PYRETHRUMS

Dominion, Volume 29, Issue 225, 19 June 1936, Page 18

PYRETHRUMS

Can Be Planted Now The main flowering season for Pyrethrums is October and November, when their single or double daisy-like flowers, produced in many colours in bewildering profusion, are amongst the brightest features in the garden. It is not generally known that if, after the first flowers are over, the plants are cut right down, they will form young growth, and in January and February flower quite as freely as the.v did on the first occasion.

The finely-cut, fresh green foliage is an ornament in itself.

Planted loin, apart in groups in front of the mixed border, Pyrethrums fill an indispensable place. The custom of growing them in beds is increasing, ami right well do they look, especially when interplanted with late summer flowering gladioli. One of the great advantages about Pyrethrums is their long planting season. You can move them at any time, except when they are in bud or in bloom.

The deep digging and generous manuring accorded other things in the border pleases the Pyrethrums. Their pleasure is complete if in each planting hole you sprinkle a heaped-up teaspoonful of bone-meal, just stirring the soil with a handfork to cover it.

Should the pyrethrum-gladiolus idea appeal to you,-' dig 2ft. deep, and incorporate with each square yard half a pailful of fairly well-decayed stable manure and an ounce of bone-meal. Make the soil fine, firm and even. Don’t disturb that ball when planting, but if it is dry when you receive the plants, soak it in water for a few minutes.

Make each planting hole wide enough to receive tire ball, with 3 or 4 inches all round to spare, and deep enough to bury the crowns 2in. Fill in gradually and firmly with fine soil and. after raking the surface, mulch with 2in. of littery manure.

XVhen growth starts, your greatest difficulty will be to keep the slugs away. A good sprinkling of soot proves a sure deterrent in most cases.

Those who prdpose sowing seeds of freesias shortly will find the following little hint useful: Steep the seeds in water for twenty-four hours before sowing them. Soaking in this way promotes quick germination. Freesias particularly are often laggardly in this respect.