Garden Guide

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 30, 29 October 1937, Page 8

Garden Guide

AMONG THE FLOWERS

The Small Gardener. The garden made by one's own hands is always the best garden, because it is part pf oneself. A garden made by another may cause delight, but it is another person' s jndividuality. A poor garden of one's own is bettex than a good garden in whioh one has not helped. Many a soul finds more happiness in a plant grown in a bucket or window box than viewing a lovely garden made by others, and so, gardeners, no matter how small, persever« with what you are doing. Rose. Bushes. How are your roses coming along? JLook carefully and see if there iB any sign of green aphis on the young, tender foliage. Nothing keeps the plants back more than this. If affected, spray with Black Leaf 40, 1 teaspoonful to a gallon of soapy water. Bonedust and potash hoed into the soil will help the growth wonder fuliy. Pansies and Violas. Your pansies should now be showing their first spring buds, and should be well manured to ensure long and prohfic fiowering. They respond Jc'reely to stable otr any other rotted manure. Failing this, half blood and bone and halt superphosphate js a good dressing. Apply before rain and rake in round the roots. If exhibition blooms are required, snip off some of the side growths to concentrate tbe strength of the plant to one crown. Spring Seeds to Sow, Do you remember plants that looked like rows of soldiers last season? They are cailed Kochias, and should be sown now. For flowering about Easter time, the following seeds should be planted: Asters, cosmos, sunflowers, phlox, celosia and salvja. Eor quick flowering, sow French and African marigolds, petunias, Virgiman stocks, lupins, mignonette, clarkia, and linaria and phlox. Plants of many of the above are obr tainable, but there is still plenty oi time for seed sowing. Perennial Plants to Set. The long-spurred aquilegias are well worthy of a place in your garden. Tho new colours available are superb. Set the plants 18 inches apart. Do you know thalictrum, that dainty blue fiower that surpasses the graceful gypsophila? Plant the seedings one foot apart. Penstemons and delphiniums are two well-known Old World subjects tliat are now available for growing. Pyrethrem, antirrhinum, perennial stocks, Canterbury bells and gerberas should all find room in your gaxden.