GARDEN NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 15, Issue 284, 26 August 1922, Page 17

GARDEN NOTES.

By

"KOWHAI."

(By "Kowhai.") CHRYSANTHEMUMS

Chrysanthemum plants that were cut back eome time ago should have developed strong young shoots by this time. Dig up the old clumps and break off the strongest I cf the shoots that are furthest away from the old dowering stem. Sometimes a fe>v roots are attached to the pieces, and these will give a good start to plants for the gardener who is not growing chrysanthemums f<n - exhibition. Make a clean cut with a sharp knife where the shoot is pulled away from the parent plant. Burn the old roots as soon as they are dry enough, and use the ash as a top-dressing for tjle soil round the new plants. Any garden soil will grow chrysanthemums well, as long as it has been well dug. Mix with the soil, where each plant is to go, some ash from a wood or a rubbish fire, and a pir.eh of bon'edust. Press the soil firmly round each plant. ROUTINE WORK.

Narcissi, primroses, violets, crocuses, freesias, anemones, primulas, and hyacinths are making out borders gay at present, and filling the air with their fragrance. Already the weeping willows are becoming clothed with their delicate green spring leaves, while kowhai, wattle, andi flowering almonds and plums are making, wonderful eplashes of colour wherever they are grown. Keep the violets well picked to prolong tne flowering season. If there is any sign of red ep.'der on the leaves, dust in the morning with Flower of sulphur while the leaves are still damp. See that the sulphur reaches the under eiaes of the leaves. An occasional watering with soot-wafer will be beneficial to violet plants that are flowering freely. Provide wallflowers and stocks with short, stout stakes. These plants are so top heavy just now that they are easily blown about by even a slight wind.

Keep a sharp look out for slugs ana caterpillars among plants that are making new growth. Greenfly has already made its appearance on the young shoots of banimla und rambler roses. Spray frequently with hot water, or with hot soap-suds. The syringing must be done frequently. Pick" off and burn decaying leaves on any plants. Primroses and violets often have decaying leaves at this time. Such leaves, if allowed to lie about the plants, encourage plant diseases. Sow seeds of hardy annuals. Plant out seedling perennials that were gown in the autumn. Finish the work of lifting and breaking up large clumps of perennials such as mrchaelmas daisies, perennial phlox, delphiniums, etc.

SUMMER-FLOWERING PERENNIALS Take the chance now of filling in empty spaces with as many perennial plants as possible, for nurserymen have many plants ready for sale, and the earlier they are planted, the more chance they have of becoming established this season. In making your choice, try to have something for each season of the year. Pay strict attention to the preparation ■of the soil for perennial plants, and make them thoroughly comfortable in their new homes, for many of them do not like being disturbed once tkey are planted. Among. summer-flowering perennial the following are hardy and suitable for most gardens:— Alstroemeria. —This is a most useful plant both for garden, and house decoration, The plants have fleshy roots, and are sometimes a little difficult to establish. They require a well-drained, porous soil, and as it is advisable to ptont the roots about nine inches deep, thorough breaking up of the subsoil is necessary. Once established they prefer to be left for a number of years. The flowers uro splendid for cutting, for besides being most attractive they last for a long time in water, and are easily The varieties with pink flowers arc especially delightful. My only objection to alstroemenas is that they are apt to take possession of a garden if they like it but this can be avoided if a tub with the bottom knocked out is pushed well down into the soil around the clump. On the-other hand, one of their greatest charms is that they will often grow in a snot where nothing else will grow, anti make it beautiful for at least a part ol the year. Campanula Pyrnmidalis.—This campanula is a noble plait for growing at the back of a border. The soil should be deeply dug and fairly rich. Staking is of the utmost importance, for the flower

stalks grow to a height l of two or three feet. The cotours of the flowers are blue or white; the blue campanula is glorious. The plants flower towards the end of tfie summer, and w< ll into the autumn. Carnations. —Carnations like , an open situation, and e light, well-drained soil. Heavy soils should, be trenched, and lightened by the addition of sand, roau grit, and powdered mortar. Cannas. —Cannas are handsome border plants, and are quite hardy in most parts of Now Zealand. A t one time they wetre grown mostly for their foliage, but now we grow them for their richly-col-oured, glorious flowers. Plants of named varieties may be bought, or seeds may be sown in the spring. The seeds should be soaked in hot water for several hours before being sown. Tne eoil for cannas should be deeply worked and niodernte.y rich. Duiing the growing season should be supplied regularly, and mulching attended to. As the flowering season approaches weak liquid manure should be given to the plants regularly. Coreopsis Grandi'dora. —This is o’ l ® the most showy of our summer flowers. The lovely golden-yellow flowers are borne on long stiff stems in the Rreat' est profusion throughout the s ® a ®° n - . 9 cultivation of the plants is of the sim-plest—deeply-worked soil and a sunny position. A dressing of bonedust may be worked into th* soil at planting time. Provided the seed iwds are remoed, the plants have a very long flowering eenson. Dahlias.-Single end collarette dahlias grow splendidly from seed. If *t is sown now in a cold frame or cool greenhouse the planta 'will flower all through the summer and autumn. The flowers are splendid for cutting, and are most showy in the garden. The soil should bo rich and deeply worked. An abundance of water and good) mulches should be given all through the growing season. Dormant tubers may be started into growth now in gentle heat. Delphiniums.—Delphiniums require well-dug, well-manured soil. If anima! manure can be had dig in a good supS before planting out the seedlings, ing care, however, that it does not come in contact with the roots of the plants. Where animal manure is not obtainable, dig in some well-rotted vegetable matter, and a dressing of bonedust. Delphiniums are most valuable, both for garden decoration and as cut flowers, for they flower, off and on, from early summer until the beginning of winter.

VEGETABLES. The warmer weather is bringing vegetables ton with a rush. Autumn, sown peas are fast opening their flowers, and the vines must be kept trained up their supports. The soil about their roots should be loosened with a hoe as often as possible, and should bo pushed towards the plants, thus gradually earthing them up with sun-warmed soil. . . Cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, and silver beet plants have responded quickly to the warmer weather, and their rapid development _ shows good root activity. Keep moving the soil about them, and draw sun-warmed soil up abqpt their roots. Feed once a fortnight yith nitrate of eoda (Ic®. in Igall. of water). Each plant may have a good dose poured gently about ita roots. When applying liquid manure if is best to make a I'ttle gutter round each plant with a blunt stick, and to pour the liquid into it. As soon aa the manure has soaked in the eoil may be drawn about the stems Soil that wa 8 left rough during the winter is now nice and friable, and potatoes may be got in without delay. Rub out all except the two strangest sprouts. Where the ground was manured in the autumn, a dressing of lime should now be given. As lime has a tendency to sink it should not bo dug in, but merely sprinkled on the surface and hcHld ' ln " , , - ~ Hoeing on sunny days will bring the vegetables on quickly.

"Garden Notes" next week will contain seasonable notes about:—Summer, flowering perennials, routine work, and vegetables.