GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 211, 25 May 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowhai.")

PLOWEItIiN'G PEACHES. Early in the spring the flowering plums, cherries, and ulmoilds aro absolutely glorious. liven one welt-grown treo is a wonderful sight when its naked branches are covered to tho very tips with masses' ol dainty white, rink, or rose-coloured flower?. But when i.iie tmeis are massed they make, when in bloom, a picture thai once seen oau never to forgotten. , , , The flowering poach is less often to be 6een in our gardens. }ct its lovely double flowers ara quito as beautiful an those of the plum, cherry, or almond. The purple-leafed variety is a great acnuisi. tiou, for the dark purple foliage keeps tho .plant attractive even after tho lovely flowers are over. The flowering poach likes much the same, treat-incut as the rest of the Prunus tribe-a light, well-drained, lather rich soil. Little pruning ia needed beyond trimming into ri'.aiic and keeping the trees fairly open in the middle. ' SOABIOUS-AZUKE PAIItY.

Azure Fairy is, in my opinion, the love* liest of tho sweet scabious family. In colour the flowers arc that clear pale lavender that blends so well with almost any garden flower. They arc borne, too, on lons still stems, and are freely produced,, so that the plant is a treasure for owners of small gardens, where only a few plants can be crown, and where colour schemes nro out of tho question. But Azure I'airy has still other desirable qualities, to _ recommend it. Ono is that, although it gives tho best results in rich soil, it will on ciiiito a success in poor soil. But, Its wet quality is its lengthy flowering period. The plants btsm flowering early in November, and aro only just going oil now, the flowers being as line still as they wero early in tho season. The only thing that is necessary to sustain thielong flowering season is to liiko a pair of scissors to the plants every few weeks and to snip ofl all seed pods and faded flowers. If a little weak liquid manure ('an be (riven to tho plants immediately afterwards, it is a groat help to them. Should tl)o sou bo dry, tho plantu should be .well watered beforo tho liquid uianuro is given. Plants in the borders should have the old flowering.stems cut back to within a few inches of the ground very coon now, and,- if possible, some well .decayed manure should be placed round them.' Failing this, however, prick- in a dressing of bonc.dust, and lieep the soil well'stirred, tt is not necessary to lift and divide the plants erery year, burnt the end of tho third year they may be-dus out altogether and their places taken by fresh oncn. Seeds may bo sown now to provide plants for planting out in spring. ORIENTAL POPPIES?. Big clumps of Oriental poppies may now be lifted and divided up, though us thi> plants make very long tap roots they aro best left undisturbed for as long as possible. In digging up the clumps great care should be taken to damage the roots aa little as possible. The Oriental poppy is one of the gayest of our. summer Ilowcrn. The beautiful blooms are borne on very iting straight stems, sometimes reaching n height of foiir feet. Tho foliage is massed at the foot of the llower stems, some of the leaves being like large ferns. In addition to the old red Oriental poppy, we have now many beautiful hybridß, comprising shades of Kalmon, scarlet, rose and mauve, '{'heir beauty is greatly enhanced by large black blotches iu the centre of the flowers. The plaitfs like a deeply-dug, rich, welldrained soil, and a sunny position. A little bonedust should be worked into the soil round established plants. 11OUTINE VOKK. Haiit roses, paeonies, camellias, ericas, azaleas, 'daphne, flowcrine peaches, plums, almonda and cherriee, japonica, jaßcmiuo, and all flowering shrubs, delphiniums, antirrhinums, pentstcmons, Michaelmas daisies, (Shasta, daisies, sweet scabious, gypeophila, paniculata, Oriental poppies, poronnjal phloxes, coreopsis, graudiliora, gaillardia3, iiquik'gias, ami ruuueckia (Golden Glow)..

Plant out rooted layers of carnations, violets, flowering verbenas, and petunias. Sow seeds, in seed pans, of perennials and hardy animals. Cut back Jlichaelmas daisies, antirrhinums, delphiniums otc, that have finished flowering. Lift and divide large clumps of Alichiielimis daisy. Out back dahlias; lift and store the tubers either iu a spare part of the vegetable garden, or under trees. If they arc placed under trees the tubers should have sand or earth thrown over them. See that labels bearing the names are attached to the different varieties. Dig somo well-de-cayed manure or vegetable rubbish into tho ground thai lias just, been occupied by dahlian

Cut back early-flowering and einglo chrysanthemums that are over, to induce them to' send up strong young shoots, which may be used for cuttings. Gorbcraplants may be protected from froet by placing pieces of manuka- brush round them. Geraniums and polargotuuma will often survive frosts if wood-ashes arc heaped about their roots. Tho upper parts of tho Bteniß may bo blackened by frost, but at tho end of the winter these niliy be cut off, and when the ashes arc remov-

e<l, new growth will quickly spring up Irom llio roots. ' Heliotrope plants should be cut bad; a. little, and should have dry straw placed round and lightly over .them'. The picuea that are cut off may be used as cuttiugs. Even tiny shoots will root readily if inserted firmly in sandy soil. Exarainu sticks that are marking the position of bulbs, etc. to see if they nwl to be rclilaced. Plato a layer of cow inunuro over hyacinths and narcissue albus pleii'is odoratus. It ie difljcult to get either of these to flower really well without a wintor coating of coiv manuro. Liluirae should have their steme removed, and should also havo a, covering of cow manure. Wallflowers and stonks arc becoming very bushy and top-heavy now. It is as woll to supply each bush with a short stout, stake.

TJic leaves of early flowering gladioli aro already a few inchee high. See that tho stakes arq ready in place, and keep tho clumps Quito free from weeds. A little bonedust may be sprinkled in among tho green stoma. It will soon work down among tho corme. Aβ noon as tuberousrooted begonias are cut by frost, the tub-' its should De lifted and spread out on a. elicit for a few days to dry. They may then be stored in sand or dry earth lor the winter. VEGETABLES. The following seeds may bo sown this week where heceseary :—Peas: Sow in drills two « tmeu few apari. Tho ground should be trenched and manured, and should havo wood ashes iniied) with it. Dust bonedust in the drills when towing. Broad Beans.—Sow in drills from two to three feet apart. The ground should to accplj dug, and should nave a good dressing of lime worked into it. Carrot (Short Horn).—Sow thinly in wellworked ground in drills twelve inches apart. Work some soot and a sprinkling or boneduirt, inio ttiu soil before sowingthe seed. Oiiions.—Work into the soil plenty of soot, some -rubbish fire tun. and :i dressing of uonodnsi. Mnlio the soil very lirni by treading on it. but take care not to tread when It Jri tte'o. Son- tho seed in drills twelve inches apart. Lettuce.—Sow thinly in drills fifteen inches r.pcirt in a, sunny part of the garden. The ground should be deeply 'us, well enriched with well-decayed manure, iina made firm again. ■Csbtage and Cauliflower (early viu'ietreatment as for lettuce. HOUTINB WORK. Dust soot along the rows of vegetable seedling* at every opportunity. Keup a Miarp look-out for slugs. Watering with a weal: solution of sult-los. in oho gallon o< water-helps tu "Ket-]> thwii iii cnecl:. Hoo on eunny days. Make tlicearth firm rnuiul cabbage, broccoli, d<:., iib.uts aher nravy wind. Keep hoeing between the plants and earthing them up. Garden notes next week will contain urasomible notes abniii- deiphiniuinh, roiilino work, and vegetables.