GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 172, 21 April 1928, Page 30

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

DAHLIAS. Dahlias have been keeping gardens gay for many weeks now, anil unless u heavy frost comes seem likely Io do so until chrysanthemums are well out. We could not do without dahlias at. this time of year, for most, of the autumn Howers, such as Michaelmas daisies, liek-uiuius, perennial phloxes, and rudbeekias, are soon over, and only our dahlia plants Hower bravely on, bringing wonderful splashes of colour into borders that are every day becoming more and more bare. Gardeners need no longer deplore the fact that their dahlias hide their beautiful blooms among the foliage, for the rigid stems of the improved varieties hold tho glorious blooms well up. Even where the huge blooms of the paeonyflowered dahlias droop a little the steins are so long and well-grown plants reach such a height that, the slight droop is scarcely noticed. This upright habit of growth makes dahlias invaluable for the back of a mixed flowering border. The flowers, too, arc freely produced over a long period. As one walks along the rows of up-to-date plants in a nursery one finds it hard to make a selection, for collarette, cactus, and pacony-fiowered varieties have been improved out of all recognition. Those who have, not yet visited a-nur-sery should make a point of doing so while the plants are still in bloom, for it is important, when making a selection, to see the habit of the plants. STATICE SINUATA. Slatice shnuata is a very useful plant for a very sunny, dry position. The Howers are blue and pale rose, and are produced in great profusion. Tho plants are easily raised from seed, which snould be sown now. Statices like well-drained, rich soil, containing plenty of lime, and a sunny position. They will not thrive in heavy soil that holds an excess of water during winter. SPRING-FLOWERING PLANTS. ANTIRRHINUMS. Although not strictly spring-flowering, antirrhinums are charming in the spring. Seedlings may he planted out now. and if later they have their tops pinched 'out they will grow into nice, bushy plants, bearing a mass of strong, well-formed spikes of bloom. If dead Howers are kept severely picked off during flowering time, antirrhinums will bloom for months on end. They aro gross feeders, and are all the better, for regular doses of liquid manure. Antirrhinums are easily propagated from cuttings, tho young shoots being ' taken. Reeds may be sown now for a late display of bloom. PANSIES AND VIOLAS FOR THE SPRING. Plenty of young shoots may now be had from old plants, and these are what we want for our spring-fiowciiug plants. Sometimes they way bo pulled out with a little root attached. Plant them out in rows in a nursery bed until they form nice little plants. When raising new- plants from need, plant out every seedling, and allow it to flower. The common ones, of which there are bound to bo sonic, may then be rooted out, and their places tilled by cuttings from tho good ones. . To get good flowers on pansies, the plants must bo treated well. Tho ground should bo deeply dug. Tho ton soil should first be removed to avoid bringing to tl>3 surface (be enbsoi!. The subsoil should then I'o broken up. and should have decayed garden rubbish mixed with it. The top soil, when replaced, should have well-decayed manure. or well-decayed rubbish and a sprinkling of bonedust mixed with it. Tim soil should bo allowed to settle thoroughly before the plants are put out. Constant stirring of' the soil and occasional doses of liquid manure after a good watering are necessary during the growing season. All dea'a flowers should he regularly picked off if the plants aro to flower over a long period. When planting, spread out the roots, i-cvr with fine soi. and press it firmly down. CAMPANULAS. • Towards the end of spring the beauf’fi'l flo'-ers of the blue eamnnnulas. Pelham Beauty, and the old pcrsicifolia begin to open, and well-established Jumps nvjko a gro_it show. The erect, slender* fiahver stems are about two feet in height, and fhe beautiful bluebell shaped flowers aro well spaced up them. The clumps need not he broken up u"lil they become overcrowded with growth. Tho soil for the plants should be well dug and should have some well-decayed'garden rubbish and coarse sand mixed with it. A little bonedust. may be worked in round established clumps now. LILY OF THE VALLEY. When planting lily of Ihe valley, choose a place where the plants need not be disturbed, for they resent root disturbance. Left to themselves they soon take • possession of the space allotted to them. Beds should be top-dressed now with well-decayed manure. Tho best position for lily of the valley is ono shaded from fierce sun in summer but open to the sun in winter. A smMl deciduous tree or a flowering fruit tree gives the plants just tho amount of sun and shade that they like. VEGETABLES. Plant out seedling lettuce, cabbage, and cauliflower in ground from which potatoes have been lifted. Rake the ground level and trample it firm. Puddle the roots of the seedlings in -a thick mixture <?f cow manure and water before planting them. If cow manure cannot bchad, soil, lime and soot make a good mixture for puddling. Thin out carrots turnips, etc., as soon as • the seedlings aro big, enough to handle. Protect tomato plants with scrim at night. inspect rhubarb plants.' Remove decaying leaves and renew tho muicli of well-rotted manure where necessary. Earth up Brussels sprouts. Seeds that may bo sown are: Peas, broad beans, onions, tip-nips, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce.