GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 274, 13 August 1921, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

(By

"Kowhai.”)

RUMMinkFLOWERUiG PERENNIALS. For ths average amateur gardener' perennial plant* are by far too most satisfactory, and sire the least amount, of trouble. Many pereamlals, onoe plailv ®d. require. with the exception of aii annual top-dressing, litfile further attention. and yet they incpeaso in beauty year by year as the clumps grow. Wlums, delphiniums, Japanese anemones. Oriental poppies, phloxes, thalictrum dlpterooarpun. and many other perennial subjects, belong tp this class, and, provided that they are top-itressed with a suitable mulch onto a. year, ana that staking is attended to, the clumps ■will last for many years without being lifted and broken up. Empty spaces should, be filled, In now. for nurserymen have many plants ready, and in making your choice try to have something foi each season of the year. Pay strict attention to the preparation of tho soil for perennial plants and malto them thoroughly comfortable, in their now homes for many of them do noVutihe being disturbed once thej aue D Tho following’ are hardy and suitable. *°£lstroetaeriiw^This is a moat useful plant both for garden and house decoration. The hlanta have fleshy roots, ana are sometimes a little difficult to establlsn. They require a well-drained, norOUS soil, and as it is advisable to pW the roots about nine inches deep, thorough breaking up of the subsoil is d •ary. Once established they pref* be left undisturbed for a number of years. The flowers are splendid for cutting, for besides being most attractive they last for a long time in water, and are easily arranged. lly only objection to aJstroemerias is that they are - apt to take possession of a garden if . they like it,, but this can be avoided if a tub with tho bottom knocked out is pushed well down into the soil a-round the clump. On the other hand, one of their greatest charms is that they will often grow in a spot where nothing else will thrive, and make it beautiful. Antirrhinum.—-Antirrhinums are most easily grown perennials, and flower tor the greater part, of the year. For crowing in hot. dry districts they are splendid To get the beat results the soil should be deeply dug. and fairly rich. A dressing of bonedust may be added as the seed- . lings are put into the ground. Seedling plants may be put out now for summer flowering, and seeds may. be sown to provide plants for a succession. There are many lovely varieties on the market nowadays, including shades of pinkj ydllow? salmon, cirange-scarlet, dark velvety red. and pure white. Campanula Pyramidaiis.—This campanula is a noble plant for growing at the back of a border. The soil should be deeply dug, and fairly rich. Staking is of the utmost importance for tho flower stalks grow to a height of two or three feet. The colours of the flowers are blue or white. -The plants flower towards the end of the summer, and well into the autumn. . ' Carnations.—Oarnations like an open situation and a light, well-drained soil Heavy eoils should be trenched. and lightened by the addition of sand, road grit, and powdered mortar. Cannas.—Cannas are handsome border plants, and a-ro quite hardy in most parts of New Zealand. At one time they were grown mostly for their foliage, but now we grow them for their richlycoloured, glorious flowers. n ’Plants of named varieties may be '•'"bought; or seeds may be sown in spring. The seeds should bn soaked in hot water for several hours before being sown. The soil for cannas should bo deeply worked, and moderately rich. During the growing season water should bo supplied regularly. and mulching attended to. As the flowering season approaches weak liquid manure should be given to the plants regularly. Coreopsis Gfandiflorq-.—This is one ot the most showy of oiir summer flowers. The iovely golden-yellow flowers are borno on long stiff stems, in the greatest profusion, throughout the season. The ‘XI 'cultivation of the plants is of the sim- ’ •nlest— deeply-worked enil, and a sunny /position? A dressing of bonedust may be worked into tho soil at planting time. that seed pods are removed, thq ,Yi.“Tslants have a very long flowering season ’ Dahlias.—Single and collarette dahlias grow Splendidly from seed. If it is sown now in u cold frame or cool greenhouse the plants will flower all through the summer and autumn. The flowers are splendid for cutting, and are most showy In the garden. Tho soil should bo rich and deeply worked. An abundance of water and good mulches should be given all through the growing season. Dormant tubers may bo started into growth now in gentle heat. Delphiniums—Delphiniums require well-

n, dug. well-manured soil. If animal man- "" *uro can bo had. dig in a good supply before planting out the seedlings, taking care, however that it does not come in contact with the roots of the plants. Where animal mature is not obtainable, dig in some well-rotted vegetable matter, and a- dressing cf bonedust. Delphiniums are most valuable both for garden decoration and as cut flowers, for they flower early in. the summer, ~4 a oid again in tho autumn, when flowers in the herbaceous border are scarce.

?ai. Gaillardias— For hot. dry districts and ' sandy soils iraillardtas are unequalled. Their lovely flowers are produced in profusion all through the summer and autumn. Tho soil should be deeply worked, and if some well-decayed vegetable matter can be worked into it. so much the better. A little bonedust should be added where each plant is to go. Gerbera Jamcsonii.—Gorbcra, or the • African daisy, .is one of tho most gorgeous of our perennial garden plants. The daisy-like flowers are vivid scarlet ■ in colour and are borne on very Jong • stems. The gerbera hybrids include, flowers of various shades of colour, such as white, pale yellow, salmon, etc. Gerbera is apt to bo cut down by frost, and should therefore ba planted where it will bo loact affected The requirements of tho piant arc n, sunny position, and for soil a sandy loam. The flowers are produced over a long period, and last splendidly in water. Gypsophila Paniculata.—Who is not familiar with this most useful summerflowering perennial? One can scarcely Imagine a bowl ot sweet peas without a graceful spray or two of gysophila. Tho plants like a well-drained, deeplyworked. fairly-rich soil. Once planted they should not be disturbed for many years, as tho roots resent, interference. After tho flowering season is over, plants should bo given a mulch of well-decayed manure. If this is net possible, prick some bonedust into the soil about tho plants, and cover them with some wellrotted vegetable rubbish. Gaura. Llndheimeri. —Gaura is one of the most useful perennial plants that it is possible to grow, ns well as one of the most effective. During the whole of summer and autumn, tho plant is covered with quantities of long, graceful sprays of white flowers. It succeeds well In hot. dry districts, and during the early part of tho autumn may be relied unon to All in„baro gaps that are caused bv the summer flowers being over, and the autumn ones scarcely out. Seeds may be sown now under glass. A light, dry soil Is most suitable for gaurnj heavy soils should be deeply dug, and lightened in tho usual way.

VEGETABLES. A few rows of early potatoes may be planted at any time now. Open out •hallow trenches three feet apart. Do this if possible in the morning <>f a •unny day. If you have some thor-. oughly decayed and welkswectened manure. spread a thin layer in the bottom of tho trenches, and-leave the trenches open all day. By the afternoon the sun will have warmed the inside of the trenches, and also tho soil that is to be put back on top of the potato seta. Whero thoroughly - decayed animal manure cannot be had. try to get eomo good stuff from a compost heap, or some well-decayed and sweetened vegetable rubbish for the bottom of the trenches. Potatoes can do with plenty of potash, and wood ashes or rubbish fire ashes, which contain a good percentage of potash, should bo added freely to the soil where they aro to bo grown. If tho potato sets are about tho size of fl, good hen’s egg, they should be planted whole. If very large, they must bo cut. Leave only two strong sprouts on esch sot, and choose only well-shaped potatoes. If tho sets ara planted diirluar tho afternoon in sun-warmed tranches, and ara ooverod with sunwarmed earth, they are given a good •tart and growth soon commences. Garden Notos 'next week will contain seasonablo notes about:—Summer-flower. Ing perennials (continued), and vegetables.