GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 15243, 3 April 1915, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES.

(By Hortt—.) G EXERA L REM AR KS. Although tho weather was unusually cold during the early part of March, it docs not follow that growth is over for the season. There will be plenty of bright sunshine vet to ripen and colour up the pears, apples, and tomatoes. In consequence of the cold snap experienced, there has been quite a slump in the demand for fruit, and pear growers particularly have been badly hit. It is hoped that the weather will bo warm during the Easter holidays, for, it so. there will be a strong d—nand' for the pears which aro now ripening. Past experience goes to show that the public buy fruit freely when holiday-making if the weather is warm. Canterbury is ono of the leading pear-growing centres, and here, in spite of tlie strong winds and late frosts, this fruit is in greater abundance than any previous season. The early varieties cannot be shipped outside the Dominion, and a necessarily limited market obtains. With regard to the late varieties, many of these will be shipped to South America, and should the market there prove profitable, a further planting of pear trees should follow on a large scale. Apples are in good demand, and the prices very payable to the growciw Even the windfalls arc fetching a good price. Tho shipping varieties will bo cleared out early, and those remaining will command good prices locally.

FORCING RHUBARB

With high prices for apples during the winter, rhubarb should bo a saleable product it placed early on the market. Those who purpose forcing this vegetable .should lift tho roots as soon as the leaves are ripe, aud the stalks leave the roots without much pulling. After lifting, leave them on of the ground and allow the air aud sun to dry and ripen the roots. This will thoroughly rest then-. About tho beginning of Juno tite roots should bo placed under the bench in the propagating house, or in a frame surrounded with hot stable manure. For a time-the crowns should be shaded from the light and so help to draw tlie growths and lengthen the stems. There aro several growers in the Dominion who have been very successful in marketing rhubarb of high quality all through the winter months.

FLOWER GARDEN

Owing to the continual display of flowers in the borders, many amateurs are not planting out bulbs, putting this work oft till later, when tho frost hecut down the blooms, and a cleaning up is necessary. This experience is not singula"- to tho present season, but is repeated yearly, and because of this, much intended planting is often put off altogether. Those who are desirous of a spring display should seriously consider tho planting of bull— at an early date, if a show of good blooms is desired. Every day bulbs are out of the ground from now on means a loss of vitality, and a reduction in size, colour, and general quality of bloom. It may be again repeated that bulbs start their growth early in the autumn by sending out rootlets to gather up food and accumulate energy for the flowering which takes place in early spring. A long season of building up is necessary, not only for tho spring display, but also for tho future life of tho bulb, particularly in its function of increasing its numbers in developing other bulbs around its base. Cuttings of all kinds of summer bedding plants should be made, and struck before tho winter. This refers to heliotrope. Iresino. calceolarias, geraniums (these should have been struck a month ago), mesembryanthemums, etc. Chrysanthemums growing in tho open borders which have formed their flowering buds should be fed at tho roots in the form of a mulch of rich manure, and this watered occasionally, so as to make the elements soluble and easily assimilated, or occasionally watered with liquid manure till the flowers aro more than half developed, when such foods should bo withheld for the season, otherwise tho petals are liable to become too sappy and to rot if the weather becomes moist.

GREEXHOUSE

A considerable reduction in the watering must now follow in the greenhouse, and this should be done in tho mornings, so that tho air may diy before the night. If watering is done late in tho day, loss of foliage will result among a number of plants from damping. Primulas which are well forward should bo kept near the glass to keep them from drawing' up, and thus become weak, and thin. Cinerarias which hay© set their buds may be taken into tho greenhouse, but those which aro backward should be kept growing in the frame for .-"mother month yet, this to stiffen tho growth and also to keep the foliage free from pests which so often attack this showy winter flowering plant when grown in the greenhouse under close conditions. Cinerarias growing in the frames should have the lights removed at night, but not when frost is threatened. This is a tender plant, and will not stand the slightest frost. Tho reason the Hghts should be left open at nights is that the cooler air, especially when laden with dew, suits their needs, and under such conditions this family of plants will make vigorous growths and develop innumerable flower buds." Tuberous Begonias which have finished flowering should bo set out in the open to "ripen. A good plan is to lay the pots down on their side, so that should rain fall the plants are not liable to be overloaded with moisture which they should not have when going to rest.

EARLY FLOWERING TULIPS

Early flowering 'Ailips should he freely planted. In the early spring there is a superabundance of yellow flowers, and a lack of the pink and red shades'. Because of this tho early ! tulip, generally known as the Van Thots, should bo planted in numbers. The tulip is an adaptable plant, growing well anywhere, but best in a free, silty soil. Any added food should be applied in the form of decayed turf loam, to which it is very partial, or a layer of well-ripened cow manure, this placed two or three inches below the bulb, and into .which tlie roots soon ramble. The number of varieties is legion, many more, than tho general public of Now Zealand have any desire for. The best of proved kinds are procurable in the Dominion. Among these aro the following, which aro heartily recommended to the amateur, who is desirous of a collection, and are all single flowers: Bride of Haarlem, a crimson colour feathered white, a truly attractive variety; Brutus, red and orange: Cottage Afaid, a delicate rose with a • white flush, very beautiful; Carmine Brilliant, a very fine carmine; Duchess do Parma, an orange, bordered yellow, of striking character; Dusart* a dark vermilion scarlet, very attractive; Golden Prince, a very fine yellow: joost V. D. .Vondel, a pure white and large flower: Keizerskroon, a red and yellow, of flaming appearance : Princo of Austria, a fine orange red sweet scented. Pink Beauty, a decn rose with white flush outside; very lovely; Princess Alarianne, a white

shaded rose, a -_ood flower; Rose Griselin. a delicate rose flushed with white; Belle Alliance, an early scarlet, very striking colour; Eleonora, a violet coloured variety; Vermilion Brilliant, a bright vermilion scarlet; Canary Bird, canary yellow, very fine flowering and splendid for cutting purposes. There are others of equal value to tlie above for decorative effect, but those mentioned, if planted, will yield a display of bloom that will pleaso tho most critical of our horticulturists. KITCHEN GARDEN. Autumn-«own onions should now bo put in. A well-prepared seed bed is necessary to ,tho successful growing of this popular vegetable. After tnoroughly breaking, up the soil and reducing to a fine condition, it should then bo rolled or trodden and made firm, after which tho seed should bo sown. Considerable success follows if autumqsoivn onions are transplanted. When this policy is adopted, a small seed bed is used, and later tho larger quarters are prepared for the young plants, this about the middle of "May. Onions, unlike many other plants, may bo grown successfully on the samo soil many seasons in succession, this without auy reduction in tho quality of the bulb. Broad beans do well if sown at this season of the year, this especially on light soil. The > bean- is a hungry plant, and desires 'a rich larder from which to draw its food. Treat it well at tho roots, and it will reward tho grower. Celery should bo moulded up i for tho last time for this season. In some places this vegetable ha s done well, especially where a liberal amount of water was applied when the weather was hot and dry. Cabbages, cauliflowers and savoys should bo moulded up again, this to stimulate growth all through the autumn. These vegetables will continue growing till tho end of May. Tho amount of growth will be in proportion to tho assistance received in tho way of soil-stirring.

ROCKERY PLANTS,

Dr. Levingc, who is well known as an ardent horticulturist, has imported a quantity of seeds of novelties in the way of rockery plants. From these seeds ho has raised a great number of plants. After planting ont what.he needs for his own garden, he has stiil a liberal stock on hand. These ho has given to the plant stall in connexion with the Belgian Festival. As thero aro a number of people in Canterbury who havo taken up this, branch of gardening, they will be able to add to thoir collections on the 17th inst.