THE FLOWER GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 18, 5 February 1937, Page 11

THE FLOWER GARDEN

Stocks are delightful in the garden because of their beauty and fragrance. For early floiyering sow beauty stocks. These will commence flowering early in May and continue through the winter months. Sow in boxes in the shade. Phlox Drummondi may still be sown for a quick show. If the seeds are drilled outside and well watored, they will commence flowering av tho end of Autumn. Marigold plants may also be set as they will stand more dry weather than most seedlings. Cuttings may now be taken of geraniums by clipping off the tops of any plants growing too tall. These are early struck in sandy soil and will make good bushy plants- tor setting out next spring. Water and feed sweet peas liberally. Remove dead flowers and seedpods in order to prolong tlie flowering period. Manur© with sulphate of ammonia and potash, loz to a gallon of water. Commence sowing pll early flowering annuals such as beauty stocks, Sinerarias, pansy^ primular malacoides, nemesia, Yirginian stock, violas, etc. Eebruary and March are the best months for setting bulbs for spring flowering. Make preparations for planting out flnemones, ranunculus, tulips, hycinths, freesias, ixias, etc. £f water is available, tlie following seeds may be sown along borders and iu dower beds: — Alyssum, lin'aria, candytuft, w;allflower, Jeptosyne. Every care must be taken in watering; those planting early will reap the reward in earlier and .better speciniens in winter and spring.