GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3106, 9 June 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.") ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. "G.D.N.," Bulls, writes:—"Could you tell mo how and when to propagate' heaths, and what month to lift Madonna bulbs?" Heaths may be propagated by means of cuttings of tho young shoots. Plant them very firmly in pots in a mixture of peat soil and sand. Keop the soil uniformly moist, but not wet. Belladonna liles should not bo lifted till TTie folingo dies down. Early in November is a good timo. "A Beginner," " Muritai, writes:— "Would yon pleaso give mo a little information on tho best way to grow vegetables on a very sandy section. I havo put two loads of clay and of manuro on where I intend to mako the beds, and I bury any kitchen refuse or other vegetable matter I can get. Will you pleaso let mo know when this and tho stable manure wilL ho sufficiently decayed for mo to sow the seeds. Also what will bo tho hest to sow? There will be practically :no water to spare for watering after December. Is taupata asigood a» anything for a front hedge, and will it grow from cuttings." Dig in tho clay and tho manure, and the garden will then bo ready for broad beans and pea seeds. Soak them in warm water for ti few hours beforo sowing. You may plant, also, seedling cabbages, cauliflowers, and lettuces, plants of thyme, sage, etc., and roots of rhubarb. Other seeds may bo sown from time to time as advised in this column. As you will havo no water after December, you will liave to make good use of your hoe; also, you will do well if you begin storing up and rotting down vegetable matter suitable for mulching. See note re this 6ubject in next week's garden notes. . A garden that has had plenty of manure and vegetables matter dog into it will produce fine vegetables, even where water is not to be had, provided Jboeing and mulching aro attended to. Washing water, etc., should be saved for syringing tho loaves of tho vegetables at the end of a hot day. Taupata will grow from cuttings. They may be planted now in sandy soil, which should_ be kept uniformly moist. I would adviso you, however, to buy young plants from a nursery. They aro sold at about 12s. 6d. a doz. Taupata makes a fine hedgb. LILIUMS. Liliums should bo planted whenever the ground is in a suitable condition, lho sooner tho bulbs are in the ground tho longer they will have for fornimj: strong roots before'the flowering season. When buying the bulb 3it is more satisfactory to get large ones that will flower the first season. As a rule they cost a little more. Beforo planting the bulbs remove tho top soil, and ■thoroughly break up the sub-soil to a depth of 18 inches, enriching it „,with well-decayed cow manure, leaf-mould, and a little bonedust. Replace tho top soil. When planting fork a little bonedust into the bottom of ( the hole, and givo tho bulbs a layer of'silver or rivor-sand to rest on. After planting, a layer of well-rotted cow manure may bo spread over the eurfaco soil.

Uie earliest of tlio liliums, ' tho •Madonna lily, is already well abovo ground, for owing to its early flowering, it is necessary to plant it during February or March. As the first of tho long procession of liliums that extend from November /until the erfd of tho autumn, one greets its appearance with delight, but scarcely notices its departure as the beautiful trumpet lily, lilium Harrisii, follows it in such quick succession. The flowers of the Harrisii havo scarcely passed their best when one is watching the maturing and unfolding of the flowerbuds of the beautiful ily of Japan— Lilium Auratum.

Tho early-floworing liliums are stately, showy, and heavily scented, but for daintiness and delicate fragranco wa look to tho later flowering lilies —the Speciso lilies. _ It must be borne in mind that for liliums to be grown successfully their roots must be kept cool and moist during tho period of growth. From tho time tho first shoot appears abovo tho ground until the foliago ripens and dies down, the' bulbs must be kept cool and moist. An ideal place to grow liliums is among dwarf shrubs. They liko the shade the shrubs afford their roots, and they also liko being left undisturbed to eomo up; flower, and die down again year after year. Liliums hata disturbance almost as much as they dislike dryness at the roots. Certain liliums lave two seta of roots, one set below, tho bulb, the other above tho bulb, and just below tho surface of the ground. They should, therefore, be planted with the apex of the bulb at least six inches below the surface of the ground. The following liliums are among tboso that have the system of double rooting:—Auratum, Batemanii, Brownii, Croceum, Elegans, Hansoni, Henryi, Kramori, Longiflomm, Spcciosum, and Tigrinum. One 6ees, therefore, the. importance of a mulch being placed round these varieties. , As tho topmost roots are so very near the Burface they soon become parched and burnt if allowed to suffer from drought and heat. There is the danger, too, of damaging these roots if an attempt •is made to loosen the soil abovo thcra with a hoe or a hand fork. A mulch following a good watering is much the safest and most comfortable covering for the roots. DELPHINIUMS. Large plants of delphiniums that have not already been broken up should bo attended to now. Plants that have been attended' to should havo a good mulch of cow manure spread over them. The manure should be softened in a bucket of water before being applied. Those who cannot got, manure, must manage as best they can with bonedust and a little well-decayed vegetable rubbish. Then as 6oon as the now shoots appear soot water may be given regularly. Soed is generally sown during the autumn, but those gardeners who want only a few plants could buy roots at any time during tho next few months from nurserymen. Tho ground where delphiniums are to be grown should bo deeply dug, and if possible enriched with farmyard manure. If this cannot be had, a good supply of vegetable rubbish should be dug into the soil, and bonedust could be worked in at the time of planting. Few plants give such a wealth of rich colour over such a long period as do delphiniums. The plants look well planted in clumps at the back of a herbaceous border, for they are tall-growing, stately, and handsome, and the flowers are the most glorious shade's of pale blue, cornflower blue, sky blue, and purple. VEGETABLES. CABBAGES. The cabbago is a sort of perennial vegetable. It is, or should he, in the garden at all seasons. It is a real old family friend, and may bo rolied upon to grow and do fairly well when majiy other vegetables fal. But the ideal cabbage is the one that is grown quickly on rich, well-worked soil. Then the leaves aro tender- and juicy, and firm hearts are nicely formed. Once the seedling cabbages havo become established they should bo hurried on with regular doses of weak nitrate of soda solution and much hoeing. Quickly-grown cabbages very often resist attacks of aphis, but it is as well to bo on tho safe side and keep the leavos well syringed with clear water. Pens mid broad beans may still •be sown. Provide a. few lightly-stretched strands of black cotton to protect tho young shools from (.narrows. Crops-that are already above ground should be staked at oncn. Little twiggy sticks or pieces of brush are nico for tho peas to cling to. Hoc between Iho rows at every opportunity. Hoeing on warm sunny flays helps Uio pbuils (o grow. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about shrubs with ornamental berries, routine work, and vegetables. ,