GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 3160, 11 August 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

I'UEPAIUNG FRAMES FOE SEEDS. A frame is almost indispensable in a garden. By its help tender nnnuala such as cosmos, asters, lobelia, ncniesin, French and African marigolds, zinnias, salpiglossis, nicotiana, etc., may be had ready to plant out as soon as all danger of froßt is over. Among vegetables, too, such tender subjects a.s tomatoes, celery, marrows, cu--cumbers, and melons may bo bowh now, and strong seedlings will be ready for planting out quito early. This earlier planting means an earlier flowering or fruiting ■ season, and .-..the plants, moreover, are put into the ground while the soil is still damp from winter rains, and before the hot weather has set in. They are not so likely to be checked by transplanting then, and they have a chauco also to become well established beforo they are forced to battle against drought and hot winds. The hot bed is niade of fresh horse manure and litter. This should be formed into a compact heap, the manure and litter being well mixed with the fork during the process. The heap should bo turned over in a day or two, and 6hould then bo left till fermentation takes place. A flat bed should then bo built, its shape and size corresponding with that of the frame. The bed should be big enough to protrude on every side about eighteen inches beyond the frame. Before placing tho frame in position the bed should be firmly trodden down. Place tho frame on the bed, and push a pointed stick well down into the middle of It. In a few days pull out the stick. If it is not too hot to hold comfortably in the hand, the frame is then ready-for seeds.' If tho seeds are to be sown on the bed, a- few inches of flue soil should be spread all over it, but if seed pans are to be used, a thin layer of cinders should be spread for them to rest on.

Seed pans should not be too deep, as a great depth of earth holds too much moisture, nud is apt to become soiir. Three or four inches of earth Is deep enough for seedlings, and the warm alp can penetrate this depth. Hare the pans thoroughly clean, attend to tho drainage, and then thrca parts All them with a mixture of earth, sand, ashes from a wood or a rubbish fire, and a little leaf-mould. Mil up the ingredients thoroughly with the hands before putting the mixture into the panß. An hour or two before sowing the seeds water tho pans with tepid water. Cover the seed with the' merest sprinkling, .of fine earth. If seeds arc very small, mix them in a saucer with a little fine earth or sand. They will, then be., more evenly distributed over the seed pan. Never sow seeds thickly, or the seedling!) will come up crowded together, and will run up into weak, spindly plants. Those that are well distributed over the seed pan; and thinly sown, have a chance to grow into sturdy plants that will make strong growth right from the start. Also, one is saved' the necessity of pricking out the seedlings'into another box before planting them out. in tho garden. Once the seedlings are up ventilation should bo striotly attended to, and remember that ventilation should be given on the opposite side from which the wind is blowing. At night sacks may be spread over tho saFh to conserve the heat. Many gardeners in towns cannot manage a hot bed, but by using a frame even without one seedlings can bo had much earlier than if the seeds are sown in the open. Seeds that ma.v lie sown in frames now: —Agorafura, antirrhinum (snapdragon), .as-, ters, coreopsis (annual), cinorarlai clarkia, cosmos, dahlias (single and eollarotte). heliotrope, lobelia, niooliana, marigold ■(French arid African),' ucmcsiai phlox drnmmondi. pansles, petunias, salpiglossis, salvia, schiznnthus. zinnias. TEGETABH! SEEDS. Tomatcjes, Celery, Marrows, Cucumbers, and Ifolons. Many of t,ho seedlings from the (lower seeds mentioned above will bo ready to follow those from (he autumn sowing. As soon as this first, lot of seodlings is removed from (he hot, bod to a cold frame or. sheltered spot lo "harden off," their places may bo taken by the following scods:—Anemone aquilcffia. Canterbury bell, carnation, pentstcmoii, pansles, polyanthus primrose, primrose, early-flowering Nice Slocks, Erompton slocks, wallflowers, nnd Tiolas.

"NIOOTIANA. Nicotinna, aniniß Is one of the loveliest, of our suuimor-flowering plants. Tho Bowers arc white and Tery swcel-scontod. 'I'ho plants grow'fairly tall, and their habit is very graceful Niootiana affinis hybrids ombr-acs ■ many bright and hcantifnl colours, Seeds should be sown now with fl. llttlo heat, and tho seedlings hardened off before being -planted out in the beds. The plnnis aro most effective when they are massed. Thnso who aro not able to give the seedlings the protection of «. frame, should not sow tho seed until Into in the spring. PLANTING snitUßS OK HANKS. Shrubs that aro growing on a slope, haro a. bigger fight against drought than thoso growing on the Rat. . When planting them It is belter to form a. series of stairs on tho slope, thne forming flat beds for tho shrubs to bo planted on. For a, very steep ba.uk or slope it is bettar to cut narrow stairs, and to plant tho shrubs in single rows. On a. mom gradual slope, wider stairs may be formed, and tho shrubs planted in o. doublo row. As the shrubs grow the stairs nro hidden, and ono sees only a. slope covered with beautiful shrubs. This may seem to sorao a great deal of trouble, but when they remember that a, bank so planted with shrubs will bo beautiful for rory many years, and that anr subsequent treatment of the plants will bo Tery slight, they will roaliso that it is more satisfactory to do tho work thoroughly at the start. Onc« the stairs aro formed the edges Bhould be banked up with turves, and the.spaces between the turves end the bank filled in with good soil. Tbo following diagram will make ray meaning auito clear.

A.—Banks formed of turves on the edges of tho stairs. 8.-Spaces to be tilled in with good soil, in which tho shrubs are to be planted. Before filling in theso spaces with good earth, loosen tho soil in the bottom of them with a rick, and work in some wellrotted manure or decayed vegetation'. VEGETABLES. Seeds that, may ho sown this week, weather and soil permitting, are:— Kadish—French, breakfast. Sow broadcast in rich firm ground, and in a warm sunny position. Short Horn or Nantes Horn Oarrot-fiow thinly, in drills 12 inches apart. Turnip—Early Snowball or Early Whitestone. Sow in ground that was richly manured for a previous crop of ercens, or in ground that was manured early in the autumn. Make tho wound very firm. Sow thinly in drills twelve inches a.part. Peas-'Sow in drills from two to three feet apart, Ground should be trenched and manured, and should have -wood-ashes mixed -witi it. Bust bonedust in tho drills at tho time of sowinc Soak peas

in wann.s-ater lor a few lotus before sowing. Broad Ecaus-Same treatment as for peas. • Lettuce—Sow seed thinly in nans fortransplanting later on. JtOUTINE WOBK On a., warm sunny day, 1711011 the soil is nico aid friable, earth-up eafibaecs and cauliflowers. It is no use doin? this whilo tho earth is damp and cold, for roots shut up in such soil will not do good. work. But take adTantaco of tho soil belnc -warmed by tho sun to do tho earthing up. and the roots will respond quickly. Hoo between tho rows of crowins crops whenever it is possible. Feed crops that are maturing, such, as broccoli, cabbage, lettuce, etc.. with nitrato of soda (loz. in one gallon of water), apply ins it to wet ground once n fortnight. • "Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about hardy annuals, phlox, and vegetables.