GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 247, 6 July 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

J (By "Kowhai.")

ROSES. During the past week (the last week of June) work in the garden ha 3 been practically at a standstill, and until better weather conditions nreiail (ill planting must cease. To plant tras or -slirubs while the noil is cold and sodden .V/itli rniu is to court failure. Should rlants wrivo from tho nursery while the soil is in thin condition, they should be "heeled In" until it is drier and warmer. in the meantime, rose catalogues may still be studied, and plants- may still bo ordered, but with a request; that they should not ho delivered till planting Is again possible. Those who lia-vo teen reading "Garden Notes" regularly will no doubt have tafain the hint to;prepare thn beds for new roses some 'tiDie ago. I ' will merely ri>peat, therefore,! instructions; for planting. ' In planting roses make thp hole* vido I enough to allow the roots to be evenly spread out to their full length. So often I tho poor plants have tnoir' roots thrnrt i into a hole far too small for them. How.l can they search for and obtain food for | the plant when they arc no sadly cramped? j Before planting the rose trees have n good look at th.i roots to see If. they will rest on a fiat base. Sometimes lit is necessary ! to make, a little monnd of surface soil :n j the middle of tho hole Mr the "u.iro cf i «tom to rest on, and the roots will go down the sides of the mound and. so on to the bottom of ;he hole. Tho size of the mound will depend upon the requirements of the roots. Tho text p : nnt to bo observed is tho condition.of the soil that is to surroun'l the roots of the roie trees. It is important that, it , should be very fine. A layer should hoi placed over the roots and pressed firmly on to them. Then another layer should be ndded, and tressed firmly down, and so on till the nolo is filled, taking care to make the soil very firm not only round the trunk of tho roso bush, but also .round the sides of the hole. The depth of planting can be regulated by the junction of the stock and.the rose oroper. This should he, when planted, i ahout two inches bclowithe surface of the ' soil. In grafted roses this junction, is tho most vulnerable part of the plant, and if exposed, a heavy frost mav do untold damage to the plant. Twenty roses suitable for garden decoration:— Dotty: coppery-yellow, tinted with rose; Chateau de Clbsj Vougoot: dark velvety crimßon: Edith Part: beautiful pink; Fi-au KaTl Druschki: white; Geuer 1 GalMen: metallic red. shading to pink and old gold: Hugh Didkeon: rich Scarlett Lady HilPngdon: good yellow: Lady Ashtown: rose, shading to silvery pink: Lady , T'irrle: deep coppery .reddish salmon: Lady Roberts: reddish apricot; Lyon: shrimp ! centre salmon: Madame Ednuard Hcrricrtt: coral red, shaded yellow at base; Madame Ravary: orange yellow, shading to silvery yellow; Jfrs. Aaron Ward: Tndian yellow, Mrs. John Laing: soft pink; Mrs. David M'Kcc:. creamy white; Jlrs. Herbert Stevens: white, centre shaded ■peach; Phafisaer: rose, shading, to salmon centre; Sunburst; cadmium yellow, orange centre. Wichurinnn Hoses.—Kxcelßior: double, bright, scarlet; Hiawatha: single, brilliant 6earlcl; American; Pillar: pink witli a white eye. The flowers are single, produced in clusters, and Individual flowers measure from'two to three! inches across. Dtrothy Dennison: double, shell pink; Dorotln; Perkins: double, pink: Paradise: single,shrimp pink: Aviatour Bleriot: sulfion yellow, centre deep yellow. ROUTINE WORK. Work in tho Jgwden at-present consists mainly in Km'dvmir. fadod' leaves from violet and primrose plants, and in protecting various plants from attacks by birds and Hlugs. In spite of so mueh bad weather ■lugs are still,at work. Hyacinths need very careful watching, for no sooner do they push through the soil than slugs hasten to feast upon the green tops, flfcy climb up info daphno ! bushes, and Hot/ only eat tho >ips of the ' buds, but also to cover the buds with j slime that the flowers cannot expand. The i buds of narcissi nnd even the common daffodil are included in their "bill of fare," unpalatable as one would think them, and violets and panaies arc evidently prime favourites. Tl'isting tile : soil with soot does not c>cck them tottich during, sfioh wet weather .as we art having. The only reliable way of catching them is to trnp them by means rri juicy pieces of carrot or potato spronxt about,, or by slipping out into the garden with a lantern after du'.'k when they come forth from their hidingphiees to feed. •Sparrows, too. at this time of .tho year are capable. <:t doing mnc-h mischief. They nip tho poijils off carnations and tulips, and they n5cK off the flownr-hnds or violet?, .'pnnsidiC nnd primroses, and leave them lying .on the path. Such wanton.destruction an.nj.iyn one, beyond measure. ■■Sweet pea, jwdlinirs* arc in danger of attacks from both sparrows and slngu. and iii planting them out at this time of tho yeor ii. is tviscr to put tliora a little doner together (n avoid tiresome blanks later on. Stretching threads of black cotton just above nl.sMt will generally protect them from sparrows. The buds of early narcissi hre'njready showing colour, while polyanthus narcissi and paper white are in bloom. Two or t.hrc* elwrt, nenx stakes Mould be driven in round each clniirp in preparation for encircling the growing leaves and stems with a strong land of flux or mffla later on. H'hen staked in this way narcissi, hyacinths, tulips, enrly(loivcring gladioli, etc.. are-left fairly free, mid are.yet protected, from strong wind or very (heavy rain. It is indeed sad to see their lovely flowers beaten down into the mud Tor. want of a little attention at the right time. Swrct pras must be kept trained -up their supports. W-allflowera and stocks 'should be sceiu'cly tri'.'d ti> neat, firm stakes. Christinas roses arc fast opening their lovely flowers. A little.weak soot-water 'may bo given to them once a week. Rose arc beginning' to look very shabby, but it is too early yet to commence .'pruning. Work -a little b:medust into tjhe soil about each plant as opportunity offers. LAWNS. Nov* that the lawn-mower is not in such freqnfcnt use, ono is able to see such weeds as daisies, dandelions,' etc., for they cimlinufl to grow vigorously despite, unfavourable weather conditions. This opportunity should be taken for digging them out., Afterwards the holes may be filled in Vith lawn sand or good loam, and tho lawn may be well rolled. A dressing ' of .basic slag applied now will malio a wohderful difference to tho lawn next summer. It is a slo\y-acting manure, and if applied now winter rains wiU help to wash it/ down to the roots of tho It is a n/iatako to defer using it untiLthe'siiring. I '■ .MANURING FRUIT TREES. . Fruit. trceß generally show nuito plainly when they are in need of manure; for .'then the growth, is short and unsatisfactory, and tho'trees bear a great many flower buds, and consequently large crops of poor, undersized fruit. As soon as growth is satisfactory, and a good crop I of, fair-sized fruit is produced, tiie ■. tree | does not need manure. After a very ( heavy, good crop, however, the treei will need a little help. Stable manure is gtoner- ; ally considered tho most satisfactory for 1 fruit trees. This should be spread well round each tree, but not touching the trunk. -Failing farmyard manure,; use, ' on heavy land, basic slag at tho rjjte of ; <oz. to the square yard, and on light laud ou'perphosphate nt the same rate. Those should bo applied now. Early in Bpring a mulch of well-di;cayod vegetable matter should bo spread -round each tree to cover a- spaco to correspond with Ihc spread of branches overhead. Stone fruits appreciate a drossing of ground lime at the rato;of .4oz. per square yard every three or four years. VECETABLES, PEAS. In the .vegetable garden a further sowing of peas may be made. Do not sow -when the ground is sodden with rain. Wait till the soil id fairly friable Before sowing soak the seed in warm water for a few hours, eprinkle a little boncdust and wood ash in tho drills at the' time of sowing. . ■ Peas that aro coming on should be kept well trained up to stakes, lilav.kcn tho soil between the rows with soot occasionally, for it is a grand fertiliser. Hoe Whenever the soil is in a suitable condiUOn" BROAD BEANS. Whore necessary a further sowing of broad beans may bo made. Attend to the cultivation of those that are already growin" up. Staking ia most important. Push tho earth towards the stems when hoeing betweou the rows. Garden Notes next week will contain ■ neaeonabUi notes about making a garden, > routino work, and vegetables.