GROWING OF FLOWERS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 October 1940, Page 9

GROWING OF FLOWERS

SOME TIMELY HINTS. Bougainvilleas can be grown in any well-drained soil in a warm situation. If the soil is clayey, mix some sand with it when planting. They can be trained on wires or fences, and are most spectacular when in full bloom. Two of the most attractive varieties are Mrs Butt and Thomasii, the former being red, latter a beautiful shade of pink. Well-rooted pot-grown plants can be set out now. Open ground in a warm situation suits delphiniums. They are rich feeders, so put a generous supply of cow manure into the hole before planting and add some lime to the top soil. When the first flower fades, cut it off and thin out the shoots at the base of the plant, leaving only the strongest shoots. They need plenty of water during growth, and occasional applications of liquid manure when they reach maturity. Keep aquilegias (columbines) mulched when they come to flower. These beautiful perennials ought to find a place in every garden. Tie up and stake carefully any plants likely to be damaged by strong winds. Many valuable plants were lost during the recent gales owing to neglect of this important precaution. If the dahlia bed has not been prepared. get it done now, and allow it to lie till the time for planting out the tubers in November. When dividing dahlia clumps, carefully separate the tubers and cut them so that each portion has a piece of crown with one or more eyes. The crown is where the stalk joins the neck of the bulb. Cut down the centre of the stalk two inches above the crown, cutting as far away from the eyes as possible. The loss of a garden fork or trowel for days in the beds or borders is a sound argument for painting the handles of small, easily-hidden tools a bright colour. Besides preserving the wood, the colour is clearly visible among the foliage of the plants.