GARDENING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 149, 27 June 1925, Page 17

GARDENING NOTES

LIFTING PLANTS

THOSE BEST LEFT ALONE

\ TIMELY ADVICE FOR

AMATEURS.

(By .'.'Practical.")

With tho coming of the ' northerly winds the ground, which has been so saturated with wet for the past Jew weeks, is starting to dry up and makes work once more possible. The important work of planting has been much delayed, as it was almost impossible to get on to any, except thoroughly sandy soils. It will bo necessary now to push on with this work so that the. shrubs and trees may be in position as early as possible. Although it is important to get the planting done early,to give the plants time to settle into their new quarters that as soon as the ground gets warm there may be no delay in the' forming of new roots, still it is a mistake to plant until the ground is in a fit state. Heavy clay soils hold the moisture and remain wet and. sticky for a considerable time, and until the wet has drained away planting on such ground should not be attempted, unless some good. friably dry soil can be: supplied for filling in the holes. Even then as little walking on the. ground should be done as possible, as it is this which causes the damage. : At this period of the year a good deal of rearrangement is done in the garden, and this necessitates the lifting of many plants and shrubs. While many' perennials' and shrubs may bo moved almost with impunity, others, are difficult to establish, and once established strongly resent any -disturbance. It is as well to keep in mind such subjects, so that they may bo'planted in position where they may bo allowed to remain-, for several years. -Before .(planting., the ground should be very thoroughly prepared, and liberal dressings of manure and fresh soil,supplied when necessary. The following are some of the best-known -.plants which come tinder.this heading:-i-: ■■■■-■■ Anemone Japohica.—While this plant is thoroughly hardy and once established can safely look'after itself, spreading out in all directions, it makes better growth and. gives a much finer display of its beautiful flowers if left undisturbed for an indefinite period. There are several varieties—white,, pink, and red shades, all of which are worth growing. -Antherinum. — These : plants (have long fleshy roots, which. are'very ea,«i]y damaged, A. Liliastum* (St. Bmns's Lily) is the best of this Tace,. with .AJLihago (St. Bernard's Lily) a fitting companion. „Both have pure white So«----ers, borne on'long spikes, which rise wiUabove the gi-ass'-like foliage. A. Hookeri is a- yellow, variety,- and is a native of New.Zealand. . -V.'- :■•..: ■-'■'-„...■ >,-"..: (Aquilegia.—These 'well-known plant* are.among the most beautiful of hardy I plants, especially the long-spurred varie-1 ties. ,The vast .range of colours to J>e had .makes them invaluable either '■ for indoor or garden- decoration. Few plants,,however,.:have:a greater aversion' to, being .disturbed., They are best'raised from . seed which germinates readily, and as soon as \ large enough may -be planted in their permanent positions to remain .for several years.-.-', Old clumps may.be divided,, but tae,results;are seldom very satisfactory. , ' ■_ Eryngium.^-Sea.hollies; are"very difficult to, establish, ..but once they become reconciled to : their parters these' lovely plants will improve, from year to yea/ and prove a real gemjn the garden _ Gypsophila Paniculat a ._This delight-ful-little flower; is indispensable r for bunching with: sweet peas or carnations while a good clump in the - herbacioiis' border adds greatly to its ■■ charm: ft should bo planted in very deeply' dv " soil as the roots go ,to. a groct. depth! Plant at the back of, the border or-in a corner, where it can remain undisturbed for several years. .-.:■'-■': ••..,. ..- '". • ■', ■ .Hellebores.— Christmas roses, v. which are just starting to .send up their flower stems, are among.' the most ' difficult plants to : get / established, . and keenly object to being lifted and divided. They should be planted where they may 1 remain for years in a partially-shaded position at tlie foot of a tree- for preference.- Blooming as they do at this season^ of the year' they- are particularly worth while humouring ■ ■ Lily of the Valley.-As this plant has ong running roots fairly near the sur-' face, the ground should be thoroughly clean before -planting, as otherwise in weeding the roots will fee disturbed. ' A for this plant, and save for an occasional winter mulch of manure no further 'attention will bo required for years. ' iPf °ny-—lEese ; plants should be planted where they- have, room to develop^ and .vvhere ;they;: ; remain. This ls probably as difficult, a subject to get established as any :in the ear-' den, but. when established few give better ; results.' '•••,- '. ■"- ■-„

.-Oriental Poppies.—While thorouchly. hardy and indeed difficult to eradicate once they are established, nevertheless they give far better results in the quantity and quality of'blossom: when allowed to remain in the same position for years. ";- \ - • , -.-.- , _ Heaths.—All shrubs of the heath family/ dislike disturbance. The roots are very fine and fibrous, and '.consequently easily damaged. It is well to group these plants in beds away from other things. They must not have limo in any form, and do best in either peaty soil or leaf mould. An occasional topdressing of fresh soil of this natureshould be given.' '- - _ Fuchsia.—The hardy members of this family make a delightful show for outdoor cultivation. To get really- good results the'plants must be left alone when they, will grow into fine clumps and if pruned judicially will give a good account of themselves each summer. Genista.—Many of the hardy brooms make handsome flowering shrubs when they attain a fair size, but they are exceedingly difficult to transplant except while quite young, on account of their long tap-roots. The branches may be shortened back 3 occasionally, but the roots should On no" account be disturbed. =.-'•'■

WORK AIEONG VEGETABLES. A sewing of broad beans may be mado now in well-drained soil. These ai-o very hardy, and will stand any frosts which are likely to occur in this district. Broad beans do best in fairly heavy soil, but can be grown in any reasonably good garden soil. . Rhubarb beds should receive a good dressing of well-decayed stable manure. Failing this some material from the compost heap, with which is added some fowl manure, does very well. Remove all weeds from the beds before applying the mulch. Cabbage, lettuce, and silver beet may be planted whenever the ground is iii suitable condition. For small gardens it is better to choose one of (he'"smaller varieties of cabbage, as. they inniupy so much loss spa.cc. and may therefore be .set i*loscr ■ together. Potatoes for peed should be selected and set out in trays with the eyes upwards to sprout. If allowed to "remain ill llJtj', tiUCks Jen:;, netiU spiTitil* will resuJi t aisDjr of. wliich will be destroyed

in handling, and none of which will be as g6od \as the short, ■ sturdy green sprouts which will develop on potatoes set out in trays in a light dry space. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Dahlias should all be fit for lifting now, and this work shoulo! not be delayed unnecessarily. . Affix labels t» the plants before lifting. Shake out sll soil from the roots, and store beneath a tree or hedge. Chrysanthemums should have the old stalks cut off about three inches frui" the ground, and all weeds removed rroif! around the stools, while the ground around them should be loosened up-. Dust the young growths during dry weather with a mixture of lime and sulphur to .check any fungoid disease or insect pests. . . . : . . The crowns of delphiniums, pyrethrums, or other perennial plants, which are particularly subject to attacks from slugs, ■ may be protected by dusting powdered alum over them..