THE FLOWER GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 96, 6 April 1934, Page 15

THE FLOWER GARDEN

This is an excellent time to take cuttings of most perennial garden plants, such as roses, geraniums, verbenas, fuchsias, marguerite, daisy, pelargoniums and such like, all of which will strike readily if kept moist and shaded until they begin to root. Herbaceous plants such us Michaelmas daisy, hcleniuin, and golden rod should bo cut well back after flowering. Have you ever grown aquilegias? They are both quajnt and elegant, ami will repay any effort bestowed upon them. The new long .spurred variety is far in advance, of the old granny bonnet, and if seed is sown now they will flotver in the summer. favourites for sowing now are pansies, which constitute most valuable bordering plants, and violas which are fast coming into favour, the cultivation and habit being the same as the pansy. They*possc„a a wonderful long period of blooming, and are easily raised from seed sown in boxes. Bulb planting is still being carried on, but if one wishes early spring bloom further delay will be fatal. Plant now for borders, freesias, tritonias, scillas, muacari, sparaxis, and cyclamen. Plant in clumps round the bed daffodils, ixias, gladioli (small type), tulips and hyacinths, Christmas flies, for bedding purposes lachenalia anemone, ranunculus and jonquils. Chrysanthemums are now budding freely and a stimulant should now be given them if first-class blooms are wanted. Sulphate of ammonia and potash are the best manures to use, applied in liquid form. Sow the following seed in the open ground, water copiously first and drill thinly Virginian stock, mignonette, candytuft, Shirley poppy, phlox, alyssum, linaria and primula. Statice or everlasting flower, has sprung into prominence the last few seasons, and is well worthy of a place in every garden. Sow seed now ranging in colours of rose, yellow, lavender and white. Tom 'Thumb nasturtiums may be dibbled along the borders and if kept under control make a showy mass. Hanging baskets may be quaintly, decorated by poking seeds into the sides of baskets. All ferns and pot plants should be manured and fresh soil added if necessary. This may help them through the colder period of the year. Hanging baskets should be packed tin and fresh moss put into the vacant places. QUICK FLOWERS FROM SEED. Sowings of quick flowering annuals from seeds is increasing in popularity, and many varieties now claim the attention of the amateur gardener. March and April are good months to commence this work and many varieties will flower in late autum i and early winter. At present there are many vacant places in the garden where some of the late summer plants have failed. These spots should be carefully dug over, and sand and ashes thickly mixed with soil and raked level for sowing. The seed should be sown in drills or clumps according to the vacant spaeos. It. is a mistake to sow too thickly as the plants will have to be ultimately thinned out, and as many of these varieties will not. transplant, thick sowing is only a waste. Cover the seeds according to their size; small varities will require only a light covering which can easily be carried out, if the sand, as advised, is mixed with the soil.

The following varieties are ready for present sowing:— Alyssum: A dainty little white flower and plaut growing about flinches high This may be sown in drills or on rockeries filling up any vacant pockets. Callendula: (or Old English Marigold) is easily raised from seed which may be scattered about in any odd corner. The flowers are in shades of orange and yellow, growing about 15 inches and coming into bloom early in June. Escholtzia, or Californian Poppy: For massing this is unexcelled, and can be had in many different shades. For sowing round tree trunks and shady spots this plant cannot be beaten. Thin out to six inches apart as the seedlings grow. Mignonette: This sweet English flower needs no description, and is a general favourite with us nil. The autumn is always the best, as it requires the warm weather combined with the autumn rains. Thin out to six inches apart, as the seedlings grow. Virginian Stock: Sow at once along bor l ere or in circular clumps where space is available. This makes a good show scattered among the rose bushes and comes into flower so rapidly that, one is quickly repaid for any labour expended. If the above varities are sown immediately the garden will not lack bloom throughout the colder months of the year, and if one prepares by sowing choicer annuals in boxes for planting out later, a continuous supply may be kept up. CHRYSANTHEMUM PESTS. The two greatest enemies of the Chrysanthemums are the rust and the mining maggot that ruins the foliage. The rust is a fungoid disease, and may he treated on its first appearance with Bordeaux powder or the simple homemade recipe of 1 oz. sulphate of potassium in two gallons of water sprayed over tho foliage. Soft soap may be added at the rate of loz. a gallon. The maggot works between the upper and lower surface of the leaves causing them to be veined with disfiguring lines. When the maggots are inside the leaves it is impossible to reach them and the only remedy is to squeeze the leaf between finger and thumb, killing the maggot or picking it out with the point of a sharp knife. It is far better to adopt preventive methods early in the season and sprav the foliage with soot w.ter, or black leaf 40. This deters the fly which is responsible for laying her maggot eggs oh the plants