GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3142, 21 July 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(I3y "Kowhai.") ROSE-PRUNING. Growers of roses should make themselves taniilmr with tho names of their roses, and also with their class. That is whether tney aro hybrid perpetual, hybrid tea, or tea roses. Tho hybrid perp.etuals and hybrid teas aro pruned ilrat. It is as well to leave tho teas for a week, or o> fortnight later, as they aro moro delicate. Except in warm districts free from frosts and oold v/inds, August is early enough, for pruning. On tho other hand, in districts subjeot to spring and rammer drought, it is somotimee advisable to pruno oarly iu order to get tho necessary growth. Ono runs tho risk then of lato frosts or cold spring winds spoiling tho lirst crop of flowers, but at least one gots sufficient growth to carry tho bushc3 through tho summer drought. By deferring the priming till August wo Keep back tho growth. Tho trees may bo covered with a fine growth of young foliago when you go to pruno them, but this foliage, which is borne on tho old wood, could never produce ftno longstemmed flowers. It has its racs, however, becauso its production keeps the buds nt tho base of the treoe dormant, and these arc tho buds that nro to produce our now strong growth for this season. When pruning seo that th Unite or secateurs are, sharp. Make the cut just above an outsido bud or eyo. Make a slightly slanting cut, and havo the highest pact of it just above the bud, not on tho side of tho branch away from tho bud. After pruning, lightly prick into the soil a. sprinkling of bone dust. PRUNING. First cut away all growths that aro overcrowding the ecntre, end then cut right out all weak growths. Now cut tho strong shoots baok, leaving only about four to six eyes, making tho cut above an eye that points outwards. Very strong shoots may ho left with six eyes, weaker shoots should ho cut back to four eyes. To beginners it seems Btrango that weak growers should bo cut back harder than strong growers, but tho point is that a rose bush must be allowed to havo only as many shoots as it has strength/ to support. A jweak-growing roso can support tower shoots than a. strong grower, therefore, it is cut back hard, leaving Perhaps threo or four buds far it to uoncoutrato its strength into, whorcas a. strong grower may ho left ■with, as many as. six -.buds, and will havo sufficient strength to develop thorn well. Somo roses send out an occasional long fihoot. This should bo out hard hack. Newlyplanted roses should bo out back at pruning, time, leaving only four eyes. It la most important that this sh_ould ho attended to. as it affects the future vigour of tho plant. In 'very cx-poEcd gardens lea roses should bo left till the middle of August hefore being pruned. Climbing roses should be treated in tho pame way as dwarf roses when newly planted. That is to say, tho shoots should bo out baok to four eye. ' You will then get ftno vigorous growth as a. start for your plants. In subsequent years climbing roses need careful handling if you want a good supply of flowers. Tho best flowers aro produced on shoots that aro ono yoa,r old. Pruning then, consists in cutting back, directly after flowering, some of the older shoots that havo flowered. Try to keep the roso to young shoots growing from as nea.r tho base as possible. So many climbing roses have long bare stoms, and all tho growth up at the top. By pruning hard back at planting timo one gives tho roso a good start in this direction. Rambler • roses should havo the shoots that have flowered cut out as soon as tho flowering is over. This encourages_ the plants to produce now shoots, and it is on one-year-old shoots that tho. beet flowers aro produced. Therefore, to have a rambler a mass of flowors pruning must take place a year previous to flowering. That is to sny, pruning must be done as soon as tho flowering is over. Bnnksia. roBOS bloom on tho twiggy growths. As goon as tho flowering is over cut back tho old flowering etcms. All that 'is needed after this la to cut the , tips off the long shoots that aro producod. Briar roses also should bo cut baok as soon as they havo finished.flowering.. These roses also flower on the wood that is produced during the previous summer. Do not shorten tho tips of the shoots on briar roses, as it is on the ends of the branches that the best flowers are produced. Do not mulch until tho summer, as during spring tho roots of the roses, want all tho warmth of tho sun they can get. LATHYRUS PUBESOENS. The -vines of this beautiful everlasting pea are growing .iust now with amazing rapidity. Last year I planted several roots at the foot of ninus insignis troce whose lowest branches were nuite ten feet from the ground. A largo sauare hole was dug out for each plant, tho poor soil was removed, roots that came in tho way wero sawn off, and tho holes, to : a depth of three foot, were filled iu with a mixture of woll-rotted cow manure, good soil, aud river snnd. Now the vines have completely covered tho bare trunks with a mat of vigorous growth .that promises a perfect glory of pale olue flowers by-and-bye, and arc even gracefully festooning themselves about tho lower branches of the trees. The flowers aro splendid for cutting. They aro long-stemmed, and they last a very long time in water. The plaut tlowore whqn tho gardou is full of low-growing spring flowers, and a bush in full bloom is most conspicuous by roasou of its height and its oxcessivo beauty. Being such a vigorous grower the, plant is a gross feeder. It lasts for several years, and should therefore bo given a good start. During tho flowering season pleuty of water and a weekly doso of weak liquid manure should be given. As soon a3 flowering is over, the plant eliould bo cut back to within a few inohes of tho ground, and tho roote should ho covered with a good mulch of cow manure, or of decayed loaves. If leaves are used, first fork into tho soil a dressing of boncdust. Have the ground thoroughly wet before applying tho mulch. Lathyrus Pubesccns requires plenty of water during the summer months, or one good watering followed by a mulch. Other requirements of the plant are a sunny position, and strong supports. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown iu the opeu ground this week aro:—Peas, broad beans, aud carrots (short horn). Seeds that may be sown in pans are;— Cabbage, cauliflower, and lottuco. Where bottom heat can bo" supplied—To inato and Cane gooseberry. \,, ta Plants of cabbage, cauliflower, and 1«« tuce may be nut in provided tho soil is in suitable condition. Plant out autumn-sown ouious, leeks, and celery plants. A small planting of potatoes may be made. If the tubers can be surrounded iu the trenches with somo dry potting soil, or dry soil from a compost heap, they will havo a better chance than if surrounded with tho cold soil of the vegetable garden. Plants of parsley, thyme, sage, and mint may be put in now. Roots of rhubarb, horso radish, shallots, and garlic, may all be slanted. Th» ground for rhubarb should be well due and richly manured. If stable manure cannot bo procured, dig into the soil some well-decayed vegetable rubbish, docayed leaves, and a good handful of bonedust for each root. The plant should

bo three feet apart each way, and should have the crowns .iust below the surface of tho Eoil. TUB NECESSITY FOR MANURE, llr. T. Wright. V.M.H., F.R.H.S., says: "Wants or crops do not Joed on soil; they do not eat it. It is not food for them, but simply the larder which contains it, and lr you do not Isecp this lardor replenished crows languish; while weeds you must regard as wnat they are —thieves, robbers of tlio larder, for they live on tho same kind of food as useful crops do, and, if permittud, will take the best share. . . . Hoeing the erouiiu ou warm, sunny days make tho crops grow. By hooinis, tho warm air resting on tho surface Is admitted to the moisture below, tho roots nioyo moro auickly in consequence, appropriating the food supplied, with that already stored in the larder—tho earth." ROUTINE WORK. Green peas that aro a few inches high will need a little protection from tho cold during tho next few weeks. Even a sliriit protection makes a difference in the date of the first nickins of peas. It is a great help to them if a brushwood protection c»n be mado along tho exposed side. The brush need not be moro than eighteen inches high. Even twjeev sticks about a foot high, placed in the ground alongside the peas, will aflord the young plants considerable warmth. A leaf bent over broccoli that are maturing will protect the flowers -from frost. With hooing always push the earth towards the roots of Ereens. If the earth is drawn up about cabbages and cauliflowers the roots will auickly penetrate it iu search of food. Garden .Notes nojtt week .will contain seasonable notes about: Canterbury Bells, routine work, and vegetables.