GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 239, 3 July 1920, Page 12

GARDEN NOTES

* (By "Kowhai.") i EOUTINE WOEK. The sliorteat day has come and gone, and with Its going the gardener breathed ;a sigh' of relief. At first there is no perceptible lengthening of (be days, but even so, one is buoyed up with tho thought that day by day the sun will shine a little longer, and that slowly but .Biirolv the air will become warmer. At the time of writing the Bun is shining brilliantly, and anemones that have been afraid to lift their heads for many days past havo straightened up ami sDrcnd out their lovely petals in response to tho welcome warmth. For days now all growth has been at a standstill, nnd during the wintry weather of last, week plants had a very nnhapnv time. To-day, howover, tho sun has come again, and is 'nouring his warmth into tho garden, lifting bent flower heads, opening out folded loaves, anil warming tho soil about tho poor cold roots. The plants, are basking In the Bunshine. and look aB if they are making tho most of it. Seeds of pansles. antirrhinums, stocks, sweet scabious, scabiosa caucasica, gaura lindhoimeri. and of Buoh, hardy annuals aB larkspur, double' pink godetia, sweet sultan, annua' gynsonhlla, n'gclla (lovo-in-a-mtst), candytuft, phlox drummondii. Bchizanthus, poppies, cornflowers, annual coreopsis, etc., mav all be sown now in p.oed nans. If a framo is not available, have the pans in a sunny sheltered snot, and. after sowing the need, cover them .with sheets of glass. Eegafdless of bad weather, slugs seize overy opportunity to creep forth from shelter and take steps to satisfy what is nn apparently tump--1 peasable appetite. Now that h.vacinthß are pushing above the eround they must b« carefully' watched, for no sooner do tho green tips appear than slugs, hasten to feast upon them. Thcv climb up into danhne bushes, eating the tins of the I'ncls. and so covering the buds with slime that the flownrs oannot expand. Even the buds of narcißSi are not despised n» trcm. while violets, nannies, and Iceland nnnnles are ovidentW prime favourites. Dustlne the soil with soot cheoks Ihem during dry weather, but the best plan Is to'trap them by means of pieces of carrot or potato ■ spread' about, or by slinping out Into the garden after da"* with a lantern and Burnrislng them as tli»v .feast. , , , The buds of earlv narcissi are beginning to show colour, while polyanthus narcissi and paper wh'tn are already in bloom. Two or three neat, stakeß Bhould be driven in ronnd each clump In preparation for encircling the growing leaves and steins with a' strong band of flax or raffla later on. When staked in. this way narcissi, hyacinths, tulips?- early flowering gladioli.-ota.. are left fairlv free, and are yet protootod from, strong w-'nd arid heavv rain. It is Indeed sad to Bee their lovelv llowors beaten doa'n Into the mud. for want.of. a Uttlß attention at the right, Sweet: peas must bo kept trained un their supports. .. Wallflowers and stocks should be securely tied to neat firm stakeß. Christmas roses are fast opening their lovelv flowors. A Vttln' weak soot water may he given to. them once a week. Hobo bushes are looking rather shabby, hut it is too earlv yet to commence, pruning except in very sheltered localities. Work a little bonedußt into the soil about each bush at the flrßt opportunity. Keep clumps of freesias free from weods., and work a lHtlo well-ripened soot in among the bulbs. , ■ , Anemones, too. like a little woll-rmcned soot worked in about their roots. Boot is a grand fertiliser, and improves the colour of flowers. , Schizanthus plants from the autumn sowing are top-heavv with growth, and should bo securely tied to neat, stakes. BEBBEEIS. We have always looked npon berberls as one of our most useful Bhrubs, but the majority of amateur gardenerß do not realise how exceedingly beautiful some of ,tho newer varieties arc. Many of them colour brilliantly in tho autumn; Bomo bear ornamental fruit in winter: all are exceedingly beautiful when they are covered with their dainty, and in' some cases fragrant, flowors. As to their usefulness! Borberis will grow well in, any soil, however poor, though good loam is moßt suitable. They may be used for covering hanks under tho shade of trees, and they are extremely useful for hedges. One of the most beautiful 1b Berberis •Stenopliylla. This grows into' a large spreading bush with drooping branches, and is evergreen. But It Is at flowering time that we see the real beautv of the 'shrub, for then it is simply oovered with raeomea of fragrant golden yellow flowers. Another beautirui variety is Berberiß Darwi.nii. This also is evergreen, but unlike Stenonhylla. is of upright growth..- The.small dark shininir green leaves nro always ornamental, and tho flowers, which are orange yellow in colour, aro borne in psndulouß racemes, and are very sweetly soented. Berbons Thunbergil is a dwarf-snreadine Japanese species. It hears white flowors towards the end of soring, but is most beautirui • in the autumn when the f oliaeo is. rlcnl v coloured. The flowers are followed hv berries which become deep scarlet in colour, ond' make the shrub very' attractive throughout the wintor. Berberis Wilsonii is aIBO very- fine. Itß foliage in autumn assumes the tints of our lovely native red blroh, and throughout tho winter its coral red berries bring'oharm and cheer wherever it is grown. .To.obtain tho -best results the.soil should not be too rich. Berberis need very little pruning, but where any trimming into shape Is necessary,' it should bo done immediately the flowering is over. A BEMINDEK; Before planting flowering . trees and shrubs the soil should be well prepared. A olav subsoil Bhould be well broken, up to ensure good drainage. When planting,, a hole two or three feet in width should be dug. and If the soil is very poor it should bo taken away and replaced b.v froßh eood soil. Bee that tho roots havo plenty of space in tho hole, and if necessary arrange a little mound of earth for tho tree to rest on, allowing the roots to go down its sides. Cover the roots firmly with very fine soil, adding a little at a time and ramming it well in. especially round the sides o:l the hole. A. short strong stake should be provided, and where strong winds prevail, some protection in tho form of a brush breakwind. For tho first year or two tho soil round trees should be kept woll cultivated. Pruning conaistß in cutting out branches that are growing towards the centre,. or that are crossing others, and in removing all dead wood. As a rulo : tho lower branohes of flowering ■ trees are entirely removed. LAWNS. Now that the lawn mower is not in suoh freauent use, ono is able to eeo such weeds aB dalßieß, dandelions, etc.. for they contlnuo to grow vigorously despite unfavourable weather conditions. Th i opportunity should be taken for digging them out Afterwards the holes .may bo filled in with lawn sand or good loam, and the lawn may be woll rolled. A dressing of basic slag applied now will make a wonderful difference to tho lawn next Bummer. It Is a slow-acting manure, and if applied now, winter rains Will help to wash it down to tho rooU. It Is a mistake to defer using it until Bnrlng. VECETABI.ES. In the vegetable garden a further sowing of peaß may be made. Do not sow when the ground is sodden with rain: wait till the noil is fairly friable. It Is not neoessary to soak the seed in water at this time of tho year, but sprinkle bonodust in the drlllß while Bowing. Peas that are coming on should be kept well staked. Blaoken the Boil between tho rows with soot occasionally. Hoe whenever tho ground la in a suitablo condition. > BKOAD BEANS. Where necessary a further. sowing of ■■ broad beans may be made. Attend to the cultivation of thoße that are already growing. Staking is most important. Push the earth towards the stems when hoeing between the rows. . . ' SHALLOTS. Plant shallots In rich firm ground. Simnly nush tho bulbs into the soil till they are half-burled. Oarden Notes noxt. week will contain seasonable notes about stocks, routine work, and vegetables.