GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 160, 2 April 1921, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(B.v “Ko.whai.”) STOCKS. Stocks are really all-the-year-round plants, but I always think that they are at their beat late in tho winter, and during sprint and early summer, for then one gets really massiye heads of bloom on lone, strone stalks. To secure a good supply of plants, seeds of ten-week and Nice stocks may be sown now. The earlyflowerina "Nice’’ stocks are most satisfactory ones to grow, for the plants flo-wer over a lone period, and the flowers are long-stemmed. In thia section the bestknown variety is "Beauty of Nice” with pale pink flowers. There are other varieties with lilac, nurple, pale yellow, and white flowers, and all are beautiful. Stock seed should always be sown in n. shallow pan. the idea being to discourage any attempt at a tan-root being formed. Plants that do produce a tap-root should have it cut off at transplanting time. To be successful with stocks the gardener must nlant them in rich ground. If possible plenty of well-decayed manure should be dug into the second suit. Bonedust should be put in' with the seedlings at planting time. The soil should be kept well cultivated, and the growth of fibrous roots encouraged. That the plants like sand in their soil may be seen by the flourishing annearance of those that are growing in sandy seaside gardens. Stock plants are verv often attacked bv anhis during dry weather, but if they are thoroughly and frequently syringed with clear water they may be kept free. Plants that are growing vigorously in rich soil are seldom attacked. ICELAND POPPIES. Seeds of Iceland poppies may be sown now. Mix the seeds with' a little fine sand before sowing so that they may be well distributed. As soon as the seedlings are big enotzrh to handle plant them outin their flowering ciuarters. A little sand sprinkled round the roots when transplanting will be much appreciated by tho plants. In gardens where the soil is heavy and not too well drained, it would be as well to leave the seedlings in tho seed-pan until early in the spring, when plenty of sand should be added to the soil before the seedlings qre planted out. ROUTINE WORK. At this time of the year there are verv few flowers brightening our garden beds, and it is with real -latitude that we pause to look at bold cliimns of Scarborni'.th and Belladonna lilies, the former witff brilliant scarlet, and the latter with dainty pink or white flowers. Here and 'there, too., clumps of meadow saffron (colchicum) make little patches of brightness, for the dainty rosy-purple crocus-like flowers are pushing un from the bare soil. Their habit of flowering before the leaves appear gives them rather a naked annearance, and to hide this and also to prevent the dainty flowers becoming mud-splo,shed during wot weather gardeners often carnet the soil with some dwarf-growing foliage plant. Autumn crocuses, too. are just beginning to peen above the soil. Autumn crocuses are generally more satisfactory than spring ones, for nt |his time of the year there are not many slugs, and sparrows aye neither so hungry nor so mischievous as they are in snnng. Where a. mulch of decayed leaves, vegetable rubbish, or manure was spread over the bulbs early’ In January the flowers will be specially tine. No sooner nave one or two of the dainty little flowers opened in the warm sunshine than hosts of others come ouickly crowding up until their .nart of tho garden is carpeted with glorious gold, or cool-looking dainty white. Among herbaceous plants golden rod (solidago), .-Japanese anemones, lecr.otis leonorn, anti late Michaelmas daisies give bright touches of colour here .and there. Dahlias are still flowering well, and latesown annuals, such as phlox drummondii. nemesla. and French marigolds are making n great .show. , Belladonna Lily (Amaryllis Belladonna). —One sees isolated specimens in nearly every garden, but how few gardeners have a really bold patch of the?'! beautiful, and fragrant flowers! One is rather surprised at this, for the bulbs flower at a time when'flowers .are very scarce, and the flowers themselves pro snlcndid tor cutting for the house, The cultivation of the plants is. most simple.. They like a light, deen. rich, sandy soil, and should be planted about six inches deep,. Once planted, the bulhs should be left undisturbed for several years. One important, point in their cultivation is the cnoicc of situation. The bulbs should be planted where they get winter sun. but are sheltered from frost. This is to allow the foliage, which enmes after the flowers to grow well, and become well ripened, for unless the foliage is able to secure and mature n good supply of food for tho bulbs, the flowering during the following season will not be satisfactory. Plant bulbs now. , Rr.arbnrough Lllv (Vallota. Pnrnurea). • This lllv rnouirno much the same treatment as the Belladonna, lily. Tn the North Island it prows well in the onen garden. It should be riven plenty of water during the growing rwin. and protection from verv hot sunshine. Cosmos.— (losmas plants are just opening their drintv flowers, and soon the bushes will be among the most attrnct-'v" ■jubtprts in the autumn Careful Btakiuu is most important for the branches ore exceptionally brittle just as flo'-ering begins and the plants have still to fa'" milch boisterous weriher. Th" root" o■rnsmbs make n mri-H’to growth close to the surface of the soil, and thev ver" «nnrec i o*'' n Tnuk*h. b<?incr .snrenn nhove them. Well-decayed cow manure i« srimd'd for this mulch, but well-decayed vegetable rubbish or leaves do unite well. Water can be supplied to the plants through the mulch. , Gladioli—As aoon as the foliage begins to. fade the corms may be lifted and stored away for the winter. Corms of early-flowering varieties should be planted as toon ns possible. Before Planting them dig the soil very deenlv. and add to it some well-decayed vegetable, rubbish and a dressing of bonedust. Spread a layer of river or silver sand for the’corms to rest . on. .... u_„ia Trises —English and Spanish irises should be Planted as eoon as possible to allow- the bulbs time to make strong roots before thev send up their flowering r.tems. A light, sandy soil, to which some decayed vegetable rubbish and a dressing of bonedust have been added, is moat suitable for irises. Iris bulbs increase' so cutchly that it is necessary, to lift them every Second year. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown this week where ne c C ar?otB V -S r ow _ thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Thev may be eown where peas or French beans have iust been pulled Turnips.—Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous cron. Make the ground very firm, and should it he ary thoroughly saturate it with water several hours before sowing the seed. thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Shade the drills from hot sun till the seedlings are up; then hoA constantly. Matured soot, should be dusted over the seedlings as soon as they -anoear. for it is the first smooth leaves that the fly attacks. Silver Beet—Sow in dpenly-ducr. fairly rich soil, in drills 18 inches apart. Thin out the seedlings to one foot apart. Onions—Make the soil very firm -by treading on it before sowing. Do this when the aoil is dry. Sow the seed in drills 12 inches apart. Cabbage. Cauliflower, and Lettuce—bow thinly in seed-pans in moist, sandy soil. Keen’ the .pans under the shade of trees till the seedlings are up: then move them out into the sunshine. Do not allow the seedlings to suffer from dryness at the roots. ROUTINE WORK. Thin out needling carrot, turnin. etc. Keen winter rreens supplied with water. If rain has fallen make sure that it has penetrated tn the roots before foregoing the usual weekly watering. Remove all crons that over, and at once prepare the ground for the Make a sowing of some cron to be dug in for creep manure where the ground is not. wanted for. immediate use. Ojpar awav rubbish, and either add it- to the rubbish heap, or burn it and save the ash. Cut marrows and pumpkins as they ripen. * Earth-nn celery where necessary. Attend regularly to the needs o£ tomato plants. Harvest onions that are ready. Keep the hoe at work.

"Garden Notes’* next week wilt contain fleasonahlr Y)otr“< about: —TTardv annualB for nrrsmt