GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 14, Issue 125, 19 February 1921, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By

"Kowhai.")

SPRING-FLOWERING BUMS. The planting thTTnost^m 1 - •pring-llowering bulbs to garden portant part of the A ' or ._ ner ) en ced bulb stronger the roots, the fin tn like It has been proved th , r 0 prowplenty of m "' stu^, t wl ?^ t t thev like the inpr vigorously, but that tmy be moisture to pass r ou&.n an thefle table rubbish should be placed a ou twelve inches below the surface soil to a it should” als ß o e ‘be remembered thenaroisai • like some grlttv material, sharp sand or road gmt, in. the soH, and they like wood ashes. in( -se i stances should be ™i* ed j'll„i v -<lue or Although narcissi like deeply B trenched soil to grow In. they at t same time resent being plant' been soil. Therefore, ground that Ms been only recently dug or trenched shouim while the soil is dry, be well trampled upon to produce the necessary Ann rule the depth of son aoovt Ue nfck of the bull. should be: one and a. half times the depth nf the bulb itself. The bulbs should be placed on a nrm base, and, if possible, on a, layer of sand The soil should be Pressed firmly rounu them, and the surface soil should be hep 10 Bonedust is perhaps the nl \\p to use for narcissi. It may either mixed with the Boil at planting time, or used as a top-dressing to be lightly io. K ed in directly after planting. Expensive varieties are best planted in beds by themselves, and as the beds look very untidy when the foliage is ‘lyinf d °" is best to relegate them to a part or tne garden whore they will not be too noticea For making a show in the garden bold clumps of commoner kinds, such ns lunperor. Empress, Sir Watkin, J’P , h ' snicuous. Lucifer, Vesuvius,, and Sulphur Phoenix may be planted in the mixed borders, where their untidiness at th ripening stage may ba concealed by other plants crowing about them. ANEMONES. In shady places anemones are a lready pushing through the soil. They b®?, flowering so early, especially in 'de gardens, that one scarcely knows whether to call them winter or spring-flowering bulbs. Indeed, they flower over inch a long period-four or five ’nonths-and produce such a wealth of bloom that they thoroughly exhaust. the soil about them. Day after day, during the flowering sea son. the buds come crowding up. the newly-opened flowers jontlinc: , their older sisters as they reach up and open out In ths sunshine. The beautiful flowers are borne on long stems and their brilliancy and diversity of colouring make them most desirable plants for every garden. Many people are under the impression that they are difficult to grow and certainly to grow them successfully one must take a little trouble. Anyone who has a light rich soil can grow anemones to perfection, provided that the plants are never allowed to suffer from root moisture, and that the bed is drained. Heavy soils should be very deeply dug and if cow manure is obtainable a good quantity of well-rotted stuff may go into the second spit. To the top soil add road scrapings, coarse river sand, and bonedust (4oz. to square yard). Ofie ol the secrets of success ts to plant frer.n bulbs everv year, preferably from seed sown in the preceding spring. Also, avoid Using the same piece of ground two seasons running. Bulbs that produce HUCh an extraordinary number of blooms cannot be expected to do much good tho following season. Anemones have an intense dislike to draughts and frost: therefore, they should be planted where trees and shrubs shade and shelter them without overshadowing them. If the plants are put right under trees, the flowers are drawn and weak. Bulbs and seedling plants should be put in now without delay. Where anhnn.l manure cannot be had, bury plenty of well-decayed vegetable rubbish. for the roots love to boro into it. • As soon as new growth has begun. nrick a dressing of superphos- I phate into the soil about the plants, and spread a light mulch of well-decayed manure or well-decayed vegetable rubbish. CHIONODOXA. Chionodoxa (Glory of the Snow) Is one of the earliest of the bulbs to come into flower, and its beautiful bright blue blossoms make cheery spots tn the garden towards the end of winter. The bulbe. ar- exceedingly hardy, and should bo left undisturbed for tnree or four years. .When planting, the bulbs should bo riven nlen’v of room. but. to be effective, should be planted in fairly large groups. SNOWDROPS. Snowdrops also bloom very early, but •unfortunately they are not a> generally grown as they shoplci bo. The snowflake seems to have taken l.Tie place of tne* snowdrop but room should bo found for both. Snowdrops like a fairly rich, gritty soil, and dislike .being moved. Once planted, they should uF left undisturbed, except for an occntmnel top-dressing alter tho leaves have *lsxl flown. CROCUfI’U. Crocuxes are alwavs favourites tri ttm spring garden, and they are indeed very beautiful. Planted ih groups all a’ong the garden nath. they Tjake a ver;s-d?tTght show, and they are splendid for naturalising or for planting in bold-driftff-rm" a rockery. One cannot liayo too many o' them In spring. f i ?bchses like a light, rich' soil, and shallow planting. Tlity. flower well in sun or In shade, and many a shady corner may he brightened in spring by being filled with yellow OS lilac crocuses. SNOWFLAKES. One of the great charms of the springflowering snow-flake® (leucnjuri vernum) Is their early flowering. . Their flat green flower buds come pushing up from the . damn brown earth almost as quickly as the leaves, and it is not long before there are hosts of dainty white bells nodding in the early spring Bur-shine, and swaying with every breeze. The emerald green B2ot on the tip of the petals gives to the flowers a charm and freshness that ar- ”ot tn b" resisted. Although the flowers look so delicate, they are in reality very hardy. They will grow in almost any position, in the sun. the shade, the border, the rockery, nr the grass. A. light sandy soil, to which a good supply of decayed vegetable rubbish has been added, gives the best results. but no one need hesitate to plant snowflakes in any well-dug soil. Their long flowering season makes them specially valuable to owners of small gardens. Planted in clumps, of from eight to a dozen bulbs, thev ar«- very effective. Buflis should be put in with as little delay as possible. WINTER ACONITES. Winter aconites are charming little early-flowering bulbs for growing in a shady part of the garden. The bulbs should be . planted in drifts or colonies, and should be about an inch deep. Gave them plenty of Band in the soil, and some well-decayed vegetable rubbish, and they will do well. The gay little yellow flowers with their collars of green, brighten up many a shady spot at a time when we need all tho brightness we can get. x RHUBARB. Winter Rhubarb.—Remove about an inch of the surface soil from about. the plants, and replace it with a mixture of decayed leaves and well-rotted manure, well covering the crowns of the plants in the process. Work in also a dressing of bonedust. Leave any leaves to die down naturally. Summer Rhubarb.—The plants need constant supplies of water and liquid manure to keep up the supply of good stems. Cut away all decayed leaves at once, and keep the plants free from weeds. Liquid Manure.—Three ounces of soot and six ounces of guano should be tied up in a piece of sugar bag or scrim, and then allowed to. stand for a few days in ten gallons of water. Each plant may have a thorough soaking wit'll this liquid just as it in. Garden Notes next week will contain seasonable notes about;—Spring-flowering bulbs routine work, and vegetables.