GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 60, 4 December 1920, Page 14

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

'I/.C.F."—Spray the plants with a three per cent, solution of Bordeaux mixture. A stronger solution injures the foliage. 'Interested Render."—Tho shrub ia Prostranthera rotundillora.

'W.Q.S."—Tea, but tho fowl manure should lie Gtovcd first of all in tinn between layer* of soil. Havo a layer of manure, then a layer of soil about an inch thick, another layer of manure, and then anafher of coil until the tin ia full. After a few* weeks this may either be dug into the eoil, or used as a top-drcßsiiiL' and hoed in.

CARNATIONS. Just at present our rose tushes are so intensely interestinp: that we find it hard to think of the flowers that are to follow when tho roses arc over. But, slowly but surely, carnations are swelHmr their buds, and before very loni? our plants will li. a mass of fragrant, bloom. Already ono or two of the earlier varieties have oncnci Bomc flowers, and their glorious fragrance helps to make up for the lack of Derrumo in so many of our mont bnautiful roses. Well-Brown carnation plants that are about to flower need a little special attention just now. In the first place they should be well stalled, as otherwise the flowcrlne stalks will lie about on tho Rround. One stake ij not sufficient ; three or four neat ones should be inserted roifnd cach plant. If hoops of wire aro twisted round tho stakes at short intervals abovo one another, tho flowers will be conflncd within tliese, and will have a better chance to display their exnuieUn beauty than if they arc fletf in a tizht buuch to ono unhappy stake. Tho ground round the plants should he kept in a state of fine powder to protect tho roots from drought. Soot water xhould' be fflvon al regular intervals. A little judicious disbudding should be practised, as all tho buds cannot poeslhly onen. By removing these superfluous buds the floworß that develop will ho much finer

Scdllne carnations and rooted cuttings should have been pinched back before this to make them branch'out from tho base. Where this haß been neclcctcd. the plants arc now nendlne up a loner thin flowering stem, and If allowed to perfect-, this flower, will Go exhaust themselves that It will take them a long time to recover. Growers must harden their hearts, and remove tho llowerincr etem at once. With HCixllimr carnations this 1b a hard- thine to do, because one lon&s to see what each plant i'b to be. hut a strong, well-crown plait, is the first essential. Old eoot that lias been well exposed to the air should be dusted over all enrmitinju plants, and soot water he clven to those that are eoin? 'o flower-, or that, are already in flower. They should b° watered also, orcasTonnlly, with very weal: Bait water. Thoir likinsr Tor salt makes carnations ideal plants for bjjblik.' eardens. where thojr. po'ltirely rcve m the salt sea breezes, and Beom to keep healthy. Seed may bo town now ei'her in scetl pans or in the oven ground. The seed cerininates freely, and the seedlingß come aloni quickly. This is a chep.p way of obtaining a- supp.ly o£ carnation plant?, for one gets several good double varieties from a packet of food seed.

ROUTINE WORK. During the. next 'few weeks wo should seize the chanco of raising a eoou supply of perennial plnnts for fillinir our borders next year. Delphiniums, cinerarias, aquilcKias, wallflowerß, pentstemons, carnations., auemones, primroses, polyanthus pprimroßes, sweet. irvpsophila paniculnta, graillarrtinß, Cantorbury bells, Oriental poppies, antirrhinums, doronieums, and 'many other beautiful flowers may alt be Raised froyi (Red sowu dui'injr t-lio next- few weeks. Cineraria seed ahould be 60wn r ln pans containing a mixture of soil, saiid, and leaf-soil. The plants are splendid for tho late sprint: border, where they make a brilliant show. One of the chief charms of cinerarias is that tho.v will grow anywhere, even in the shady border where there Is scarcely a gleam of sunehlno. The soil, should be deeply dug. and should have Band and lenf-Boil mixed with It. Oultlngs of pentstemons.. geraniums, renal pelargoniums, antirrhinums, vorbonas, lavender, etc., that were takon In the autumn Bhould he well rooted by now, and may be planted out Into their permanent quarters. Spread the roots out evenly, cover Ihera with fine soil, press this down firmly, and shade the plants from hot Bun for a day or two. If tho plants are moved Just before a shower of raiii, they won't realise that they havo ever been movod, but will at once take hold of the soil (provided it has been made ouite firm about nicely Bpread out rooiB) and continue growing.

Pansieo liaye been floworiuir profusely for aome time now. and if all tho dead blooms arc promptly removed will continue to do so. Bo far this season there has been no need to water tiie plants, but nhnuld it dry npoll set. in they should bu ffiven one eood watering and should then have a mulch Bpread round them. Where it can be obtained, a mulch of well-de-cayed manure may be spread round tho plants In any case. Lift' an the shoots and tuck the manure well In round the nlants It. is surprising what a difference this treatment. makeß to them! In a week or two they \vill have spread right over the mulch, and tho whole border will be a maa3 of long-stemmed flowers. Weak liquid manure and .plenty of soapsuds should be Bunplied to the plants. Wallflowers may be sown now In seed pans, and the seedlings planted out into a spare part of the garden as soon ao they aro bis cnoutrh- to handle. If tho tap root is Bninpcd off at the time of transplanting. tho seedlings will develop a nice bunch of fibrous roots before they are again moved ■ into thoir beds in the autumn.

Thore seems to be no end to the gales season, and one is kept busy rtaking and tying up day after day. One is afraid to take any risks, even with plantß that iii'nn ordinary season can manage without stakes.

VECETADLES. The frcque.nt showers are causing -veeds to grow very quickly. They should bo pulled out from among trowing crops before the root", get too good a hold. ITo"ine is necessary aB soon as the ground Is dry enough after each rain, for the sun and the wind soon cjiko the soil, aiyj then a" Ihc moisture supplied by the rain Is out-.kly evaporated and so lost to the crops. It is only by keeping an inch or two ol !W)se, fine foil on, the surface that we can keep the moisture down whero the roots need it. Turnips should bo sown frequently and ir small quantities, becanae they are apt to mature all together, and turnlpß are nice only when they are young, ieuier, and Btilf sweet. As licw notntoca are lifted, rake <Tvßt the soil and cet in a row of rt'mirii benns. por<i. carrots, or whatever Is most, needed. Earth up main crops of potatoes by desrrecß. Some gardeners make the mie take of drawing up too much soil at a time. As soon as the shoots appear above ground a little Bun-warmed earth should bo drawn up to them. In a week or two a little more earth should be drawn nn, until by degrees the whole process Is completed. Once the earthing up Is finished, another oron should bo put In between tlie rows of potatoes. If possible air Bome well-rotted' manure into the bottom of the trenches formed by tho earthing up. Then plant there teedllng bages, Bavoys, broccoli, or Brussels sprouts, or make sowings of French beans, broccoli, savoys, etc. Tomato plants should be encouracod to make strong, steady growth. Careful tying to stakes as the plants grow and frequent hoeing* are what the plants need for the next few weeks. Do not feed the plants until the jlrst truss of flowers has Eet its fruit. Keep peas and beans well staked. Draw the earth towards tlio plants as you hoe. Thin out seedling vegetables as soon afi funr. are big enough to handle. Do the thinning out by degrees, first pulling out those seedlings that- are touching and then 111 a few days thinnfner to about nn Inch apart. Keep on thinning every now and then till tlio required dlitance is reached. Always at once make the Boil firm about the seedlings that are left in fciio rowfl. Hcmembcr that soot is invaluable as a fertiliser and use it as frequently as possible. It should be sprinkled alono the rows of onions, carrots, turnips, "peas eto„ and afterwards hood in. The frequency or rain showers durine the present neason makes hoeing mors necossary than ever; therefore, hoe. aool Garden Nates next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Flooring verbenas routino work, and vegetables roemlo .