GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2836, 29 July 1916, Page 15

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "Awa fllaru" writes.—"l shall be glad if you will tell ine how to treat apple trees affeotcd with American blight. .The trees are splendid and are. worth a little trouble. 1 have a lovely bank under trees, close to a stream. Please tell me what 1 could grow there, as tbo soil is splendid." for American blight or aphis the following is recommended: dissolve one pound of soft soap, one . pound of sulphur, and four pounds of time ill enough water to make a. thick wash. Apply this with a stiff brush to all infected parts, llemove old bark and burn it. l'runings should also bo burned. There are several prepared remedies on tho market. /' The bank you mention could be planted with any of the following: Hydrangeas, rhododendrons, azaleas, spiraeas, liliums, arum?, irises, delphiniums, . day lilies (hemerocallis pulva.), aciuilegias, Japanese anemones, crocuses, primroses, scilla-, narcissi, snowflakes, xnontbretias, Christmas rosea, forget-me-not, u.nd scarlet and salmon awoot peas. Clumps of ferns, irises (Japanese), arums, spiraeas, and forget-me-nots could bo planted along the edge of the stream.

PERENNIALS. I have already, in previous notes, advised amateur gardeners to fill up their gardens with perennial plants. By selecting carefully, one can have something in flower nearly all the year round. They require so little attention, too, and that is a great consideration for the busy amateur gardener. Now is-a. good time for planting perennials, always provided that the soil is ill good workable condition. Never plant when tile soil is sodden with rain. I have already mentioned most of the common perennials and their treatment, but for the sake of those who intend buying and planting new ones, I will briefly mention a few of the hardiest , and commonest. For spring flowering;— Doronicum.—This bears yellow, daisylike flowers. AVill grow either Jn sun or in shade. Add a little sand ainTbouedusfc to the soil when planting. Geuin.—Gcum has double scarlet flowers. It grows well in any wcll-pre-pared soil.

Aquilegias.—'These will grow in sun or in shade. Ordinary garden soil is all they require. _ ' Wallflowers arid Stocks.—Soil should not bo too rich. Add a little old mortar (powdered) to the soil if 'it is obtainable. Cut the long tap roots oft' the plants when, transplanting. Campanula Graudiflora—Fork a little bonedust into the soil at planting time. Antirrhinums.—Seedlings should, be planted out in the autumn for spring flowering. Those planted now will flower all the summer and autumn. Antirrhinums should be planted in wellmanured ground. They are splendid plants for a dry, sunny position, and they flower nearly all the year. Pyrethrums.—Pyrethrums have dainty, daisy-like flowers, single and double, in shades of white,. pale pink, rose, lilac, etc. Add to the soil a little welUrotted manure, or a little leaf-mould and bonedust.

Primroses and Polyanthus Primroses. — These will grow either in a sunny or a shady position. Add plenty of leaij mould to tho soil, a little wood-ash, and also bonedust (4oz. to sq. yard). Anemones.—Bulbs uhiy still be planted to flower late in tho spring. Anemones like a light, fairly rich soil, and shelter from cutting winds. In summer they must be protected from drought. St.' Brigid anemones have semi-double flowers and a wide range of colours. PERENNIALS FOR SUMMER FLOWERING. Carnations.—Carnations like an open situation, and a light, weilninuued soil. Heavy- soils should be trenched, and. lightened by the addition, of sand, road, grit, and powdered mortar. Verbenas—* Flowering verbenas are most' useful summer liowering perennials. They begin flowering early in tho summer, and go right on till they aro cut back, at the cml of the autumn. They like a ligTit saudy soil, into which some weltdecayed manure has been, dug,' and a sunny position; • Delphiniums.—These require well-dug, well-manured soil. If animal manure can be had, dig in a. good supply before planting out the seedlings.. Where animal manure is not obtainable, dig- in sonie well-rotted vegetable matter and a good dressing and bonedust. Delphiniums are most valuable both for garden decoration .ind as cut flowers, for they flower early in summer and again in the autumn, when flowers in the herbaceous border are particularly scarce. ' Erigerflons.—The plants beat pretty as-ter-like owevs. Lavender Lady is.a very beautiful variety and splendid for cutting'.

Scabiosa Caucasica.—The perennial pincushion flower, scabiosa caucasica, bears beautiful pale lavender-coloured flowers, which aro splendid i'or cutting in the summer. The plants liko a light sandy soil, and plentiful supplies of water during hot weather. Heavy soil should bo deeply' dug, and, should havo sand or road grit added.to it. Clumps need not be broken up i'or several years. (To bo continued next week.) MIGNONETTE... Seeds of this fragrant annual may be sown where, the plants are intended-to grow, at any time now, when the soil is in a suitable condition. Tho ground should be well dug and should have a little leaf-would anl plenty of coarse sand or road grit added to it. Prick into the surface soil a dusting of .bonednst before sowing the. seed. Ju6t cover tho seed with a little line soil and sand mixed. As soon as the seedlings are big enough they should be thinned out, and thoso tha.t are left in the ground should have their tops pinched off to induce bushy growth. ROUTINE WORK. Carnation plants should be examined, aß( } new stakes driven in where required. Chrysanthemum cuttings may bo taken whenever nico strong; shoots well away '''on l the flowering stalk aro big enough. Make a. clean cut with a sharp knife. Insert the cuttings in ca'ndy soil in a sparo part of the gardon! As soon as the old plant is finished with, it may bo dug up and added (o the first rubbish heap tire. See that wallflowers and Brompton' stocks are well staked. The plants aro very top-heavy just now, and are easily spoilt by wind. . pruning, affords a chance of securing some good rose cuttings'. Theso should bo inserted verv iirmly in soil to which plenty of sand' has been added. Insert the cuttings where' they can be left for about a year before- being transplanted: Where animal manure is not 1 obtainable, some fertiliser should now be used. For. a heavy soil, uso basic slag {ioz. to tho square yard). Por a light soil use -kainit or bonedust in the same proportion. Draw the earth well up to rose bushes, and see that it is made quite firm. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may bo sown in the open ground this week are Peas, broad beans, and carrots (Short Horn). Seeds that may bo sown in pans are:— Cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce. Where bottom heat can be supplied, tomato and Cape gooseberry. Plants of cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce may bo put in, provided the soil is in suitable condition.' Plant out autumn-sown onions, leeks, and celery plants. A small planting of potatoes may bo made.' Jf the tubers can be surrounded in the trenches with some dry potting soil, or dry soil from a compost heap, they will have a better chance than if surrounded with the cold soil of tho vegetable garden. Plants of parsley, thyme, sage, and mint may be put in now. Roots of rhubarb, horso radish, shallots, and garlic may all bo put in. The ground for rhubarb should be well dug and richly manured. If stablo manure cannot be procured, dig into the soil some well-decayed vegetable rubbish, decayed leaves, and a good handful of bonedust for each root. Tho plants should bo three feet apart each way, and should have tho crowns just bolow the surface of the soil. ROUTINE WORIC. Whenever tho chance offers, hoe, hoe, hoe. Earth up cabbago mid cauliflowor plants on warm sunny days. Peas and

| broad beans will also benefit by'being eartifed up. Remove (lead leaves from rhubarb,cabbages, etc. . Attend to the staking of peas. Parsnips that are still in the ground should bo dug out and . stored. Trench and manure the ground for a crop of greens, pais, or French beans. Keep feeding silver beet, lettuces, etc., with nitrate of soda (loz. to lgal. of water). Apply when the ground is Vet with rain. Buy seed potatoes and sot the tubers up on end in shallow boxes, and place them in a strong ligl_J to sprout. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about perennials, sweet sultans, and vegetables.