ANEMONES

Evening Star, Issue 22276, 29 February 1936, Page 21

ANEMONES

HOW TO GROW THEM To grow those large-flowered anemones that everybody admires it is necessary to pay particular attention to the preparation of the soil. Dig lit deep, stirring the subsoil 6in should it be hard. It it is sticky add enough sand to lighten it. With each square yard of top spit mix three-quarters of a pail of an equal part mixture of wellrotted manure (cow manure, if obtainable) and riddled leaf-mould. The latter is as essential for anemones as for anything grown. Of course, you will work in sand or road grit if "there is need to lighten the soil. Break up the soil fairly finely, tread sufficiently to ensure cohesion, but no more, and when raking the surface even work into each square yard 4oz of wood ashes or loz of sulphate of potash. Before planting make sure that there are no potholes in which water Can collect and sipe down to the roots. Anything savouring of stagnancy is anathema to anemones.

The bulbs are shaped a bit like a spinning top, though there is considerable irregularity. You may not be sure which is the crown until you look carefully, when you will see a slightly sunken" scarry portion at the wider end. This is the crown, and should therefore face upwards.

Plant at a distance. of 6in apart, covering the crown with 3in of finelypulverised soil. Be sure to make the hole wide enough to allow you to drop the bulb right to the bottom. Should it lodge hatfwav it is sure to fail. At the bottom of each hole place a quar-ter-inch layer of sand_ to promote healthy rooting conditions. Havjng placed'the bulbs in position, cover them with sand and fill up gradually with fine soil. After raking the surface of the bed even cover it with a half-inch layer of sand, arid over the sand place an inch deep layer of leaf-mould. The sand layer is invaluable, especially in a wet winter. Tt prevents water from lodging on the top, thus keeping the temperature of the soil reasonably stable.—The ‘ Dominion.’