GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 97, 19 January 1924, Page 24

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

COLCHICUMS (MEADOW SAFFRON)

These crocus-like flowers are a perfect joy in the autumn garden. The giant meadow saffron has exquisite purple flowers, and large groups of it are very showy. The flowers appear 'without foliage of any kind, this giving them, when closed, rather a quaint appearance. But when the flowers open to the warmth of the sun they are so gay and lovely that one forgives them their want of leaves. Some gardeners plant over the bulbs a rock garden carpet-plant, and tho flowers of the colchicums, pushing up through this, are all the more effective for tho green carpet at their feet. Bulbs should be planted three niches deep, and three or four inches apart. The foliage appears in the spring, and should be left untouched to ripen thoroughly if the bulbs are to flower well during the following autumn. As soon as the foliage dies down cover the clumps with a thin layer of well-rotted manure, and occasionally with a light dressing of food soil. Bulbs that are so treated may be left in. the same position for many years; indeed, they arc better left undisturbed for some time. A semi-shaded position is best for colchicums. Closely related to the autumn colchicum is the. autumn crocus. With the first rains of autumn these little crocuses push their flower buds up through the warm, moist soil. For many weeks, whenever the sun shines, their gay blooms are charming, especially when the bulbs are grown among clumps of speciosa lilies, or early-flowering chrysanthemums. When planting, it is as well to chose a raised position, such as a rock garden or raised hed, for very often the dainty blooms are mud-splashed by autumn rains or eaten by hungry slugs. The soil should be fairly light, and should have mixed with it some well-decayed compost heap or animal manure. The ideal position for autumn crocuses is in the rock garden, for the bulbs are there less likely to be disturbed, and groups or drifts of the gay little flowers are most attractive. AQUILEGIAS. Now that the ground has had a thorough soaking seedling aquilegias mav be planted out in the borders. The earlier the plants are established, the better. A little care is necessary when transplanting, for the seedlings as a rule have very few. fibrous roots, and if those are damaged, the plants are slow to establish themselves after their move. Tile soil should be deeply dug, as good drainage is essential, and should contain a fair proportion of sand and decayed garden rubbish. Once the plants are established they may be left undisturbed for many years, and will become more beautiful every year, especially if they have an annual mulch of well rotted manure or leaf soil. A little bondust may be pricked in before the mulch is spread about the plants. , Aquilegias are such charming springflowering plants, and are so easily grown,, that they should have a place in every garden.’ Flowers of the longspurred hybrids embrace shades of blue, from the palest to the deepest, purple, pink, from dainty shell-pink to deep rose, cream and yellow. The old aquilegia “chrysantha.” with its golden yellow flowers is also a charming spring-flowering plant. SOWING SEEDS. 'At the time of writing the soil has had a thorough soaking, and is in splendid condition for seed-sowing. Seeds of. antirrhinums, stocks, sweet Williams, wallflowers, primroses, carnations, scabious, pontstemons, Canterbury bells, gypsophila, delphiniums, Oriental poppies, etc., and hardy annuals may be sown now. Choose a semi-shaded part of the garden, dig in plenty of well-decayed garden rubbish if possible, and then make the surface soil firm. De careful to make a very thin sowing of seed; mix small seeds with dry sand or soil before sowing After the seeds are sown cover up the seed bed with manuka brush* er some such material. Tins shades the bed from hot sun, and helps to keep the soil damp; but at the iirst appearance of the seedlings it must bo removed. ANNUALS. Annuals that flowered early are already ripening their seed, and many have seed ready for gathering. If several plants of each kind are pullel up and well shaken over a prepared seed patch there may be in the autumn a host of sturdy seedlings ready to vo into the borders. Larkspurs, gedetias, lavateras, nigella, schizanthus, linaria,’ phlox drummondn, and nemesia may all be sown in this way. Some seed should be put away in labelled boxes readv for sowing towards the end of winter. ROUTINE WORK. Keep the soil loose about plants of Oriental poppies, lupins, and aquilegias, and if possible spread a mulch about them. The, plants have been having a hard time during the exceptionally dry season, and need every care from the o-ardener if they are to flower well next° year. The beautiful campanula pyramidalis is sending up its tall flowering stems, and must be given thorough waterings. This campanula is one of’the most handgome of our latesummer flowers, and is worth every attention. The blue-floweicd variety is the most popular one, and the tall stems, studded with their bright blue flowers,'-make an attractive picture m the garden for many weeks. The beautiful autumn-flowering shrub leonotis leonurus is sending up long slender stems that before very long will be covered with the brilTiant orange flowers. Give the plants a thorough watering about once a week, and occasional doses of soot water or weak liquid manure. Asters need plenty of water just now, and the hoe must be kept at work loosening and stirring the soil about the roots. Where well-decayed animal manure can be had, a light mulch should be spread round the plants. Where animal manure cannot be had, a little bonedust may be pricked into the surface, and well watered in. See Eilat nio plants gctho full advantage of every shower by keeping the soil loose about them. Daisies that have been flowering all the spring are now looking very shabby. Cut back all shoots that have flowered, thoroughly loosen the soil about the plants, and work in a fair pressing of bonedust. If the bushes have to be cut back rather severely, a little nitrate of soda may be given as well, using Jez. to a gallon of •water. Supply this after a good watDelphiniums that have finished flowering should bo cut right back.. Loosen the soil about each plant, give it a good watering, and, endeavour to supply a mulch of well-decayed animal manure. Failing this use bonedust and any available mulch material. ] VEGETABLES. ■ SAVOYS. >) Savoys may be planted in ground from which early potatoes have been taken The ground should be raked level ‘and then trampled over, for savovs need a firm bed. When growitm 'savovs there is a tendency co neglect them during the summer and early autumn, but this is when they Ticed a c’vl of aitosra-an.

To crow them successfully they should not be allowed to suffer from drough' at any time. When only a few are being grown it is a good plan to give the ground a thorough soaking, and then to supply a mulch of well-de-cayed vegetable rubbish. The plants may then be syringed with clear water frequently and the leaves may be kept clean and healthy without caking fho soil. Garden notes next week will contain seasonable notes about Dahlias, routine wor£, and vegetables. fe