GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 96, 21 January 1928, Page 26

GARDEN NOTES

By

“Kowhai."

PENSTEMONS. Penstemons are charming just now, and beds or borders of them are looking must attractive. Now that they are in Hower, favourite varieties should be marked with a view to taking cuttings, as soon as they are available. Young basal shoots about four inches long aim without Hower buds should be chosen. Plant them in sandy soil, and keep them evenly moist until growth begins. Now varieties may bo obtained by sowing seeds now, or during the next few weeks.' Sow the seeds either in pans or in semi-shaded parts of the garden. Water tho seed bed thoroughly svoral hours before sowing Hie seed, sow tho seeds very thinly, and cover with ‘ho merest sprinkling of soil. AQUILEGIAS. Seedling aquilegias should bo planted out as early as possible. A little care qi 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. Tho soil should be deeply dug, as good drainage is essential, aud should contain a fair proportion of sand and decayed garden rubbish. Onco the plants arc established they may bo left undisturbed tor many years, and will become mure beautiful every year, especially if they have an annual mulch of well-rotted manure' or leaf soil. Aquilegias are such charming spring plants, and are so easily grown, that they should have a place in every garden. PREPARING FOR EARLY SPRING. Wallflowers, stocks, polyanthus primroses, primroses, violas, aubretias, and many of tho early spring Howers need a long season of growth if masses of flowers are to bo produced. Plants that are attended to early in the year make a good supply of roots, aud grow into fine specimens that are capable of bearittg a mass of lino flowers. Wallflowers that were sown during November are ready for pricking out. Plant the seedlings in rows, and keep them watered and liocd until it is time for their next move. Polyanthus primroses, too. are all tho better for two moves, for then they make a good supply of fibrous roots, without which the plants cannot produce massive bunches of bloom. Seeds may still be sown in seed tins, but where seedlings are ready they should be pricked nut into a nursery bed, preferably in a shady position. Aubretias are very gay in tie spring, for well-grown plants spread over a. good area and become simply a blaze of colour. They ar a, charming for the rock garden and for planting on tho edge of raised or terraced beds. New plants may be propagated in three ways—from seeds, front cuttings, and from layers. Just at present young shoots are springing from the centre of the plants, and this is the growth from which cuttings are taken. Plant tho shoots firmly in sandy soil, and keep them moist till they make roots. One of the quickest ways of layering is to spread out some ot the slender shoots and cover them with sandy soil, leaving tho tips of tho shoots uncovered. If the soil is kept moist roots arc soon formed. , . The gay yellow alyssums arc lovely tn the rock garden in spring. Both the bright yellow alyssum saxatile and the pale lemon alyssum saxatile, Silver Queen, should be grown. The plants are easily raised from seed, or may be propagated from cuttings. . . For bedding and for massing in the rock garden, tho Siberian wallflower, cheiranthus allioni. is absolutely brilliant, for the orange-coloured flowers aro vivid in colour and freely produced. Seeds may bo sown now. Plants are also propagated from cuttings. Iceland poppies aro delightful spring flowers, and seeds should be sown during this month in order that seedlings may he ready.for planting out early in March. From a January sowing Iceland poppies begin flowering very early in the spring, and the plants continue to flower until well into December. ROUTINE WORK. 'Give such plants as Oriental poppies, lupines, aquilegias. delphiniums, roses, carnations, perennial phloxes. Mich nelmas daisies, etc., a thorough soaking, ai?f then a mulch. Perennial phloxes, dahlias, chrysanthemums, Michaelmas daisies, rudeheckins, heleniums, and all the aiitiinin-flowermg perennials need all the water t hey , can get. ‘ Tho beautiful campanula pyrainidalts is sending up its tall flowering stems, and needs a thorough watering occasionally. This campanula is one of the most handsome of our late summer flowers, and is worth every attention. The blueflowered variety is tho most popular one, and the plants make an attractive picture in the garden for many weeks. The beautiful autumn-flowering shrub, konotis. is sending up long slender stems that before very long will bo covered with the brilliant orange flowers. Give tho plants a thorough watering about once a week, and occasional doses of soot water or weak liquid manure. Tree daisies and ngathaca coelestis should he cut hard back. Thoroughly loosen tho soil about tho plants, working in a dressing of bonedust. A thorough watering should then bo given. Delphiniums should be cut right back as soon, as they have finished flowering. Loosen the soil about each plant and give it a good watering. If possible, supply a mulch of well-rolled manure. VEGETABLES. The main work in the vegetable garden at present is hoeing between the rows of vegetables. If a loose, powdery surface is maintained, tho moisture in ttie subsoil cannot evaporate. If watering is done, it should be done thoroughly. Where water is very scarce, marrows, peas, and beans, may have their foliage sprinkled with water in the evening, but tho hoc must keep the soil loose about their foots.

Keep pens and French ln-ans well picked. Keep tomatoes well tied to stakes. Kuh out all lateral shoots. Liquid manure may bo given; very weak at first, as soon as Iho fruit has sol.