GARDENING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 24 April 1937, Page 5

GARDENING NOTES

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY. Continue to house- chrysanthemums as the buds show colour, They are coming on very slowly, but they are quite safe, even should we have a slight frost-. If they have to be put under shelter they should be kept up as near the glass as possible to prevent the flower stalk from becoming drawn, and all shading should be removed from the glass. Those growing in the open should not, be covered over with calico just, yet, but it should be prepared t 0 put on at short notice.

Sow seedy of .schizanthus, elarkias, i godetias, and any other annuals which are to be grown on in pots to provide colour in thp greenhouse and cut flowers in the spring. I prefer to sow a few seeds in small three-inch pots, to thin out the seedlings to three in (each, and to pot on first to five-inch pots, and next to sixes or sevens in which they will flower. They should be stood on a bench in the cool greenhouse and encouraged to make sturdy, short.jointed growth. Later on /ic tips of the stems are pinched out to cause branching. | The cuttings of geraniums and' polar.' gonium.? can still be- put in and, so also can pansies, violas, pent.sfemons, marguerites, and other, herbaceous and alpine plants. Layers of carnations should be well rooted now, and they can be lifted and planted 'out in their permanent positions. If these are not

available they c au be lined out in a well-drained, sandy bed in the nur.serv or potted up into small pots which can be stood in a cold' frame for the winter. Old plants of geraniums ami pelargoniums which were cut over some time ago can now be potted up -nt 0 five-inch pots and stood on a bed of ashes in a cold frame-.. They will grow away gradually, and later on can be shifted on to their flowering pots. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Continue to plant out anemones, ranunculus, daffodil,.i, and other spring flowering bulbs, and biennial stock, .Sweet Williams, Canterbury Bells, Iceland' popies, primrose polyanthus, for-get-me-nots, and' wallflowers. Continue to remove annuals which are past their best, to cut over the herbaceous perennials and to lift gladioli. Top-dreus the rock garden and lift and divide up any kinds! which have grown up out of the ground' or have become overcrowded. Plant : out alpines.

Trench new bed s and borders in preparation for planting shrubs roses or herbaceous perennials. These are better planted in the autumn than- at any other season. There is still enough heat m the ground' to encourage the healing of broken or damaged Toots and the development of root hairs; The plants become established and are ready to. flower or make growth as soon a s weather conditions are favour, able in the spring. THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GARDEN. Continue to dig potatoes and if the ground is needed for planting trench, ing or digging beetroot and car-lots can be lifted and stored in sand in a shed' or they can be buried in a welldrained position near a path. Manure and trench or dig -over all vacantground and remove all spent crops! Gather and .'•ltore late varieties of I apples and pears and rake up and burn! all leave s and diseased' fallen fruit. Trench and prepare for planting ground intended for extending the plantations of bush or tree fruits. The pruning of bush fruits e an now be carried out. beginning with the gooseberries and currants.

Root pinning can still be cerried out. though it is better to do it earlier in the autumn.