GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 166, 10 April 1926, Page 26

GARDEN NOTES

(Bv

"Kowhai.”)

TORCH LILIES (TRITOMAS). Gardeners do not, as a rule, make enou'di use of these handsome and hardy plants. Probably because they do not realise bow charming up-to-date varieties are For small gardens one may have the’ dainty little pale yellow tritoma, Golden Elsie. Its growth is almost dwarf compared with the old varieties, ajid the slender spikes of yellow flowers are very effective among other Howers. Some of the larger kinds, too. are not difficult to place in a mixed garden .especially those with bright coral-pink flowers. , . .. For giving a good ,<hsp ay in ho grounds or in a semi-wild part of the Harden, the old torch lilies are splendid The foliage of the pla.nt alone is attractive, but it is when the lilies themselves come out that the plants aro seen to advantage, for flaming heads of flowers appear above the rush-like foliage, borne on long straight ste,ms. Torch lilies like a well-drained light soil that has well-rotted manure or garden rubbish mixed wit hit. Heavy clay soil should have the top soil removed to allow the sub-soil to bo broken up, and should have cinders, road grit, and horse manure mixed with it. The ton soil should have coarse sand and well-rotted stable manure mixed " This' is the ideal condition for torch lilies, but the plants aro so hardy in our cliniate that they do quite well in any soil provided it has been well dug, anil is properly drained. Once torch lilies aro planted in soil they like they aro little further trouble. They will grow and flourish, becoming evorv year more beautiful. Should it become necessary to break up the plants, the work may ho done at any tunc during this month and the next. A little weak liquid manure, given as soon as the buds appear, improves the size and colour of the flowers.

• STATICE. The statices nre well worth a place in every garden for tho p’ants aro very hardy and produce quantities of beautiful flowers that may be dried for use in winter. Statices like a well-drained rich soil containing plenty of lime, and a sunny position. Tlu\v will not thrive in heavy soil that holds an excess of water during winter. Statice sinuata is one of the most useful, for the plants flower continuously for’ about two years, although they are supposed to bo annuals. They have blue, or pale rose flowers. The plants come easily from seed which may be sown now. . Among perennial statices, latifolia is charming. It has huge sprays of small lavender flowers. Two other beautiful stat ices are Dicksonii with deep pink flowers and Macronhylla altro-coerulea with large Blue flowers.

PLANTS FOR TITE SPRING. Gardeners are already at work furnishing their garden beds for the coming year. As autumn flowering annuals are hulled out and places become vacant, Slants that will flower in spring may

■o put in. But as empty spaces appear first of all take the chance of digging in some decayed rubbish or manure. Even small spaces between permanent plants mav be treated in this way, for the soil may be lifted into the barrow or on a sack spread on the path, and a good quantity of decayed rubbish may be dug into the bottom of the hole. Thoroughly mix with tho soil that has been lifter! out some well-decayed rubbish or manure and a sprinkling of bonedust, and replace it, treading each layer firm as yon add it to the hole. If this were done the whole year round, wherever a space occurs, flower borders would be well supplied with humus. ■Winter flowering plants are no doubt already in place, while narcissi, springflowering irises, anemones, freesias, sparaxis, tritonias, hyacinths, tulips, ixias,, grape hyacinths, and all the lovely spring-flowering bulbs are already, in sheltered places, pushing up their foliage. , , Among spring-flowering plants are two hardy annuals—schizanthus, and forget-me-not. Self-sown seedlings c.f schizanthus are springing up in the garden and mav bo lifted and planted in chimps of three plants where it is intended to have them this season. Where there nre not any seedlings available, seeds may bo sown in a well-drained sunny nosition, not too exposed to frost, and the plants will grow into large spreading bushes which will, in spring, be a mass of dainty bright-coloured flowers. As the seedlings grow they should have their shoots pinched once or twice. Before sowing the seed dig the soil to a depth of nt least eighteen inches, keeping the top soil to the top. Work in some well-decayed rubbish and some sharp sand. A little bonedust may bo pricked into the surface of the soil, and the soil should lie made firm before the seed is sown.