GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 27 February 1925, Page 6

GARDENING NOTES.

(By ‘ ‘ Warn tali. ’’) FLOWER GARDEN

Hyacinths.—Those bulbs may bo planted in the garden or grown in pots or glasses for house decoration. Tn Great Britain they are planted in large quantities for spring display, as they may be purchased there at a low rate, but in New Zealand the bulbs are too expensive to plant on a large scale. A few, however, should be grown in pots or in a prominent place in the garden; they are worth their cost in. the, beautiful display of colour and the delightful perfume emitted by them. They can be obtained as single or double varieties, and in many shades of colour. The single varieties produce larger flower spikes than the double varieties, and are also more suitable for growing in |iots or glasses. They will grow well in any good rich light soil, but it«should be free from fresh animal manure. If the soil is poor some thoroughly well decayed manure should be added to it, or bonedust at the rate of 4ozs. per square yard. Plant the bulbs with the tips 4 inches beneath the surface of the soil and surround each with a small quantity of sharp sand. They'should be planted 6 inches apart. Plant in the garden in March or April. Tulips.—There are now a great many varieties of tulips, and all are well worth growing. The most showy and effective variety is the one known as Darwin’s, the flowers of which have long stems are very large and of brilliant colours, the rose shades being particularly attractive. Other very beautiful varieties are the double and the Parrot, tulips, but these have short stems. Tulips do best when grown in a well drained situation. Like most of the spring flowering bulbs they resent the ' presence of fresh animal manure. The bulbs shoukl be planted from, March till May 4 inches 1 below the surface of the soil and 6 inches apart. It is an advantage to surruond each bulb with a small quantity of sharp sand. Freesias. —The flowers of these bulbs are one of the most popular of spring flowers. The original frecsia (refracta alba) has white, sweet scented flowers. During the last few years a number of new hybrid freesias have been raised and put into commerce, and bulbs may bo obtained to' produce a number of different coloured flowers —cream, yellow, mauve, purple, lavender and bronze. The plants succeed best in a sunny, sheltered position in.well drained light rich soil. Though quite hardy they are better grown near shelter, where they will produce taller flower stems than if grown in the open, and the blooms are not subject to damage from boisterous ' weather. Plant the bulbs 2 inches below the surface of the soil and ?, or 4 inches aparl. Freesias make, beautiful pot plants. When grown under glass or Enough 1 into the house just as they are coming inlo bloom, the flowers are much finer than when grown in .the garden. Spar ax ins.—These are beautiful little bulbous plants which require exactly the same conditions and cultural treatment as freesias, and may be grown in combination with, them, either as an' edging to' a border or in clumps or masses. The plants grow about a fool in height, with lily-shaped flowers of many rich colours. Rparaxis pulchcrrima or ixia pendula, commonly known under the name of ‘Lfairy bells” has dense grass-like foliage, from which rise graceful wiry flower stems three to five feet high, arching over in a, graceful curve, from which hang beautiful bell-shaped rosy-purple flowers. Tin? bulbs of aparaxis should be planted in March or April; sandy soil suits them best, but they do well in any good garden soil free from fresh manure. Plant. 4 inches apart and 3 inches deep.

Ixias (African corn lilies).—These showy and graceful flowers make a brilliant display. There are now so many hybrid, and seedling varieties that the original species are almost- lost sight, of. There- is a wonderful range of ’colours in the flowers, and one variety (viridiflora) is of a most unusual colour iu flowers —sea green. The bulbs should be planter! S inches deep and 3 inches apart, in light rich soil free from fresh manure, in a sunny position sheltered frqrn boisterous winds. Plant, in March or April.

Morphixiq paniculata, sometimes known as ixia longiflora, is a bulb producing -flowers of tbe same graceful habit as ixias, but more dwarf. The flowers are tubular, and of a soft redbuff colour, very beautiful, and useful for cutting. Spanish Irises.—This variety of iris has a. bulbous root, and the flowers are produced in spring. The flowers are tubular and orchid-like in appearance, and the colours white, yellow, blue and bronze in separate varieties. The bulbs should be planted in March or April in light rich soil, in a sunny position sheltered from keen winds. Plant 3 inches depe and 6 inches apart. Pot bulbs of daffodils, freesias, hyacinths and tulips for early flowering. Plant narcissi, anemones and ranunculus. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Spinach:-—This' wholesome vegetable is worthy of, more general cultivation. It has valuable medicinal qualities, which have Been recognised by the Plunket Society, who recommend it as being specially beneficial to young children. There are. two kinds of spinach comiqonly grown—the roundseeded and tli e prickly-seeded. The round-seeded is generally sown during spring and summer, and the pricklyseeded during autumn to stand all winter, but the former is hardy enough to survive the winter in New Zealand. To provide a. crop for use in winter and early spring seeds should be sown from the middle of February until the end of March. It is advisable to make two or three sowings at intervals of fourteen. ,davs during these periods, to be sure of an ample supply. The seeds should be sown in soil that was well manured for a, previous crop. Sow in drills In inches apart and 1 inch deep and thin out the young plants to at least 6 inches apart. It is a good plan to soak the seeds in warm water fo„an hour or so before sowing. In gathering the leaves for U3e, the outer leaver, should be picked as soon as large enough, leaving the smaller ones in the centre to grow. Grass grubs somethimes' attack the roots of spinach. To keep them in check tire soil should have several applications of nitrate of soda.; this fertiliser will also largely increase Hie size of the leaves. It. is best applied in, solution,, using one ounce of nitrate of soda dissolved in each gallon of water. Use only when the soil is in a moist condition. •• Sow carrots (Early Horn), cabbage, cauliflower, cress, endive, lettuce, mustard, radish, silver beet, spinach, turnip.