GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LII, Issue 15560, 8 April 1916, Page 5

GARDEN NOTES.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

VEGETABLES.

General Remarks. —In many gardens there is, and will be through ihc winter, a scarcity of good green vegetables, and the question will be anxiously considered as to the best means of eking out the supply. Swede turnips have not done so well as we would have liked to see. Tlic tops have been badly eutcn by the moth grub; the tops can be cut oif, the roots lifted and stored; although on tho small side thov will come in useful. Winter spinach will not be over plentiful as tho grass grub lias been attacking the roots. Lettuce is in almost as had a plight, and although very late in the season wc would advise another sowing of each to be made on a warm border. A dustingv of soot can bo put in tho drills before the seed is sown. To show how vegetables are coming in out of season wo may mention that- a batch ol Knight's Protecting broccoli, sown at tlu; end of October and planted the first week in this year, has been shewing heads for over a month. The heads are quite unfit to use. being badly coloured, coarse, and n:: --shapen. The crop should not be fit before the cud of August .and beginning of September. Although sown a fortnight later than usual the heads are showing several months too soon. It is eases such as this that are going to make a great, scarcity of green crops.

FLOWERS. Carnations.—April is the orthodox month for making border carnation beds. Il' one lias it, two foot oi' well worked toil are desirable tor carnations. Jn wet. clayey positions the bed .should always bo raised above the general level of the pardon, and if the site is very wet a layer of brick rubble can bo put ;i foot under the surface. In any ease a. slight slope to the. north will be beneficial. Any grub in the soil will bo disposed of if an application of some soil i'nmigant is given. Merc loain will serve excellently for the bed. but anything up to an eighth of the material iiikv bo leaf mould and old mortar mixed with some wind. Slaked Jim:', and soot—put on separately—are useful, either to fork in before plant- . ing or to .sprinkle between the plants j afterwards. If one makes a bed in the ' autumn, he will allow it to "settle" in : the ordinary way, and a bed trenched two feet deep will sink a couple of inches in a month. There is no time now to await developments of this kind, : and it will bo found to bo a good working method to trample tho ground well with a view to getting the needed firmness. It cannot be too often stated j that carnations put in loosely are doomed to failure; they must bp fixed as firm as one can lis them with the I fingers and foot without breaking them. Although they have to be firmly planted thev should not be deeply planted. A hole should be made with a trowel, and the plant measured in it; if when firmed the plant will be covered above its two lowest leaves, more soil should be put into the hole and made solid, for planting below the lowest leaves may lead to disappointment. Water well after planting, but beware ~liow you philander with the watering can afterwards. It is a safe rule never to water carnations overhead at all out of doors; only Water at all in periods of excessive drought, and then water

heavily at the roots. If it is the intention not to plant out till spring the layer can be potted up and wintered in a cold frame. Chrysanthemum Buds. —In many cases the contour of large blooms is spoiled by tho bud not being secured in an upright position. AH too frequently this apparently trifling detail of culture is lightly regarded. A onesided flower will often be the means of a stand not being in the prize list on the exhibition table. Anyone who is familiar with shows knows only 100 well the prevailinc weakness of exhibitors to set up their blooms with their most presentable side to the front. All tho blooms are judged individually, and the setting of the best side to London is of 110 avail. Ninety per cent ol lopsided blooms can be prevented by keeping tho stems 011 which Ihe buds are developing in an upright position. Small stakes can be lashed to the large stakes when these are too short, tho _ small stakes should reach to about two inc.ies from the bud and can remain there till the bloom is cut.

Anemones. —A\ hen planting anemones do not overlook the beautiful Irish (St. Brigid) varieties. They make a- gorgoous show when in flower. I.iko. all the tuberous-rooted anemones thev do best in a warm, moderately liszht soil which has been well enriched with well decayed manure. If the soil he inclined to wetness planting can be deferred until the end of July, otherwise pet them in now. three.inches deep and about nine inches apart, to get the best results. . . Begonia. Gloire de Lorraine.—lt is always a source of regret that this, the most delightful "of all free flowering bogoniacr. is not more easily grown than it is. Plants are now coming into flower, and. in order to sustain them while the heavy strain of bearing large quantities cf bloom lasts, they should receive frequent supplies of weak liquid j manure. Soot water, cow manure, and nitrate of potash, the last, named used at tho rate of half an ounce to two gallons of water, will be found most useful stimulants during tln> flowering period. Tulips.—Bulbs need less soil preparation than any other kiudof "crop," and tulips are among the easiest grown, and are certainly the most brilliant bulbous plants that flower in spring. The earlier they are put in the better now, admittedly the ground being right. The early spring flowering singles are perhaps. everything considered, the best to grow. .Tlie laic flowering and Darwin varieties are most beautiful in colour, but have the disadvantage of being in bloom when our nor-westers begin, and although they last longer in flower than the eariies they sometimes get badly knocked about l>y the strong winds, otherwise they are fine flowers. The doubles are hardly so useful, nor are they as rich and elegant. The Greenhouse.—Shading may be gradually dispensed with as the "days shorten. Any material that lias been applied to' the glass for sliade should bo washed ofi' before the end of the month. Azaleas should be put under cover before they become saturated with autumn rains and chilled by sharp frosts. If climbers of any kind arc growing 011 the roof they should be thinned so that they may not exclude liiiht unduly from plants on the stage. If they are infested with insects or mildew, let them be thoroughly cleaned with one or other of the many insecticides or fungicide* on the market. General Remarks. —This month seldom passes away without a sharp frost, the effects of which demand great exertions to remove or counteract, and, although it is sad to see plants that have given us so much pleasure in past weeks, crippled in one night, the. inevitable has to be accepted, and, after clearing away the wreckage we must seek for other things likely to be sources of new hopes and anticipations.

Never was the influence of a season upon vegetation more .aptly illustrated than during the past summer. In many districts where light soils prevail the want of rain was sorely felt, vet these places assumed a springlike appearance ; when rain did come. It is one great ; advantage of our insular position that a general failure of crops rarely occurs. Tho droughts, deluges, and the insect plagues common to other lands seem ! only partially to affect our climate.. : Wc are hcciistomccl to doses of each, j but generally without disastrous re- j suits. j