GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 261, 4 August 1928, Page 28

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.")

SEED SOM ING Seeds of annuals for a late summer and earjy autumn display, must be sown now. Among these are phlox drummbndii, tagetes, lobelia, nemesis, petunias, French and African marigolds, zinnias, 'salpiglossis, and many others. So far, the ground is not warm enough, for outdoor sowing, and-in the meantime seeds of those seedlings that will be wanted first, should be sown in seed tins. , Don't be sparing with seed tins, for it is much better to spread a packet of seed over three or four tins than to crowd all the seeds into one. Crowded seedlings start life badly, for even in the seed tins they must have room to spread out their roots, and they need sun and air about their stems and leaves just as much as older plants do. No manure is needed in the seed tins. Give the seedlings good, sweet earth and sand, and then, once they have developed into fine, sturdy seedlings, they can be planted out into ground that is manured accordingly to their requirements. Seed tins should not be too deep, as a great depth of earth holds too much moisture, and is, therefore, cold, and apt to become sour. Three or four 'nches of soil is deep enough for seedlings, and sun-warmed air can penetrate this depth. One important point is to put fresh soil in the tins for each sowing. For drainage, place a layer of pebbles or cinders in the bottom, aud then threeparts fill with a mixture of soil, sand, ashes from a wood or rubbish fire, and a little fine leaf soil. Mix these up thoroughly before filling the tins. Place the tins in a warm, sheltered spot. Where cinders are available it is a good idea to have a layer of them 'on the ground for the tins to rest on, for slugs, wood lice, etc., are then less likely -to make their way into the tins

An hour or two before sowing the seeds pour boiling water over the soil to kill insects and insect eggs. Before sowing make the soil quite firm, sow the seed thinly, and just cover with a dusting o£ soil. Press the surface gently but firmly down with the hand. Very fine seeds should be mixed with a little sand or dry soil to prevent tlieir being sown too thickly. Protect the soil in the tins from sun until the seedlings appear. To do this place folded newspaper over them, and if the tins are not In a frame, cover the paper with glass. This covering will keep the soil moist until the seedings .appear, and will prevent-heavy rains washing into The tins. ' ,

At the first sign of germination; the paper must be removed, but ■ the glass should be kept over the .tins • until the seedlings are well up. Before sowing in tile open ground, dig over the soil thoroughly, breaking up all luinps. Sprinkle’ lime over the surface and hoe it ,in. .Where the soil is heavy leave the surface rough after the first digging and sprinkle lime over it freely. . In about ten days, sun, wind, mid rain should have so acted on the clods that they should break up easily into the fine soil that is so necessary for seed-beds. CAMELLIAS. Camellias are already in flower in sheltered positions. A little stimulant administered now will be a great help to the plants durng their long flowering season. Soot water Is the best manure tor camellias. and may be given to them once n week. Or guano may be given at the rate of loz. to one gallon of water. A good way of manuring the trees, also, is to put a ring of old cow manure round them, about a yard from the trunk, and to nour water inside this ring from time,to time. There are many beautiful varieties among camellias and especially among the single ones. Edward Billing has double rose flowers, and Great Eastern dark scarlet ones. Sirs. 11. B. Sheather is rosysalmon, .Mathonianii deep crimson, and Wriglitit, rich crimson. . Single red has bright yellow stamens which add much to the charm of tlic flowers. OMPHOLODES. This is a. .charming 'roek garden plant, but it need not be confined to the rock garden for it makes a beautiful border for a- flower-bed. The plants send out long shoots which creep over the ground, and early in spring the bright blue forget-me-not flowers are so freely produced that the w'liole border becomes a sheet of blue. In the rock garden. I'm. omnliolodes bring wonderful touches of colour, for after filling the space in its own nockot it creeps among the'surroiinding rocks. The plants are hardy and grow quickly. They lute well-drained rather gritty soil, and nn open sunny position. MIGNONETTE. A mixture of mignonette and phlox drummondii makes a very charming .border to follow primroses. Primrose plants are just beginning ■ to flower, but already a start should be made with the plants-that are to follow them. The phlox seed must be sown in seed boxes, but mignonette must be sown where the plants are to go. If a few patches are sown behind the primrose plants at intervals of about four feet, the intervening spaces may be filled in later witli phlox seedlings.. Mix a little leaf soil and plenty of coarse sand with the soil where mignonette seed is to be sown, and prick in. a dusting of bonedust just before sowing the seed. Cover the seed very lightly with a sprinkling of. soil. , As soon as the seedlings are big enough they’ should be thinned out. and those that are' left should have their tops pinched off to induce bushy growth. ; VEGETABLES. SOWING CARROT AND PARSNIP SEED. One saves several weeks by sprouting carrot and parsnip seed in daigyi sand. ■Mixrtbe .s.eed thoroughly witii the sand, and spread it on a shallow tin tray. Mater with a fine rose until the saud is quite damp, and then stand the tray on a warm shelf. The' sand must be kept evenly moist until germination takes place. As soon as the seeds begin to sprout, both seeds and sand, may be shaken lightly and thinly Into prepared drills. Take the first chance of getting in a few rows of potatoes, but do not plant when the; ground is very wet. The surface soil of the asparagus bed may be lightly ' turned over, care , being taken not. to drive the fork too far in lest the plants become damaged. A thin mulch of well-rotted manure may then be spread over the whole bed. ■