GARDEN NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 103, 26 January 1924, Page 24

GARDEN NOTES.

By “ KOWHAI."

(By

“Kowhai.”)

DAHLIAS. Gardeners who love a good autumn display should during the next few weeks iisit, nurseries, that they may sec ail the up-to-date dahlias in full bloom. Collarette, paeony-flow'ored, cactus, pompom, and star dahlias maj bo had with long stiff stems that hold thq beautiful blooms well above the foliage. Most amateur gardeners grow dahlias for two purposes —to decorate the garden and to decorate the house. Aj. a general rule they chooso new varieties from blooms exhibited either in shop windows or on a show stand. It is then a matter of luck if they get varieties that are suitedi fo their purpose. For both garden sml house decoration it is advisable to grow varieties that are free flowering, fairly compact in growth, and that bear flowers carried on long stiff stalks. By visii> ing a nursery during the flowering period one is enabled to see the habit of the plants and their suitability.

The new star dahlias are absolutely lovely, and are most useful for filling in gaps caused by early summer flowers being over. The flowers are freely produced, and the colours—silvery mauve, white, yellow, pale pink, crimson —lend themselves readily io colour scheme*).

Dahlias in our gardens are at present in need of quantities of water. If you have a hose, turn it on, and let the water run gently over the roots for an hour at a time. The plants will appreciate being sprayed with clean water in the evening after a hot dusty day. If the plants were put into deeply worked, enriched ground, they will not need liquid manure yet. An abundance of water will satisfy them for the present. That is to say, the ground should be thoroughly saturated at one watering, and the plants should receive no further watering, with the exception of the overhead sprinkling, until the ground begins to get dry again. Frequent small waterings are apt to make the soil sour. Those who are obliged to water with a watering can should take the plants, in turn, seeing that each plant receives about three cans full at each watering. The ground about the plants should be kept loose >vith a hoe, or a good mulch of wellrotted stable manure may be placed round them after a good watering. If this is done, and plenty of water is supplied when necessary, very little liquid manure will be needed. In the case of dahlias that are being grown for show only a very few large blooms are needed, and constant feeding must be attended to. All side shoots should be rubbed out as soon as they appear, and a little disbudding will be necessary. The main branches should be tied to stakes as they grow, as dahlias are very brittle, and easily broken by wind. Dahlias are splendid tor the house

if, as soon ns the flowers arb cut, the ends of tAlio stems are allowed to stand in hot water for a few min-' utes before the flowers arc arranged in vases. Flowers would last longer, also, if they were cut when not quite fully expanded, and before the warm sun has' been allowed to shine on In the case of single and collarette dahlias it is better to cut them when only half open. , If the plants are well treated with regard to food and water, the stalks are long and the flowers well formed and pure in colour. SEEDLING ANNUALS FOR THE AUTUMN. The long spell of dry weather during November and December, is responsible for many bare spaces in borders that are usually full at this time of the year. If '.seedling astetrs, French marigolds, zinnias, phlox drummondn, or ten-week stocks are planted out now, and are kept well watered and hoed there should be a fine display of flowers for the autumn. If possible di o- some well-rotted rubbish or manure "into the soil, and saturate the ground with water the day before the seedlings are to be planted. Puddle the seedlings in. and shade them from the sun until they are established Keep the sod about them well stirred, and don’t allow them to flower until they have made good, growth. French marigolds and zinnias will grow well in a very hot bolder provided the soil has been well preparcd‘ ROSES. During the early part of this month and the last week in December rose bushes in the majority of gardens round about Wellington were looking fairly unhappy, owing to the unusually dry weather. Now that the gardens have had a good soaking, we can begin getting our buslies into good form for the production of blooms during the autumn and early winter. All shoots that have borne flowers should have about one-third of the stem cut off. Very weak shoots may be cut hard back. If a iery weak solution of nitrate of soda (}oz. in 1 gallon water) is given to -die bushes when the soil is wet after ram or after a good watering, they will be encouraged to make good leaf growth, and it when the ( bushes are well provided with leaves that they can be expected to give good blooms. Now that'the bushes have ben flowering off and on for four months they need very careful attention to keep them strong and healthy for the rest of the season. The leaves should be during dry weather with clear water to keep them clean and free from dust. Aphis and mildew must be promptly dealt with. The soil , about the bushes should be lightly pricked over, and a mulch should be spread over the roots. The best mulch to use is well decayed manure, but failing