellow, pink, silvery lilac; and purple. A group of plants gives a "girt, dainty effect, in a mixed border. The flowers of sweet sill tan are among tho most valuable in tho cut flower class. Thoy last for qnitc a fortnight in water, and the daintv flowers are borne on vciv long stemf, which makes them oasy to arrange in vases or bowls. Like most annuals, tho plants appreciate deeply-worked soil, and a dressing of lionedust worked into tho surfr.cfl just before the seed is sown. SUTTON'S ItED SUNFLOWER, Sut.ton'3 red sunflower 1b n charming addition to the autumn-flower annuals. In appearance it is very much like a giant gaillardia, and its colouring—cinnamon red, with a yellow band round the edges ol tho petals-is most effective. To bo seen at, its best it should be grown in bold groups of from five to rinc plants. Seeds may be sown in deeply-dug. well-enriched soil. A sunny position iB essential. When Lhe seedlingß are a few inches high, the topß should bo pinched off to ensure more bushy growth, but where tall plants and large flowers are preferred, this should not be done. SALVIA. Salvia is so difficult to bring through the winter that, it is teat to treat it as an annual. Salvia is one of the moat eorgeous of the border plants. It allows to advantage best when grown in groups or in a whole bed. The brilliant scarlet flowers are produced so freely that the bushes become simply a blaze of colour. Seeds may be sown now. KOCHIA TRICHOPHILA.. This is a charming little annual that is grown entirely for its foliage. The leaves are very finely cut, and during the summer arc a pretty shade of green. But it is not until the autumn that the plant attains its full beauty. Then tho foliage becomes tho most wonderful shades of crimson and purple, that blend well with the rich tones of chrysanthemums and dahlias, and the delicate shades of cosmos and Michaelmas daisies. The bushes are upright and compact, growing to a height of two or three feet. The soil should not be too 1 rich, but rich enough to allow oven growth. Seeds may be sown now in seed pans. VEGETABLES. nnuesEiiS sprouts. Where these aro to be grown the ground should be prepared as soon as possible. It should be deeply dug. and rich. In small gardens it is lirtter to buy a few plants from a relianle grower, and a dwarf variety"Bhould be chosen. Where seed is to be sown it Bhould be done now, either in seed nans or in seed beds in the open. See that seedlings are never allowed to suffer from dryness at the rOotß. TOMATOES. Tomato plants have already made their aDpearanco in seed shops. Those who bavs a well-drained soil could experiment with a few plants, provided they cover them nt night and on cold, stormv days with benzine tins or boxes. But I should not advise amateur gardeners to plant their m-iri "rcn yet. '. Continue sowing, nherc necessary, the following seed*:- Lettuces, beet, onions, radishes, carrots, turnips, peas, and parsnips. fiarden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Gladioli, routine work, and vegetables.