THE FLOWER GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 35, 25 February 1937, Page 12

THE FLOWER GARDEN

It is generally aecepted that niost home lovers are potterers in the raat* ter of gardening, but we venture to reuiark that the big majority do not obtain the results they should, considering the time and energy expended upon this reereation, That little somethmg which makes all the differenee between fallnte and snecess is missing. These garden notes are here to snpply that little soxnething whieh has been the meang of turning dozqns pf unprofitable and colourless home plots into smiRng patches of vegetatiou. For planting in rose beds and along grassy banks, jonquils and daft'odilg are unexeelled, PJant in clumps of six for a gqpd shqw. For bedding purposes, anemones, ranunculus, fuli&; and hya. cinths are always popular. Many new and attractive ehades are obtainable. Start cutting back rose bushes that have finiahed flowering. This is oue of the best times of the year to com* mence this work, especially in garden? subject to frost, as the cold weather always has a tendency to make newlyprnned rosep wither at the tips. Spring bulbs may now be eet, and flower seeds may be sowu in boxOi lox replacing those dead in the gaydens. The following bulbs are splendid foi planting in borderq about five innhes apart: — Scillas or wood hyacinths, in blue, white and pink; muscari or grape hyacinths in blue and white; aluums,' white and yellow; lachenalia golden belts; tritonias, in all' brilliant shades of orange, scarlet and p.ink; freesias and crocus. The caterpillars are busily at work eating everything before them. Spray with arsenate of lead paste, twp teaspoonfuls to a gallon. If this ie not done they will breed in hnndreds this dry weather. Sow the following seeds in boxesi— Oinerarias, poppy, stoek, pansy, earnatdon, nemosia, antirrhinums, Oanterbury bell, gaillardia. A sheet of glass placed over each box will keep in the moisture and help germination.