SPRING FLOWERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

SPRING FLOWERS.

PREPARING FOR THE BORDERS.

This' is the time when preparations should be made' for spring bedding. The borders arcstill full of autumn flowering stuff, but in a short while it will be necessary to take it out and replace by some spring flowering stuff. Blue forget-me-nots and Alyssum maritimnm Ben % thami makes a nice edging, and gives a very pretty effect. Polyanthus also makes a very pretty bed. .Old clumps should be lifted now, divided, and planted up about elx or nine inches apart. Stocks also make a fine early show, and if the Giant Perpetual Ten-week is used it will be worth looking at. When planting the stocks in beds keep the varieties true to colour. The effect is much better if the colours are blended with a certain amount of precision; besides, although one would not like to be so bold as to say that any coloured stock is ugly, yet there are several colours or tints that, if there are more than one or two plants, they are inclined to be otherwise than pleasing. A bed formed of white, terra-cotta, salmon, and yellow stocks looks veiy well, and one can hardly have too many of the above colours. They can be used almost anywhere and at any time. Cornflowers are another flower that a e seldom seen, yet here is beautiful hardy, tree-flowering plant, of a colour which is very scarce, especially at tnat tlmfof the year. Seed sown now and the plants put out aft soon as large enou-h, will mean a lovely mass of cornflow e°r blue. "Emperor William" is one of the best varieties. There is alsoi the new forms of pot marigold oreaWula These are well worthy of attention for spring bedding. The above are easily raised from seed, and can be trans planted quite successfully.