GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 46, 17 November 1917, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

MiIMKOBES. Primroses aro easily raiicd Irom seed. It should bo sown now in shallow pans containing sandy soi 1 . and the seedlings, which will be ready for planting out in the autumn, should Mower the following spring. Tho seed should bo very thinly sown on a firm. danu> bed, and only ■just covered with lino earth. Tho pan should be Bhaded from hot sun till tho soed lias germinated. Once the seed is sown, try to avoid watering til; tho seedlings are up, or tho surface soil is sure to becomo'caked. By having tho soil in the pans thoroughly moist and by shading carefully from hot sun or drying wind' ono should bo ablo to avoid doing so. Where the gardener lias not tho convonioiico of a cold frame, cloches are very useful, Or, tho pans may be stood under tho shade of a treo and covered with saoks or manuka brush. These coverings 'should lj» lifted from timo to time to 6enrch for wood-lice or other seed enemicß, and bo removed entirely as soon as tno seedlings show through. Before planting out tho seedlings in tho autumn a good dressing of well-rotted manure and decayed leaves should bo dug into tho soil. Primroses lovo old manureplenty of will give an abundance of fine flowers in return let it. Establishcd' borders should now bo attended to. Tho plants should ho lift<st and broken UP, but before they are planted back again a good supply o£ well-rotted manure and decayed leaves or. vegetation should bo dug into the soil where they aro to go. Ifako the soil firm again beforo replanting the, broken-up piants. After planting, water tho plants very thoroughly, and spread a light mulch about thorn. Polyanthus primroses may bo treated in the samoway. • Both primroses and polyanthus primroses like a position facing ' south, or one where they will he shaded during the middle of the day. Once tho primrose, or polyanthus borders aro put in order, phlox. drummondil,

. ncmesia, "double pinl; gode'tin., or some such summer or autumn flowering annual may ,be planted just insido tho row. Tho annuals will servo the double purpose or keeping, the'edge of. the border cay and attractive, and of shading the roots or ■ t.ho primroses, as they love to be shaded during tho hot weather. 'HOW-TO. EXHIBIT ROSES. The following hints for would-be exhibitors "are taken from a coipy of "Amateur Gardening":— '' Tho main secret of successfully exhibiU ing ioecb lies in: . la) Selecting- tho finest and most perfectflowered varieties that are known to occupy premier positions in winning collections. (bj Securing good trees, more especially those known as "maidens" (one-year-olds). : ■ (c) Planting them in properly prepared soil; and in the most favourable • positions. (d) Pruning each variety more or less hard according to its constitution, aiming at few flowers rather than quantity, and theso of the I finest qua'ity. (e) Carefully disbudding the weak shoots in an early stage of their development, also tho buds in their incipient stages of growth. - ■ 'f) direful and judicious feeding of tho plauts'to assist in'attaining substance of petal, size of flower, and riohness of colour. (g) Shading tho developing blooms Si am scorching sunshine or excessive rainfall. .(h) Carefully placing a ligaturo or ■worsted around tho bloom two days or so befoi'o it is required to bo staged,--and .dpiug this very, early in tho morning ov late'in the evening. ■ (i), Bending the shoot carrying the'blbbni down slightly and'securing it. to a-stake so that it points downwards, and is not consequently liablo to injury by moisture . settling; within the petals. ...... (j) Cutting tho bloom late tho evening before, or vory early in tho morning of the day of the. show. :. .(k)'Storing tho blooms.in a cool, dark place till you aro roady to start to tho show. " .■'. . (li Packing tho blooms seourely in tho exhibition box. and seeing that tho latter is Jtopt lovel during its journey. (m) Exercising great care that you have tho blooms named correctly—a most Important point. (n! Seeing that the blooms are so arranged as to harmonise or form a pleasing contrast with each nther on the stand. (o) Also, that each bloom ia a, perfect example of its kind, and free from blemished petals. (p) Being careful to seo that wlion finally arranged, and within a few minutes of tho judging, tho wooi ligatures are removed, and a, fine spray of water applied jjver tho blooms.

(qj That you havo not only entered,. hut also placed, your exhibit in tho right, clasß.

(r) That: yoir have conformed entirely to.tho.conditions of tho schedule in every respect... . .-_. ... .....-.-;_-_.-- ""(»;' That you have partfouliirl'y'"left no point undono-that yoii- ought- to-have' done.

(t) That tho name cards havo boon placed in their proppr positions. (u) That tho lid of tho boi has been removed at tho last moment.(v) That you immediately leave tho ball when requosted to do so by the officils. (w) That you, do not attempt to re-enter the hall until tho judging is finished. (1) Nor boast to your rivals outsida that you aro bound to get a "first," or indeed any prize. (y) Nor abueo the judges because, with their impartial eye, judgment, and experience, they havo failed to appraise tho value of your oxhibit at the same standard as yourself. (z)i Nor, above all things, lose your temper, but tako your beating in a calm, generous, and dignified spirit. FLOWERS IN BLOOM.

The mixed border is particularly' showy at this time of year. Boses of ovory 6hado and kind - are blooming freely; Canterbury bells aro fast opening innumerable dainty-coloured bells which crowd up the tall flowering stalks; Orlen. tal poppies flaunt bright-hucd flowers of flaming scarlet or bright clear salmon; tall spikes of antirrhinums of every shade ofpink, orange, scarlet, yellow, and crimson aro reaching up to nod to ono another across great clumps of pure glis-tening-white gladioli; geraniums nestle in among their neighbours wherever they get the chanco, adding yot another gay touch to the flower-bedecked bordor, as they open their soarlot, blood-red, or clear pink flowers; aquilegias aro still bearing their dainty fragile-looking flowers; bordors of pinks aro covered day by day with dainty blooms that fling thoir scent from end to end of the garden; larkspurs, Shirley poppies, gaillardias, and coreopsis all add thoir particular note to the brilliance of tho herbaceous border, as they push their way up and joßtlo their neighbours in a friendly race for room to display their lovely blooms. Madonna lilies have reared themselves far above their neighbours, and are now opening their fragrant, puro white flowers, while sweet pcaa growing up tall stakes nod merrily across to them, and save them from feeling lonely so far away from the friendly crowd below. Nestling in semishaded nooks, pansies turn their quaint vcivety faces to greet tho morning sun, but their cousins, the violas, revelling in a sunny position, make a brilliant edg. ing for the gay herbaceous border.

VEGETABLES. Continue planting out, where nicessary:— Tomato plants: Plant firmly in well-dug, not over-rich ground. Cabbage and cauliflower: Plant in rich, well-dug, but firm ground. Out off with a sharp knife the long tap-root at the timo of planting out. Pumpkin, marrow, cucumher, and pio melon: Pjant in thoroughly enriched places. Celery: Plant in well-prepared trenoheß. Sow, where necessary, the following seeds:—

Pump)»ul, marrow, pie molon, and cucumber: Sow in holeß filled with rich soil and well-decayed manure. When Bowing, do not lay tho Boed flat and cover it with earth, but puah the socdi edgeways for about an inch into tho ground. Savoy cabbage: Sow in sjed-pans for transplanting. Broccoli and Brussels sproutß: Sow in seed-pans for transplanting. Celeriao (turnip-rooted celery): 6ow in rows two feet apart, in well-worked, wellenriched ground. Thin out tho seedlings to six Inches apart in the rows, Oeleriac does not need carthing-up like celery. It is grown for its root. Scarlot-runner beans: Sow in ground that has been trenched and manured. Sow the seeds from six to eight inches apart, and about two inches deep.

French boans: fiow in drills two feet apart, and have tho. seeds Bix x inches apart iu tho rows. Dust boncdust in the drills at the timo of . sowing the seed, and givo a slight dressing of superphophatc as soon ob tho seedlings arc a couplo of inches high. Broad beans: A further small sowing may bo made. Pinch tho tops off plants as soon as tlioy aro in (loner.

Radish: Sow broadcast in rich, firm ground.. Carrot: Sow thinly in drills 12 inches apart. Peas: Sows in drills from two to three feet apart. Ground, should bo trenched and manured, and should havo wood-aahes mixed with it._ Dust bonedust in tno drills when rowing.

Beet: A light Bandy soil is the best for boot.. Sow Hie seed in drills 18 iiiclies apart in the ground that was manured for •a previous crop. Fresh manure would bo harmful to the roots. The ground should be deeply ing and mado firm agnln beforo sowing tho scotl. Bust bonedust in. the drills when sowing. Lettuce.'Sow thinly in. drills 15 inches apart, and thin out to 9 inches in tho rows, 'l'lso ri'ouikl should he dcoply dug. and onrlolied with well-decayed raanuro. "Garden Notes" noxt week will contain ■seasonable notes aboutt-Panslcs and violas, routine work, and vegetables.