FLOWER GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 12969, 23 November 1907, Page 7

FLOWER GARDEN.

Those who missed their crop of flowering annuals through the continued wet of early spring and have re-sown them havo been more fortunate in their 6eco*nd sowing. For some of the quick-growing annuals, such as mignonette, Shirley poppies, nasturtiums, etc.. it is not too late yet to mako a sowing with the certain pros-, pect of a kte display of bloom. The principle of mo king suoccssional eow>nga iidds considerably to *he length of the flowering period in tho garden. Too few amateurs make nee of rrar■gtmrito carnations for border disploy and cutting purposes. These connatiers .ire biennials in character, but come iirto bloom the first season after sowing. Although not to bo compared with tho show varieties for exhibition purposes, yet they are much more yaluflhio for garden display, aft they give a greater wealth of bloom, and also dis-

play themselves better, owing to their upright <« > ;racte'Pistics,, If anything,they are *Jso sweeter-scented. CShrysantihMuuiuN'which ere growing in the borders should be cut back at an early date. This will help them to branch, out and form good bushes, which will make a great display in late autumn. If. dwarf plants are desired, a second cutting back about the first week in January will mean wjl-finished plants reacliinc not more than three to four feet high when in full bloom. Planting out chrysanthemums may be continued for another two or three weeks yet. Dahlias may be planted out till Christinas with assurance of a good display of bloom in the autumn. In tho northern part of tho colony dahlias intended for exhibition blooms are not planted out till Christmas at tho earliest, and in 6ome cases as late as the middle of January. In Canterbury, with our shorter summer, an earlier start has to be made; otherwise a very limited blooming season results. Too early planting of dahlias is« mistake, i'cr if planted out very early they couio into bloom about the now year, when the weather is intensely hot, and a-* a result the bloom* are quite destroyed. '1 his ako means a too early development~of the plant, which lias quite spent Jtself before the cooler weather of autumn arrives, when dahlias make their most brilliant disjplay.