GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 18, 16 October 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") POLTANTHUB PEIMEOSES. Polyanthus primroses aro making a splendid Bhow IUBt now, and plants from Wed sown at this time last year aro Showing splendid heads of bloom. A most attractive border can bo made by planting yellow, cream, and buff shades of polyanthus primroses, blue scilla, forget-me-not, and /hooin-petticoat; na.roiflßi in masses, ao that the groups all run into one another. All theßO plants flower at the eame time,. all are low-growing and tho effect of tho mass of bloom is dainty in the eitreme, and altogether charming. The all-too-frequcnt rain that was tho deßpair of every gardener during August and September was evidently much appreciated by polyanthus primrose plants. They absorbed as much as thev could, and no sooner did tho warmer weather come than they pushed up big liower buds, and opened out their beautiful fragrant flowers. Should the weather become dry, the plants must bo given plenty of water. They are thirsty subjects, but given all tho water tjiry used, and an occasional doso of soot water, they repay one by producing great bunches of blooms on good strong Btems. Polyanthus pri.llrc.seß art eapily raised from seed, which Bhould be sown now in seed pane. The seed is slow to germinate, and the Boil in the panß must-bo kept moist and shaded till the seedlings are up. They will be readv for planting out in tho autumn, and will !-e goodsized flower-bearing plants by tlv following spring. Old plants may bo broken up' and replanted as soon as the llowei-niE season is over. Mix borne-, leaf Foil ai:d plenty of well-rotted manure with the soil, and dig deeply. After planting, water tho plants very .thoroughly, and spread a light mulch all abo"t them. For the summer and autuiua. temllmg violaß, nemesia-. or phlox may bo planted among tho polyanthus primrose plants, The host position for them is one where they aro shaded'from the midday sun. Only, yestei day I noticed the leaves 01 plants fully, exposed to tho sun wilting . very badly 'at' midday. " HQDTINE WORK. Anemones that have been flowering since the beginning of the winter deserve a rest now. Besides, we want seed for our next year's plants. , Tho seed should be chosen from plants that are growing well out in the sunshine, for they will havo the best chance of. ripening seed. Withhold all stimulants from the plants, and leavo the flowers unpicked, Water should still be supplied, however, but in gradually smaller quantities, till the foliage dieß down naturally. As soon as this happens tho plants may be covered with a mulch of well-rotted vegetable rubbish or very old animal manure. So treated, the plantß will lie quiety. at rest till autumn rains, soaking into the ground, call them to work again. ~ , , Plantß of aquilegia, are now particularly attractive, for the dainty fragile-looking flowers are out in profusion. Greenfly quickly attacks the tender shoots of the flowering stems, but syringing with warm soapy water will keep the plants clean and healthy. • , . Eose bußhes meedi careful watching. Greenfly, caterpillars, and mildew must all be looked for. Far the flrßt mentioned, syringing with soap suds is necessary, for the second, hand-picking; for the third, dusting with flowors of Bulphur while the foliage is still damp with dew. Sowings of primroses, polyanthus, primroses, sweet William, Canterbury bells, wallflowers, early Brompton stocks, aquileglas, freesias, carnations, gypsopmla, antirrhlnumß, and pentstcmons may bo made now. Slugs lwje already found the young buds ■■ of.pansy plants. The surest way of getting rid of them is by catching them when thev come out to feed just after dusk.

. .. SINGLE CHRYSANTHEMUMS. . Before amateur gardeners complete their chrysanthemum planting, I should like to put in a plea for the Bingle flowered varieties. As decorative plants they are ■charming, both for the garden and for the house, for tho flowers are so light and dainty that scarcely any disbudding ib necessary. In tho garden bushes becomo a mass of beautiful bloom, and they never have the heavy, tightly-packed look that double chrysanthemums have when disbudding has not been practised. In bowls or vases the single-flowered varieties are so easily and effectively arranged that every year there is an increasing demand for them as cut flowers. Specialists have now introduced a type with three or four rows of ray florets Tho flowers of tins variety are much more serviceable than those of thp old single variety, with only one row of rav florets. The culture of single-flowered chrysanthemums is the same as for the other varieties. During September and October rooted cuttings are put out in well-pre-pared ground. Ab soon as the, leading shoot is about blx inches high it is pinched back. Several other shoots, aro then formed, and these in turn are pinched back as soon as they are several inches high.. Tho result of this pinching is that fine ,bushy plants of medium height, are produced. During October and November the .soil about the plants should be kept well hoed. Early in December a little blood and bonedust" (mixed) mar be pricked into the soil about tho plants. A thorough watering should then be given, to be followed immediately by a suitablo mulch. Stakes should be supplied at an early date, and the growths Bhould be Becured to them from time to timq. If a little thinning o/t of the budß is practised, tho flowers rfill be larger, and thn naturally light effect of the flowerladen branches much emphasised.

HYACINTHS. As Boon as tho flowers have faded the flowering Btems should be cut off to prevent seed being formed. In the process of maturing seed much energy is expended that would otherwise be concentrated on the developing and building up of the bulbs. And if good flowers are desired next BOaßon, the bulbs mußt have every chance to ctore up the necessary food. The leaves should be left untouched, and they will die down naturally when tho plant has no further use for them. vecetabi.es. Seeds that may be Bown tliie week, where necessary, are:— Radish-Sow broadcast, in rich, firm ground. Carrot.-Sbort Horn and Intermediate. Sow thinly in drills twelvo inches apart. • Turnip-Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous crop, or in ground that was manured early in the autumn, Make the ground very firm. Sow thinly in drills twelve inches apart. Keep the ground as moist as possible, dust soot over the seedlings frequently. Garden Swede.—Same treatment as for turnips. Sow thinly in drills 18 incheß apart, and thin out to six or eight incheß in. the rows. Peas-Sow in drilh from two to three feet apart. Ground should bo trenched and manured, and should have wood ashes mixed with it. Dust bonedust in tho drills at the.time of Bowing. Soak the peas in warm water for a few hours before sowing. Provide strands of black thread at the time of sowing; otherwise sparrows will dig up and eat the Beed. Parsnips-Sow in ground that was well manured for a previous crop. Work the Boil to .a fine tilth for a depth of 18 inches, wi any lumps may cause the root* *•■> U S. a'nd worthless. Work into t\jo Bui: ashes from a rubbish fire, and boncSuot (4oz. to square yard). Onions.-Mako the soil very firm by treading on it before sowing, and do this onlv when the soil 1b dry. The ground must be rich for onions. Sow the seed in drillß twelve inchos apart. French and Butter Beanß.-Sow in drills two feet apart, and have. the seed six incheß apart in the rows. Dust bonedust in tho drills at the time of sowing, and give a slight dressing of superphosphate as soon as the plants are a couplo of inohes high. . Beet.-A light, sandy soil is tho best for beet. Sow the seed in drills 18 inches apart in ground that was manured for a previous crop. Fresh manure would be most harmful to the roots. The ground should ho deeply dug and made Arm again before the seed is sown. Dust bonedust in . tho drills at tho time of sowing. As soon as the seedlings are big enough to handle, thin them out. Lettueo.-Sow thinly in drills 15 incheß apart, and thin out to nine inches in tho rows. Tho ground Bhould be doeply dud and enriched 'with mil-decayed manure. Bust bonedust in the drillß at the time of sowing the seed. Vegetables to bo enjoyed must bo grown quickly. The greatest aids to quick growth are sufficient moisture and constant hoeing. Whenever eoot car. be obtained, sprinkle it along the rows and hoe it in. It is one of the finest of fertilisers. Seeds of cabbage, savoys, Brussols sprouts, broccoli, and cauliflower should be sown this month. Great care must 'be taken to prevent the Beedlings sufferine: from drought at any time. Seeds of pumpkins, marrows, pie-raolons, and cucumbers may be sown in tho places prepared for them.

Gardens Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Schizanthus, carnations, and vegetables.