GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 8 March 1929, Page 7

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “ Waratah.")

AIORPIIIXI A PAXICULATA. This beaut it'u| little flowering bull) has the same graceful habit as the Txia. but is more dwarf, with tubular llowors of a soft red buff colour, verv beautiful. and useful for cutting. Plant bulbs three indites deep and two inches apart in light well-drained soil from now till the end of April.

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The spring snowflake is one of our earliest and most beautiful spring flowers. the blossoms resemble a large snowdrop with a spot of bright green at the base of the outside of each petal. They prefer a shady position. Plant bulbs four inches deep and three inches apart from now until the end of April.

LACHEXALIA

These are commonly known as Cape cowslips. The flowers are in the form of tubular bells in short-spikes anti resemble a hyacinth. Plant half an inch deep and two inches apart. They do well and look effective in pots or wire baskets. The colours are red. yellow. green, etc., in various and pretty combinations.

SNOWDROP

Both die single and double varieties of die English snowdrop are 100 well known to need any dose rip t roll. They will thrive in almost any soil or situalion. They should be planted in groups and left in the ground to increase. "March is Mio best month to plant. The bulbs should be planted four inches deep and three inches apart.

TIGRIDIA

This is commonly known as the Mexican Tiger Lily. The flowers are very beautiful, heavily blotched black and red on yellow. white and purple grounds. The flowers only last one day but a continuance of blooms is maintained for a considerable time. Plant bulbs in September and October three inches deep and (> inches apart. Lift bulbs in the autumn and keep in a cool dry place until spring.

TKITOXI A

This is a handsome bulbous perennial blooming in Autumn, with much branched spikes crowded with various coloured flowers, which resemble Sparaxis. Plant in light rich soil four inches deep and two inches apart from now until Mav. ' TULIPS.

Any good garden soil suits the tulip. If the soil lie heavy a little sand should be placed round each bull). Plant four inches apart and six inches deep in light, rich soil from March to June. Tulips also make excellent pot plants; four bulbs should be. placed in a live inch pot and six or seven in it six inch pot. Drain the pots with three or four broken crocks and use rich fibrous soil mixed with a little sharp sand, but do not use any fresh manure. The bulbs should' lie planted so that (lie crowns are just beneath the surface. After planting .well water and place the pots in a cool, shady position, where they may remain until the tops show above the soil, afterwards move them into a sunny position. The pots should be placed on a. hard bottom to prevent worms entering. When in full growth keep watered.

ROUTINE AVOKK

Spray pear and plum trees infested with pear slug with arsenate of lead solution. Use two tea-spoonsful to one gallon of water or one pound to twenty-five gallons of water “Swift’s’’ iri paste form is the most reliable brand to use.

Spray tomato plants with Bordeaux solution (one pound Bordeaux powder to ten gallons of water) to prevent, attacks of fungoid diseases. If caterpillars be troublesome add two teaspoonsful of paste arsenate of lead to each galleu of Bordeaux solution. Wash or wipe all sprayed fruit before use. Plant hardy spring-flowering bulbs. Plant out rooted layers of carnations. Sow sweet peas, both early flowering and summer varieties.

Keep chrysanthemum plants free from insect pests and fungoid diseases, and keep the soil thoroughly moist in dry weather. Give an application of weak liquid manure once a week until flower buds show colour.

Sow lupins or -mustard on vacant pieces of ground to dig in as green manure.

Sow broad beans, cabbage, cauliflower, carrot, cress, endive, lettuce, mustard, parsley, radish, silver beet, spinach, turnip.

Plant, out rooted runners of strawberry plants. Sow lawn-grass seeds as soon as the soil is in a thoroughly rnoist condition.