THE ROCK GARDEN

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 130, 3 June 1937, Page 26

THE ROCK GARDEN

WINTER WORK

(By T. W. Attvvood.)

In, the Wellington'district'gardening operations are mostly held up, and it is necessary to wait until wind and sunshine have made the ground more workable.- Nothing can,be gained except a cold in1 the head and a touch of rheumatism by attempting to carry on, especially with rock garden work, for a while. As soon as conditions permit, the cleaning up programme can be carried on; plant' out seedlings of pansies and violas, and little clumps of forget-me-nots. The Princess Victoria, a dwarf dark blue, is one of the best; Ruth Fisher, with pinkishcoloured flowers, is another great favourite with many growers. Any other seedlings on hand large enough for moving should be got in. For a time special attention must be given to keeping down the weeds. The Hutt Valley, where the soil is renowned for its fertility, is not altogether an unmixed blessing, for if left to itself even a. few days only it will produce I the finest weeds in the Dominion.

Bluebells, old English, are just peeping through, and freesias and lachanalias are well above grpund and must be hand-weeded^S:ofte» : asrn&'es3Bry.