GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 54, 27 November 1926, Page 28

GARDEN NOTES

(By

"Kowhai.")

BEARDED IRISES.

Among perennial flowers for this time of year the new bearded irises are taking a very important place. In appearance, and habit of growth, they are like tho old flag irises that have always been so popular, but tho colours of these newer irises are gorgeous. Seeing them massed at the recent flower shows has made one long to find room for ever so many, and the wonderful range of colours allows one to fit some of them into any colour scheme. There are colcvutb. too, to suit almost any room, and that makes them popular as cut flowers. In the garden, where they are allowed to grow into big clumps, they are glorious, and they lend themselves readily to bold planting schemes, especially m conjunction with big. clumps of lupins and delphiniums, which flower at the same time. . , The soil they prefer is a light rich one, but in heavy soil, if the long roots are firmly planted, and the rhizome only half buried, they do well. Sun they must clumps increase very quickly. So that if one starts with one root of a variety, it is not long before it may be broken up to form several.

SWEET WILLIAMS. During November hardy flower borders are filled with many gay flowers Oriental poppies, antirrhinums, Spanish irises bearded irises, tree daisies, verbenas, aquilegias, roses, carnations, campanulas, pyrethrums, leptosyne, Iceland poppies, delphiniums, tntonias, lupins and many other brightly-coloured flowers all combining to make the bor der absolutely brilliant. But among them all none nre gayer or more fragrant than the sweet williams They are old-fashioned flowers, but the up-to-date varieties are well worth growing. They should be planted in largo groups, and if plants with flowers of pale pink, salmon pink, cerise, scarlet and dark velvety red are massed, the colours so blend as to form a wonderfully harmonious whole, and the effect__ is briL liant. They fill the garden with frag rance, too, As cut flowers, sweet williams nro charming, especially if arranged rathei closely in large bowls. Sweet williams like a sunny position, plenty of room for each plant, and a little coarse grit or sand in the soil. A little bonedust should be mixed with the soil when tho young plants are put in, and if a mulch of old cow manure can be spread round them early in the spring, fine heads of bloom will be hnd. Plants that are flowering now should bo given a little very weak liquid roan, nre, after a good watering or after rain. Seeds should be eown now to provide a supply of new plants. Buy good seed and buy it if possible in separate colours. VEGETABLES. ROUTINE WORK.

Keep the bed of shallots free from weeds, and pick off the flower stems as they appear. As soon as the seedlings ot pumpkins, marrows, etc., appear through the ground, give them a good watering, and then spread a mulch of grass clippings, or thoroughly rotted vegetable rubbish, round them. This keeps the little roots moist, and gives the plants a chance to make quick growth. Once they begin to spread, the leaves give the roots the shade they love. Give rhubarb liquid manure every two weeks, and remove at once auy flowers that are formed. Onions for pickling may still be sown. The soil should be rather poor and dry, for then the onions are small and firm. The seed may be sown in drills or broadcast, and should be fairly thick. Thinning out is not necessary. . Plant out wherever necessary cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and savoys. “Puddle in” the plants, and, when the water has drained away, make the soil firm round them. See that they oo not suffer from drought afterwards. Tho encouragement of vigorous growth from the start in winter greens is necessary to bring them safely through tho summer. Thin out carrots, onions, beet, parsnips, etc., as soon as the plants nre big enough to handle. Water the rows of seedlings aa hour or two before thinning out, and again when tho work is finished. Do not thin out too severely the first time. It is better to do it gradually. Make the soil firm about the remaining seedlings as the work proceeds... Clear nway at once all seedlings that have been pulled out. and also decaying cabbage leaves _ nnd lettuces. They only harbour pests if left about. Continue planting out tomato seedlings. Celery may be planted m prepared trenches. The trenches should be dug out to a depth of one foot, some wellrotted manure should be dug into the bottom, nnd about six inches of soil should bo returned. Thoroughly mix a little bonedust (about four ounces', to a running yard) with the soil that is returned to tho trench. If the trenches are made only a short time before transplanting takes place, the soil should be made firm by being trampled upon, for celery does better when grown in firm soil. Before transplanting the seedlings, add two inches of very fine soil and a slight dressing of soot or ashes from a rubbish fire. Plant the seedlings about six or eight inches apart, shade from tho sun for a few days, and sprinkle the plants with water morning and evening. As soon as growth has well started, liquid manure should be supplied.