GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 208, 28 May 1921, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

Eli UH COTINUS,

As a rule tho eumnchu are srown lor their foliage, which colours so brilliantly tn the autumn. When planting these shrubs or trees for the purpose of nroviaInsc brilliant colouring in the grounds during autumn, cure should be taken to

plant them in around that Is not too rich, for it is the bushes growing in rather poor soil that colour best. Those growing in very light soil or in sand rarely colour at all. Rhus cotinus, in addition to colouring brilliantly in the autumn, boars during summer the most curious-looking heads of tf eR ? heads are not unlike tho fluffy, silky seed pods of onr native clematis, but the colour is heliotrope, tinged with green. Not only are they curious, but they are also moat beautiful, and make delightful room decorations. The spikes of heliotrope flfiflftness look very light and graceful when arranged in bowls or vases, and they last fresh in water for a very long time. E-HUS GLABRA LACINIATA.

This is another very beautiful sumach with prettily cut foliage which becomes crimson in the autumn. The sumachs are • plendid for planting in our clay hillside gardens, where they make a vivid splash of colour during tho autumn months. CIST US. Those gardeners who have a poor eandy soil should make uso of the clblub family. Tho shrubs aro low-growing, and showy when they are in. flower, rney should be given a position whero they get plenty of sun. Cistus ladaniferus has White flowers with dark red snots at the base of each petal. % . Cletus lusitanicus (rook rose) ib white with rose snots. Other varieties have pure white flowers, and C. Albidus has pale purple flowers. DELPHINIUMS. Delphiniums are glorious garden plants when they are well treated. They uiay be had in every shade of blue, and whea massed they make, with their dinerent shades and varying heights, a moat satisfying and charming picture. They are exquHlt© too for putting in bowls or jars in the house. , . , ~ The scarlet delphinium is glorious when in flower, for the flowers aro pure scarlet. Seedlings should be planted out now as soon as possible. . , . Tho ground for delphiniums should oe deeply dug and well manured. As soon as the foliage dies down the plants should be covered, if possible, with farmyard manure They soon grow into splendid clumps, which need breaking up onky every four or five years. Water must be given during dry weather, or the flowers will be stunted. A whole bed of dolphin* iums is well worth growing, but where there is not room for this they should be plantea in groups at the back of a long border or in the centre of a small bed. PLANTING CURRANTS AND GOOSEBERRIES. Befoi’e planting currant and gooseberry bushes tho soil should be very deeply dug, and should have a good supply of farmyard manure mixed with it. If farmyard manure is not obtainable, use well-decayed vegetable rubbish. . Black currants aro more moieture-loving than other bush fruits, and appreciate the presence of well-decayed , vegetation where their roots can reach it. Currant and gooseberry bushes should be planted about nix feet apart each yay. Where the soil io a heavy one. a little basic slag may be pricked in round established bushes during July; where the soil is light, superphosphate may be need and should bo applied, tov.ardn the end of August. During dry weather bushes should bo given the help of a suitable mulch.

PRUNING. Gooseberries may be pruned as soon as tho leaves begin to fall. Attention should oe paid to keeping the bush open in the centre. Badly placed shoots, and those that are too near the ground, should be cut right out. Shoots growing towards the centre should be shortened to about three buds. Tho strongest and best placed growths of the preceding season should be left untouched, for these bear the finest fruits. ~ , , , Red currants should have all lateral growths cut back to two buds, and the leaders to six or eight buds. Young shoots near the base of the tree should be cut out- . , Black currants merely have the old wood cut out to the nearest healthy shoot, and the new shoots thinned where they aro too thick. Unlike red currants, black entrants should bo encouraged to produce new shoots from the base of the bushes. With black currants the fruit is borne on the voting wood: with red and white currants it is borne on the old spurs, and on the base of the ehoots of the previous year s growth. RHUBARB. New roots of rhubarb may be planted during this month and the next. The ground should first be well dug and richly manured. The best rhubarb for small gardens is "Topp’s Winter.” This bears during the whole winter at a, time when fruit for pies, etc., is scarce. It is quite hardy and the flavour is good. Plants that arc coming on now will bo benefited by an application of the following liquid manure: —Three ounces of soot and six ounces of guano placed in a piece oi coarse bagging, and then allowed to stand in ten gallons of water. Give each plant a good soaking. Remove decayed leaves from old plants, fork round them, and cover them with a mixture of decayed leaves and manure. If stable manure cannot he procured work into the soil round tho plants some bonedust, and then cover with decayed leaves. Old stools of rhubarb may be lifted, divided. and replanted in new ground. See that each piece has a good strong crown. Should the ground by any chance be fairly dry at the time of planting, sunwarmed water should, be supplied to the roots. Where the soil is very light it may be necessary to move rhubarb roots each year to a new. well-manured position, for the plants soon exhaust the soil about them. Any flowers that are produced on plants that are bearing should be promptly removed.

VEGETABLES. Peas that were sown early in the month are coming on well. See that they are kept growing steadily, and that they aro protected from such enemies as slugs, sparrows, etc. Where greens are likely to bo scarce early in the spring a sowing of turnips may be made now. Well-grown turnip-tops make a delicious vegetable. Cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce plants rnay still be planted. The seedlings should he protected from sparrows by means ot black cotton threads. Bend a leaf over broccoli or cauliflowers that are maturing. It will protect the flowers from heavy frost. Avoid if possible walking between the rows of vegetables when the ground is very dauw. If you inust do ho, lay plauliß to tread upon. . . . Dig. trench, and manure during suitable weather all ground that is not iu use. Bury njentv of vegetable matter, ana leave the surface eoil rough for the wind, rain and frost to work upon. Sprinkle lime between the rows of growing crops and then hoe it in. Lime is a direct plant food, and is used in considerable quantities by some plants. It sweet-, ens sour soil, and causes a richer and healthier growth in plants. Turnips, beans and peas are specially benefited by the addition of lime to the soil. Lime should not be used at the same time as animal manure. If manure Is used in the autumn, lime should be used as a top-dressing in the spring. But ground that is growing vegetables at the present time will not be manured till the snring: therefore, lime may be used now with advantage ns a top-dressing to be worked in with the lioe. . The following seeds may be sown this week where necessary:— Peas—Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. The ground should be trenched and manured, and should have wood o.flhes mixed with it. Dust bonedust m the drills when flowing. Broad Beans.-Sow in drills from two to three feet aport, The ground should be deeply dug. and should have a- good dressing of lime worked into it.

Carrots.—Sow thiuly iu well-worked ground, in drills 12 inches apart. Work soot and a sprinkling of bonedust into tho soil before sowing the Reed. Onions.—Work into the soil plenty .01 soot. some rubbish-fire ash, and a -dresKUig of bonedust. Make the noil very firm by trending on it. but take care not to tread when it is very wet. Sow the seed in drills twelve inches apart. Lettuce.—flow thinly in drills 15 Inches apart in a nunny part of the garden. Tho ground should be deeply dug. well enriched with well-decayed manure, ana made firm again. Cabbage and Cauliflower—Same treatment an for lettuce. Garden Notes next week will contain sellable notes about Flowering trees and shrubs, routine work, and vegetables.