GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 40, 10 November 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

SWEET I'EAS. Sweet pens aro at present awning daily rioniands upon the gardener's time. Those from tbo autumn-sowing aro now at their best, ami every day blooms must bo gathered, or eecd-poda rempjed. Weak eootWatcr. ehquld be givun to tho iilame onco a . week if possible, alwaya toUowing a good. wiUunug wiiii olear ivator or a shower of rain. At'this time- of the year tho vines grow bo quickly that tho work of-training and tylUE.them to their stakes is never-ending.

Just now, wiiou the plants are in hurt, col<ti\vindß are much to be dreaded. A cold wind following a few warm daye willoften cause iill Lhe buds to wither and fall at the least touch. Wherever it is possible- tho vines should bo covered over at tho first approach of a cold- wind. The plants from tho next sowing are showing signs of 'bud-forniing, and may bo helped by a little careful tceding. Dissolve 2oz. of superphosphate- and loz. of sulphalo of iron in four gallons of water. Give each plant a good soaking with tbiu solution. fieo that tho vines nro kept growing upright, and that they.aro well tied to their supports.' ■ .- , . Those who.like to have a succession- of sweet peas all through the summer and autumn will'probably have another batch of plants about one foot or eighteen inches''high, and perhaps another only a few inches high. Thoso two lattor lota must ho encouraged to grow upright by giving them plenty of brush or twiggy sticks to cling to. Hoe the soil , about them, constantly working, in. lime, and well-ripened soot alternately; Sweet peas liko lime and soot. Plenty of water must bo supplied to the later batches of sweet peas to , induce them to make good growth before , (lowering. If allowed to''suffer from wint of -water the vinee will flower prematurely, and the flowering will econ be over. A further sowing of "weet peas may be made now to keep up a succession: of flowers. For this last sowing provide plenty of well-rotted vegetable rubbish in'- tho . trenches or holes for the nlants to'Tbot into. In very dry districts a, small drain-pipe should be placed vertically in the hole inade for each dump, the'top of the pipe being, v/hen m position an inoh or bo above- tho level of tho surface soil. Water or.. HauM manure poured. down this pipe will be sure, to reach fee roots of tho plants. The pipe, moreover, providos a euro and easy method of keeping.the rooting ground of tho planU moist. , ' ■ . •-. ■ .. . BOSE6. ; . Greenfly on the young shoots and buria of roses ie always a trouble at this time of year. Caterpillars, too, haje found their way to the buds, and unless a stnot watch is kept, promising blooms are won spoilt. Duiinß the daytime he caterpillars generally hide by fold™ a leaf over themselves. It >a as well to visit the bushes early in the evening as well as during the daytimo. By the aid of a lantern many a foe may he discovered, ffi flowers of sulphur over the bushes at the first sign of mildew. The whitish and crippled appearance of the foliage is a sure indication of mildew. Owing to the frequent spells of ram thoroughly moist, well loosened, and warm bP?o?o applying the mulch. Tho mulcli itseU may coblist.of well-rotted manure, oad sweeping, woll-decayed vegetation or grass dippings. The mulch, when .ap-plied,-should be about °no inoMn thickness. Do not apply a milch to dry soil. Do not. apply a mulch to cold soil. . Endeavour to apply it when the sun has warmed tho ground after rain. WAHiFLOWEItS. ' Aβ a-rule, it is best to Dull out plants of wallflower when their season is over, and to plant a new lot for ncx.6 year, But any favourite ones that are not more than a year old, and that one would like to rotain. may bo ont down to within a few inches of the ground. Loosen the earth round these old roots, work in a, little bonednst, give them a good watering,'and new growth will soon break from the old stems. But it is better to use this new growth for cuttiuss. afterwards diecarding the-old roots.- Double wallflowers lend themselves very readily to. this.treatment. ' ' '.' ','■■'" After pulling oat the old rootß, the ground should be thoroughly worked, and should" have a sprinkling of ground lime worked into it. Plant out tho young plants as soon as they are ready, working a- little bonedUßt into the soil at the time of planting. Should seedling wallflowers show a tendency to flower, it , is as'well to pinch- back -the flowering.- stem.,... ..-••. When planting out the seedlings, cut on; with a sharp knife, the long tap root. ..This' encourages"', the'.'frrowth of "fibrous' roots, and gives ono fine bushy plant« instead- of iho ungainly, leggy ones, that are so often seen. Seeds of wallflower may still bo sown either in seed pans or in the open ground.. If a small part of tho garden ce-n . be. spared for raising seedling plunts, it is a good idea to leave one or two wallflower plants to go to seed. As soon as the seed is ripe, pull up the plants, carry them ovor to the eeed-raising patch, and shake them vigorously over finely-worked ground. One will often get, in this way, a number of fine young seedlings, with rery little trouble, As soon as tjio seedlings are big enough they should bo lifted, ■ have their, tap roots cut, and bo planted out iu a little nursery bed preparatory to going into thojr flowering quarters.

VEGETABLES. 6arrot.s. Toung carrots may 6b had in the garden all tho year round by making succesBivo sowings. 1£ a. fresh . sowing . is made as soon as tlio -most forward batch is finished, the g&rdeijcr'wjjl never he without a " sweet young carrot for his table. It is, as a-rule,.a .luxury that cannot be bought as market 1 gardeners, naturally liko to lot the crop develop more before digging it up. Scarlet intermediate, is a good. kind of carrot to sow at this time .of the year. Carrots should not. be sown on land that has been recontly manured. Tho presont Bowing may bo made on ground that was used for winter greens, cauliflowers, broccoli, or letti)ce, The ground,was probably riobly manured for these-crops. Work the soil to a fine tilth for a good depth. D«Bt somo bonedust into tho drills at the time of sowing. BEANS. Another row of broad beans may be sown. A few seeds sown now and then will keep up a supply of broad boans all the summer. Somo gardenerß content themselves with one sowing only; but this is a pity, for broad beans may be had from early in-sprmjr. till .late into winter. Pinch out the topß of' plants' coming on as soon as they aro in flower. This removal of tops helps to ward of! ah attack of aphis, and aIBO helps tho pods to mature more quickly. Seed that is to bo sown now should be soaked in water for 5, few hours before sowing. A dressing of lime is beneficial to all beans—broad, ■ Prench.".,'.Rnil,. .tun.nerj..;'J[fb.e. between the" rows of ail growing crops. Work in soot between the rows of turnips, onions, etc. Attend to tho thinning out of crops. Seeds that may bo sown this week where necessary are:—Scarlet runner..beans: Sow in ground that has bepji. trenched and manured. Sow the seeds from six to eight inches apart, and about two inches deep. French beans: Sow in drills two feet apart, and have the seeds six inches apart in the rows. Dust bonedust in tho drills at the time of sowing tho seed, and give a slight dressing of superphosphate as-soon as the plants aro a couple of inches high. Radish: Sow broadcast in.rich, firm ground.' Turnip: Sow in ground that was richly manured for & nrcvious crop, or in ground that was mauured early, in tho .autumn. Make the ground very firm. Sow thinly in drillß 12 inches apart. Keep the ground as moist as possible, and dust soot over the Beedlings frequently. Garden swede: Same treatment as for turnips: Sow thinly in drills 18 inches apatl, and thin out to 6 or 8 inches in the rows, Peas: Sow in drills from 2 to 3 feet apart. Ground should bo trenched and. manured,, and should have, wood ashes mixed with it. Dnst bonedust in the drills at tho time Of sowing. Parsnips: Sow in ground that was well manured for a previous crop. Work tho soil to a very fine tilth to a : depth, of 18 inches. Any lumps may cause deformed and worthless roots. Work into the soil ashes from a rubbish fire, and bonedust (toz.' to squaro yard). Beet: A light, sandy soil is tho best for beet. Sow tho seed, in drills .18 inches apart In ground that ',was manured for a previous crop. Fresh mauuro would bo ipoßt harmful to tho roots. Tho ground should be deeply dug and made firm again before sowing tho seed. Dust bonedust in the drills at the time of sowing. Lettuce: Sow thinly in drills 15 inches apartand thin out to 9 inches in the rows. Tho ground should be deenly dug and enriched with wcll-decaycd manure. Dust bonedust in the drills at the time of sowing. Keep tho hoo going. Garden Notes next week will contain- seasonable notes about: Primroses, pansies, routine work, and vegetables.