FOR THE WINDOW GARDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 October 1940, Page 9

FOR THE WINDOW GARDEN

SOME USEFUL HINTS. With the advent of spring, flat-dwel-lers are turning their attention to the renovation of their window-boxes, dhe soil for these should be renewed from time to time as it gets worn out, and should consist of three parts loam, one part leaf mould or peat-moss, halt a part of sand and half a nart of old well-rotted manure, all pased through a fine sieve. Good drainage s necessary, and is provided by placng pieces of broken pots at the botom of the receptacles. Seeds of suitable annuals for sowing low in window-boxes are alyssum, be’■onias. calendula, candytuft, dianthus, flue butterfly. delphinium, godetia. leuchera (coral bells), lobelia, mignon;tte, nasturtium, petunia,, phlox drumnondii, portulaca, dwarf salvias, toiinia, viscaria, and dwarf zinnias. Few perennials give such good remits over a long period and with as little attention as the geum, Mrs Bradshaw. The plant grows to a height ot from 18 inches to two feet, and beat’s orilliant double scarlet flowers. If the; faded flowers are removed regularly the blooming period will be prolonged. These plants grow well in average garden' soil. Seeds can be sown now. Growing dahlias from seed is a fascinating and interesting hobby, and one that should be practised more by the home gardener. Any reputable seedsman can supply good seed, and the element of chance that you may hit on ‘’something out of the box panders to the gambling instinct inherent in all of us. Sow the seed this month, when the frosts are over, in seed beds or boxes, covering them to hasten the germination. Transplant the seedlings when they show four leaves. Plants grown from seed are hardy and resist pests better than bulbs. Antirrhinums and phlox drummondn should be pinched back to induce, shrubby and compact growth. Slaters, those little grey pests that creep under rubbish in the garden, are a constant source of anxiety at present, and steps should be taken at once to exterminate them. One ounce Paris green to 21b rice flour mixed dry and placed round the plants will help to check them. and. of course, all rubbish that serves as harbourage should be destroyed.