THE FLOWER GARDEN.

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 59, 25 March 1937, Page 15

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

This is the month in. which the foundations of spring gardens are laid and the glory of the forthcoming summer is also dependable upon the effort put forth by the amateur on this occasion. March is indeed a busy month, as many choice fiower seeds and bulbs should be planted. It is also an excellent time to take cuttings of many species, as geraniums, verbenas, fuschias, marguerites, pelargoniums, etc. Iceland poppies and early stoeks should command the gardener's immediate attention as they are certainly among the gayest of winter and spring flowers. Seeds may be sown at once in bbxes of sandy soil.

Bulb planting should now be in full swing. A general collection of these universal favourites invaTi&bly rewaTds the gardener with a delightful winter and spring diBplay. Ohrysanthemums will now require disbudding, and a close watch should be kept for any signs of rust. Spray with sulphide of potassium or bordeaux powder. Seed to sow in boxes. — Cineraria, nemesia,- pansy, viola, stock, poppy, carnations, Canterbury bells, gaillardia, antirrhinum, hollyhock, verbena and geums. Bqlbs to set now. — Winter Iris, anemohes, raaunculus, daffodils, tulips, hyacinths, tritonias, scillas, muscari. Fiower seeds to be sown in open borders.— Primula, malacoides, alyssum, mignonette, Virginian stock, linaria, linum, dwarf nasturtium. Many gardeners prefer to leave the main sowinga of winter sweet peas till this month. Be SUre and procure the best. Chea|> seed is only a waste of time. Quality, not quantity, should be the aim. Plants that may be set immediately for a quick show are cyclamen, phlox, antirrhinum, poppy and blue lace fiower,

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. The sowings of onion seed is one of the most important operations of this month. New seed is now available and the ground is ready for setting. One ounce of seed will produce 1000 plants. ,• Shallots and garlic are 1; now available, and beds should be prepared for this important crop. Freneh beans can still be set in warm corners, and should crop before the weather becomes too cold. Broad beans are subjects that cause gardeners a lot of unnecessary worry. As a rule this crop is sown too late, and becomes affected by rust and bumble-bees. Sow seed now and success is assured. Silver beet, Brussels sprouts and jbrocoli or curly greens are three important winter crops. All are delicious in flavour and make valuable fowl feed. Plants may be obtained for transplant ing. March is one of tlw busiest autumn months in the kitchen garden, and extensive winter preparations should be in hand. With the ground nice and warm, and alternate bouts of sunshine and showers, seed sowing is most favourable. These divide themselves into two elasses: — (1) Those to remain where they aTe sown. (2) Those to be sown in a bed and transplanted. Examples of crops for No. 1 class are carrots, spinach, turnips, parsnips, beet, swedes and radishes. It is important that these crops be sown right away to provide a succession of vegetables. Examples of crops of class No. 2 are as follows: — Lettuce, cauliflower,_ all members of the cabbage family, leeks, onions, and celery. EARLY POTATOES. Important. — The most important of the kitchen garden plantings is that of potatoes. Unfortunately 'this operation is not always treated with the respect it deserves, with the result that often inferior crops are produced ihstead of heavy or large tubers. Potato planting must not be skimped. It is essential that the correct routine be followed. The Seed. — The best seeds are those between two and three ounces in weight and self-contained if possible, although larger seed may be used and properly cut and divided. Spread the seed out in boxes or on an tld sack several weeks before planting, so that the seed may have an opportunity of sprouting, thus giving a heayier yield than those unsprouted. Only two or three sprouts are required for each

tuber, the remainder being rubbed off by the thui&b. Planting. — Assuming the ground iS ready for planting, proeeed »with & spade and garden line, dig out a treneh across the bed, the depth vafying according to the nature of the soil. . If the soil is heavy the trench should be four inches deep. If medium, five inches deep, if light, six inches deep. In this trench place (not dtop) the tubers, setting them in aa unright position with the sprout pointing upwards at a distance of lSin. apart. Cover the tubers by gently filling in the soil and then commence the next row. Manuring. — If the, ground has not been manured at digging the use of artificial manures may be resorted to. A suitable mixture is superphosphate, ammonia and potash. These should be mixed together and sprinkled along the trench before seed is placed. A little soil sprinkled over the manurfe will avoid any risk of sprouts being burnt svith the manure. SHOWY ANNUALS.

The sowings of quick flowering annuals from seed is increasing in popularity, and many varietieS now claim the attention of tl^e amateur gardener. 6 March and April are good months to commence this work, and many varieties will fiower in late autumn hnd early winter. At present there are many vacant spaces in the garden tvhere Some of- the late summer plants have failed. These spots should be carefuly dug over, and sand and ashes thickly mixed with the soil and raked level for sowing. The seeds should be soWh in drills or elumps accordiixg to the vacant spaces. It is a mistake to 6o\V too thickly, as the plants will have to be ultimately thinned ont, and as many of these varieties will not transplant, thick sowing is only a waste. Cover the seeds according to their size; small varieties will require only a light covering, which can easily be carried out if the sand as advised is mixed with the soil. The following varieties may be planted now: — - Alyssum. — A dainty little White ■ flowering plant growing about Six inches high. This may be sown in drills or on rockeries filling up any vacant pockets.

Calenduia, or Old English Marigold, is easily Taised from seed which may be scattered about in any bdd corner. The flowers are ih shades of orange and yellow, growing about 15 inches high and coming into bloom early in June. Esehscholtzia, or Californian Poppy. —For massing this is unexcelled, and can be had in many brilliant shades. For sowing rotind tree trunks and shady spots this plant cannot be beaten. Thin out to six inches apart aB the seedlings grow. Mignonette.— This Bweet English fiower needs no -description, and is a general favourite with us all. The autumn sowing is alway3 the best, as it requires the warm weather combined with the autumn rains. Thin ont to six inches apart. Virginian Stock. — Sow at once along borders or in circular clumps whero space is available. This makes a good show scattered among the finished rose bushes, and comes into fiower so rapidly that one is quickly repaid for any labour expended. , If the above varieties are sown immediately the garden will not laclc bloom throughout the colder months of the year, and if one prepares by sowing choicer annuals in bOxes for planting out later, a continuous supply may be kept up.