GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 72, 18 December 1920, Page 17

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowbai.") * ' EARLY-FLOWERING GLADIOLI. Early-flowering gladioli are liayiiiK a loiip season tUia year, for although' "The Uricft" aud- "The Blushing, Urida" . aro over; all the pink aud salmon varieties aro at their best. Where they have becu' planted in bold groups, in ilie border, or clustered along, tho edge, of o- stream, they aro indeed charming. In the shady garden they aro still only in bud. ao that those vrho have them growing in auch a position will- be able to enjoy their, dainty flowers for some time to come.. I i But orico they are :Over, the faded flosvyrs i I become an absolute blot in the garden. Tho bigger and more glorious the cluiuns have'been, the worse the blot.. One loukb to root them' -out; or sweep them out of existence with a clean cut from a sin? kle. -But: there-} ifl next year--to tmnk about', and if tvo want a show-, of their lovely flowers then the leaves must,be left .to manufacture ■ food now. During the "flowering season tho corms become very much exhausted, but no Booner ib it • over than the workoosf s replenishing the 'storehouse begins. The rootß send tho raw food, to tho leaves, where-it if converted into mature food and sent McK to the coruis and roots. If we' cut off tho leaves, therefore we canuot expect to have plump, strong oorms capable tof producing r fine spikes :of bloom during the following Beason. There remains but ono thing ' to 'do-ra "tedious thing—and that is to go round' with a basket- and scissors and . snip off carefully every 'faded flower head, taking care that the leaves %r* left to store Up precious food for tho coming year. As soon as' their work-is done, thoy, of theifr own accord will fade and die, '

BOUTINE "WORE. . • Tho Argentine pubescens —should- now' bo cut back to within -a •foot or eighteen inches'of "the ground. The surface soil should be loosened, and the ground thoroughly 6oaked with clear, watter. - A mulch of cow manure should then bo -placed round cach plant. In preparing the mulch if is.best to'soften tho clods of manure in a bucket -of- water, Btirring them till it thick mixturo is formed; If this is spread round the roots any liquid, will at once soak into the wet soil, and the insoluble part will form a nice mulch. If cow manure ' cannot bo had, wont into the soil \a sprinkling of •guano '{procurable -at ,a; sfeed merchant s), and spread a mulch of ilccay6d Vegetable rubbish. As soon as the new shoots ap*. pear, they should be trained into ©lace up their supoorU. 1 As soon as any plant lias finished flow, ering it'should be cut back, or, ur. tho case of annuals, rooted up, and its place taken by. something that will'flower later oh. ' • ~ .. * Such things as French .and African marigolds, phlox drummonan, ana annual gypsopliila may bo sown at intervals till tho end of January. Mignonette may be sown at., any time, and .one cannot have too much of it in tho garden. All of theßo:''will give a good'display of. flow ere when the spring-BowU .annuals 'are °\'iolets should be carofully watched for red spider. During dry weather, if tn® leaves are not kept clean and iree from dust, x thla pest soon attack? them. >b a rule, unless watched for, it is not noticcd till it Una a, Kood'hod of Jhe plants. Violet .plants bhould be kept well Byringed with clean water, .care being taken to-keep the underside of the leases well washed. ■ Not' more than four runners Bhould be allowed to each plant. Thesa ■ should 'he pegged down to make roots for themselves. .The coil about the plants should be'kept well .a To secure early flowering, ..It is necessary to see-that our plants are mailing- good growth now.- ■ •, * .a. Small .green caterpillars are already at work on many plants; They, detected-because ■ they fold J c '\ f where they'"are-, at:-Work. ■ Jußt IheMcaf with. tho fly comes again and-again. lh».trouble is that bo many weeds and- v>i!« wings are.attacked by.it, and the S loft there unnoticed to multiply ana spread into our ■ gardens. • bpraymg iMth aoapsuds .regularly,. or. eyen 1 water will keep. the. plants clean.-- Flow ering'shrubs, such as lilac, oar l y . drons, . azaleas, -mock orange, etc., Bliould havo.shoots that have- borne flower i cut back a little. In the . ease of rhodoto- ■ drons dead .flower heads, should be gently screwed off.. Attending to.the. cutting back of-these flowering shrubs helps to seciire a plentiful. Bupply of flowers nex ■ DaiphneH growing In hot, dry situations •should be well watered, and should then haye a. mulch of some old litter spread round them. It- is most important that .daphnes;should.have a cool, root run at all ■ times. Rhododendrons and a galeae should also receive this , attention. Knoao-. dendrons,are splendid flowering shrubs to grow. ,Qne of thfir ■ greatest charms is. that;- thov aro evergreen, antl-bo.v aro. always- -beautiful.- .There are such .numbersof- varieties, both, early and late,, that one can have rhododendrons in flower over quite an : extended period.

vecetabi.es. .Vegetable gardens are booking, very- attractive at proseiit, for the crops have colue on 'Well during the last lew -wecka. After the' fljwer garden, where bold masses of'flowers are allowed to ; run one into the other, and even to spill.themselves upon the path,' the straight rows, anil extreme.tidiness of the.vegetable garden are a pleasant pliange. -_ Already lettuces are pulling out crinkly ereon leaves in readinoss to shelter: the crisp, tender hearts/ while every day radishes' lire ; -pushing their- pmK or -white shoulders out 'of the noil as if to> show us that they are ready, tobo pulled.. Cabbages and cauliflowers - have been making giant' loaves for. soma .weekß. past, ■and day ; by- day- tho ■ plants • are neanng .nerfection, for the- daintily Tolded .loaves irthe centre of tho are. sheltering tiny white buds, and the -tlrirtinSldod leaves-of the cabbages .are swelling - into big, firm hearts, along, tho neatly staked rows of peas are a, great attraction, for there are Pfantß at almoßt every stage, some already bearing pods that wo know are filled with tender peas so -unlike the bullet-like variety that we-so often buy in Bhops. The tall, straight-rows of broad beans aie laden with: 'tempting-looking Pcds. and Vqqt) quo busy . picking. Close ni. tlieishade aid rowß of . dainty white turnips, which are fast : spoiling into , fair : size.d roots. ' At present they are , receiving special attention .from the. gardener in tho way' of watering and Hoeing,. ho knows that turnips are nlce ir "° l^ l^'\ e " thov are sweet /ind .tender. Thei slowlygroL oneß alvraVs develop, "ribs," and a V "parsnips, and -onions nil Save• their 1 own attraction- and knowing what' reliable -winter crops, they arc, w. give them every-care., liut.at present .wo tiirn' with- keener interest to their nfcxt neighbours, French-and butter b.eans. In sheltered garden! l - these are already 111 Bed, and' more than one gardener hnß hopes of picking a disn-for Christmas. Tomatoes have ■ come on very well, some of the plants already bearing trusses ,of fruit, while runner beans aro simply, racing up their supports. The thick coo> lookirig border of parsley givCß a fitting finish to this attractive garden. Marrows,--pumpkins, and. cucumbprs are growing •• in- another part ot the garden where- they, may have all the room they want, and the .'plants are senuiug out long shoots in every direction.. In, tome.gardens, custard and bush marrows nre growing with the other .vegetables, bu£ only where' there is plenty , of space. So far this season there has been little need for watering, but there lias been, and still -is, much need for. the-constant use ef the lioe. > ,-