FLOWER GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 64, 16 March 1900, Page 3

FLOWER GARDEN.

I do not think we ever experienced a season when there was such a great dearth of flowers. This has been caused by an unprecedentedly dry season which has lasted from November. From that date till this _we have had only an occasional light shower, only sufficient to wash the foliage of the plants, not sufficiently heavy to penetrate the soil to any crreat depth. Consequently where we have usually a good show of autumn flowers we now only have a show ot dead or dying plants. It is only , a favoured few who may possess sufficient water so that they may keep a few plants up to the mark, btill, the dry weather cannot last for ever, and every preparation ought to be made for taking- advantage oi tne first spell pf moist weather to get all the winter and spring bulbs planted. Beds and borders, where it is intended to plant out narcissi, ranunculi, anemones, tulips, etc., should now be prepared, for their reception. Where bulbs and tubers only are to be planted the soil should only be dug, and no litter manure should be placed in it, as a. little white aphis insect is sure to generate and will prove injurious to most bulbs and tubers, it tne soil be poor, and manure is required, it will be best to dust a little artificial

manure over the plants when their foliage has made its appearance through the soil. The best time to plant Me main lot of bulbs and tubers is about the end of this or the beginning o£ next mouth, reserving a tew of each for later planting, say about, the middle of May, when another batch can be planted. This batch will come in for later flowering next spring. The soil ought also to be prepared for planting out the cineraria about j the same period. This plant will suoi ceed best only upon the very richest soil, and when preparing for planting, plenty of manure, should be dug into the ground. It does not matter whether the manure be well-rotted or not; let there be plenty. Those who may want to get good dahlia and chrysanthemum flowers will require to use plenty of water, as without such all will be a failure. The whole of the beds and borders should receive a thorough overhaul. All dead or living plants should be removed, the edgings should be cut so as to clearly define them. Dead leaves and other debris should be raked off and the surface soil broken tip. so as to leave it neat. Now is the best time of the year to do new work, or to make alterations; the soil being dry it can easily be handled, ami where new grass seed is to be sown the soil for it should be ready by at least the middle of next month. lOvergreen hedges if clipped now will make a little growth before winter sets in, and will not remain too formal all winter.