GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 60, 4 December 1926, Page 30

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

AGATHAEA COELESTIS.

Bushes of agathaea should now be cut Lard back. The soil may then be well stirred and a sprinkling of bouedust worked in. A thorough watering, and a mulch, either of well-decayed manure or garden rubbish, will help to start the bushes into new growth. Agathaea is a useful winter plant, tor it flowers well regardless of weather, and goes on flowering until the end of spring. The small daisy-like flowers are borne on long stiff steins, and the colour is a delightful shade of forget-me-not blue. The plants flower, off and on, during the whole year, but it is during winter that ono appreciates the flowers most. Agathaea is easily propagated by cuttings, the young shoots that appear elter flowering being chosen They r hould be three or four inches in length, and should be inserted firmly in sandy soil. The plants grow into small shruoa. and during flowering time are a mass of the lovely blue daisy-like flowers.

FLOWERING BROOMSNow that the flowering season is over, flowering brooms-7-the white variety, andreana, and gracilis, should be cut fairly hard back where they are inclined to scraggy growth. As a rule the variety graeilis needs hard cutting every yeat, for it make tremendous growth. Loosen the soil about the plants, prick in a dressing of bonedust, and give them one good watering. The variety Fragrans is just bursting into bloom. ‘ It bears long slender stem-? of fragrant yellow flowers. SWEET SCABIOUS. Plants from the autumn sowing are just opening their flowers, and they will brighten our gardens until well into the winter. One of the most beautiful of the sweet scabious is Azure Fairy, with large lavender-blue flowera. Then there are plants with flowers of primrose-yel-low, cherry-red, dark red,- deep rose, and pink. All the varieties are well worth growing, for they flower over a lon# period, and their colours are brigat and attractive.. As the plants flower so generously they must be treated well. A mulch of well-rotted manure and a good watering now and again are what they enjoy, but failing this, a little bonedust may be pricked into the soil, and a mulch of decayed garden rubbish or grass clippings used. During the flowering season, dead flowers should be promptly removed, and staking and tying up must bo attended to. ROUTINE WORK. Canterbury bells are among our showiest flowers for December but the stems are so brittle, and so heavily laden with flowers, that the merest breath of wind is apt to spoil the plants. li they can be encircled by strong, twiggy sticks, which hold the stems comfortably and naturally in place they are uappier than if tied by string or raffia to upright stakes. Provide such plants as roses, dahlias, delphiniums, chrysanthemums, liliums, azaleas, kaimias, pansies, rhododendrons, newly-planted shrubs and t fruit trees with a suitable mulch. First pull out any weeds loosen the soil thoroughly and then saturate the ground with water. Thoroughly decayed cow or horse manure, decayed garden rubbish, and grast, clippings, are all suitable for mulching. Gypsophila paniculata has been spreading out its branches in all directions lately and if they are not trained into place they are apt to smother everything within their reach. Pink perennial poppies are very beautiful hist now. and the plants send up fresh flowering stems if the faded blooms are removed, and seeds are not allowed to ripen. Give the plants a thorough watering during dry weather, and if possible a mulch of well-rotted manure The plants are at their best in a semishaded position. . The beautiful beladonna delphinium has been very attractive during the past few weeks. The flowers arc large and loosely placed on the tall stems, and the colour is forget-me-not blue. The plants need careful staking and they like a thorough watering once Tho flowering stems of thalictnim dipterocarpum have pushed up quickly during the past few weeks and should be fastened to stakes to keep them upright. Wherever it is possible give the plants a mulch of well-rotted manure. »nd give them occasional thorough waterings. Remove all faded blooms from rose hushes, cutting back about one third of the flowering stem when doing so. A thorough watering and a mulch of halfrotted manure are a great help to the bushes now that the first crop of flowers is over.

During the next few weeks we should take tho chance of raising a supply of perennial plants for our borders for next year. Delphiniums einorias. wall flowers, aquiiegias. pentsf enwns. car nations, anemones sweet williams, gypsophila Canterbury bells. Oriental poppies. antirrhinums doronicnms, sweet scabious, and many other beautiful flowers may be raised from seed during the next few weeks. Cineraria seeds should be sown in tins containing a mixture of soil, sand, and leaf soil The nlants. are splendid for the late spritm border where t.hev make •i brilliant show Seeds of primula malacoides may be sown now in seed fins so that the seed lings mav be ready for planting out in March Keep stirring the soil about nlants to form a soil miil<*h where there is not sufficient material to provide a mnUh of decaved manure or "i rd on rubbish.

VEGETABLES. Continue planting where necessary. Tomato Plants. -Plant firmly in welldug. not over-rich ground. Cabbage and Cauliflower —Plant in rich, well-dug ground Plant the seedlings firmly and keep them moist and shaded from hot sun till growth begins Pumpkins and Marrows - Plant in •horoughlv nrepared. rich ground. Celery —Plant in well-prepared trenches Potatoes.—An early variety may he ■dnnted Io provide new potatoes for the ’ntiimn. Broccoli.—Plant in well-dug well-en -iclied ground Koop the plants well watered till growth begins; then hoe ‘■ecnlarlv. Sow where necessary the following seeds: Runner beans. French beans, car r ots. peas. lettuces and round beet.