GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 120, 18 February 1928, Page 26

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

SPRING-FLOWERING BULBS. ANEMONES. Seedling anemones from the spring sowing should be planted out as soon as possible now, for the earlier the plants are established and growing well, the earlier they are likely to Hower. The seedlings, after transplanting, should be kept evenly moist to ensure good growth right from the start. If the leaves are allowed to die off, aftergrowth lias started, flowering will be delayed. In sheltered gardens these seedlings should flower towards the end of winter, but in districts that have heavy frosts flowers will probably not be produced until the middle of spring. Although anemones are generally classed as spring-flowering plants, they are, in Wellington gardens, really winter as well as spring flowering. In established beds the plants are already sending up their first leaves, and with care should begin sending up their flower buds towards the end of May. From then until well in the spring, well cared for, well fed plants should produce a constant succession of blooms, and this makes anemones one of tho most important crops of tlio year. Once growth has started one of the worst things that can happen to the plants is that they should become thoroughly dry at tho roots, for the check they 'receive then seriously affects the flowering. It is a sate plan, therefore, while the soil is still wet with rain or a good watering, to cover them with a light mulch of well-decayed vegetable rubbish. This will protect the plants from dry weather until the end of tho autumn. The best soil for anemones is a light rich one. Heavy soils should bo deeply dug and should have well-rotted garden rubbish and grit dug in. The best form of grit is crushed rotten-rock chips. Ash from a rubbish fire should be pricked into the surface. Sandy seaside soils may have a good quantify of seaweed buried about six inches below the surface of tho soil. Ono of the secrets of success in anemone growing is to plant fresh bulbs ©very year, preferably from seed sown in the spring. Old roots may be lifted and broken up, healthy young pieces being replanted. Anemones have an intense dislike to draughts and frost; therefore they should be planted where trees or shrubs shelter them without overshadowing them. FREESIAS. Bnlbs that are planted early- in a warm, sheltered spot, and in well-drained soil, will flower quite early in the spring, and by planting at different times and in different situations,. one may have freesias in bloom for quite a long time. Tho freesia patch should bo well amt deeply dug, for soil, that holds too much moisture during winter is cold, and. a good quantity of decayed garden rubbish should bo buried about a foot below tho surface of the soil. As soon as tho bulbs nr© planted, a thin layer of well-rotted manure may be laid over the surface of tho soil. Once growth begins, freesias must not bo allowed to suffer from drought, for though they lovo well-drain-ed soil, they like sufficient moisture. A certain amount of shelter is also necessary, as exposure to cold wind checks growth, and causes the stalks to be short. Tho hybrid freesias flower a lift Io later than the old freesia, rcfracta. alba, and they must have a favoured situation to bo really good in the open garden. For a cool greenhouse, however, for Into winter and early spring decoration, nothing can bo more charming than pots of hybrid freesias massed in their separate colours. CROCUSES. Crocuses like a light rich soil and shallow planting. They should be planted in bold groups or drifts along the edge of the path, or on the sunny side of a rockery. Tho earlier they arc planted the better. Tho tightly-folded buds coi.no pushing up from tho damp bare soil early tn spring, and tho first touch of sunshine opens wide the gay golden flowers. Tho lovely purple ones come a little later, ajid before their season is over tho garden is beginning to be very gay with early spring flowers. ROSES. Rambler roses should have the shoots that have flowered cut back to a strong bud as soon as the flowering is over. Strong now shoots will then bo produced and, as these are the flowering shoots for next summer, they should bo carefully tied in. Rambler roses produce their best flowers on one-year-old shoots; therefore as soon as tho flowering is over no time should be lost in attending to the pruning. Cut back also any old woody growths to a strong young shoot, and remove weak growth. Banksia roses should also bo pruned during tho summer. Cut back the old flowering stems to a strong young shoot. Long young shoots will then be produced. Cut the tips off these to induce them to throw out little twiggy laterals, for it is on these that the flowers are produced. The present is a good lime for layering' roses. Choose branches that will bend down easily and peg them securely to the ground. Before pegging down tire branch dig out a little holo and fill it with rich loam and sand. Peg tho branch into this, and cover the part that is touching the ground with some of tho same mixture. Keep moist till roots are formed. VEGETABLES. Seeds that may be sown where necessary are:— French Beans.—Sow in drills two feet apart, in well-dug ground containing plenty of humus, and thoroughly saturate the ground some hours before sowing. Prick in a little superphosphate as soon ns tho seedlings show their true leal. Lettuces. —Sow thinly in drills fifteen inches apart. Dust bonedust in the drills when sowing, and sprinkle stipetphosphate along the rows after the first thinning out. Silver Beet.—Sow in deeply-dug, fairly rich soil in drills eighteen inches apart. As soon as the seedlings are a few inches high begin feeding with nitrate of soda, one ounce in one gallon ot water. ROUTINE WORK. As soon as the bulbs of onions are fully grown bend over the leaves at the neck, and tread them firmly down. As soon as tho leaves are withered the onions may be lifted and spread out. in a cool place to dry before being stored away. Keep a sharp look-out. for the eggs ot the cabbage butterfly during dry, warm weather. Wash the leaves thoroughly, especially the undersides, by frequently syringing with water. This destroys the eggs before they can hatch out.