FLOWER GARDEN.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 14204, 18 November 1911, Page 7

FLOWER GARDEN.

The bodding-out season still continues, unci Uia do so till the ci.d ot tut moutu ; as a maiter 01 tact it will continue almost up to Christmas; this hikuo oiiius have grown ill oeJs, and wliicii cannot be removed until the foliage has ripened off. Chrysanthemums and l>uuliaa may.be planted out I for uccits vot. 6ouiu gardcuors do not J set oiic lvaiil.ai till well on in Lecember, las tiu;y dcuii'e to keep their p.ant back, so that they will make their lirst and bi.bt b.oonia about i''ct>ruary, when the autumn shows are held. Those whi> grow Dahlias for show purposes kuo.v that the Largest and fulkst flowers are I produced in the fiist llueh oi Bower, and 'as the season advances tho blooms m- | create numerically on the plant, but decrease- in size and quality. 'iree PiWHiias, which have uovv finished flower.ng, should have two or three good feedings of manure water, which will help to build up the plants for next season's display of bloom. T.iis feeding may be given once a week up to the end oi January. Sweet peas are j now making great growth, and in some places are in full bloom. Complaints are made by growers that their flowers are losing colour, and are becoming streaky, even in spite of rich feeding. Ino feeding may account for this loss of colour and streakiness. Where the sweet pea is overfed -with stimulant, especially where ammonia is freely used, this loss of colour often results. Stop feeding for a time, and allow the plants to recover their balance. Rhododendrons which have finished flowering, and are now making new growths, should bo watered overhead every few days. Tbjs will strengthen the plant and help the foliage to de(velop to that strons green condition which gives the Rhododendron such boldness of appearance. In the old world the Rhododendron has become one of the most popu'ar of garden plants.Reports from Europe denote that there is quite a boom in this plant. Tens of thousands are sent yearly into England from the Continent, and enormous consignments are sent from Holland and Belgium to the United States and Canada. In New Zealand the Rhododendron is increasing in popularity, and is yearly being planted in increasing numbers. The main thing to insure success is to provide a free loamy soil, with a dash of pMt or leaf mould or rotted turf around the roots, with a tc-p-dressing of similar soil yearly around the base of the plants. A re. gular watering overhead daily, when the weather is hot and dry, during tho heat of midsummer, will keep the plants in vigorous growth and health, and will repay all tho trouble taken.