THE GARDEN.

Mataura Ensign, 3 May 1919, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

WHAT TO DO MOW. (Notes by Amateur.) May.: Average rainfall 2.4 liu. An uncertain munch, with occasional sharp frosts; usually fairly calm. Lift, beet, carrots, ami salsify, and store the roots iu soil or sand in n shed, or in. a chimp outdoors. Soils that arc of a heavy nature, or that wore infested with pests, should bo ridged during this mouth. Mark off the plot by means of a garden lino into strips 2ft. wide, and running from mortk to south. Start at one cud, and take out a trench Ift. wide and deep, and wheel this soil to the lar end 0l v the plot. Spread manure over tho surface *' and then turn over two spits into the trench, and put one on top. to-iorin a In winter tho frost will thoroughly pcnetnite.the exposed soil, kill pests, and sweeten and ameliorate it lor‘future crops.

If not already done, cut dean away all shoots of raspberries ttiat have borne fruit, reserving the strongest current yearV shoots only for bearing fruit next season.

Complete the, gathering of apples and pears. Store in single layers in a cool, moist air (temperature 10 deg.). Double daisies, primroses,’ polyanthuses, forget-me-nots, arabis, and aubrietias for flowering in spring should be planted as soon as possible. Top-dress lawns with a- compost/ of equal parts of decayed, manure, soo(, and good mould. Sift the compost flue, if possible, before applying it. Plant bulbs—hyacinths, tulips, crocuses, acilias, winter aconites, ranunculuses, and anemones. On cold, heavy soils planting of tlie two latter is best deferred until spring. All vacant land or flower beds, it not to bd planted with bulbs or spring flowers, to bo dug and the surface left rough, so that frost may easily penetrate and kill grubs, also pulverise and sweeten it ready for next spring. Lift dahlias and store away the tubers. Cut off the stems to about six inches from the soil, then place the roots in a shed with the cut stalks pointing downwards for a. week, to allow the sap to drain away, then store the tubers in a frost-proof place.

Get tin? hoc to work botwefan the rows of autumn-sown onions., Pull out the weeds between the plants, and give a light sprinkle of old hoot to keep worms from delving between the little plants, and also to provide a little nitrogen for them to feed on, as mild days allow growth to ho made. FLOWERING SHRUGS. The following hardy flowering shrubs are well worthy of a position in thr garden and suitable for planting during the current mouth— Berber is. There fire not in the whole list of hardy shrubs any more useful than these,- and as they will succeed in almost any kind of soil, from that of a poor, sandy peat to a rich, heavy loam, they arc well adapted for all sorts of places. There being such a variety of them, it would lie difficult to name one which Avais the best, B. dulcis, and its variety nana, are loavgroAving shrubs, and on that account ire well adapted for small. gardens., while Darwini, Fortune!, Wallichiuna, ‘stcnophylia, and some others, are most ittracti\'e AA’hcn in bloom. We must, hoAvevcr, turn to B. Thunhergi for that rich coloring of autumn foliage that i? so enchanting, and to vulgaris and its varieties for their attractiA'c-and interesting clusters of fruit. These shrubs arc both ornamental and free flower-

lUS~ . Olearias. ‘V ! ,; To these avo» haA'o plants, as a rule, of nice, neat foliage, and most prolific bloomers. In fact, they are so conspicuous Avhen in flower that they are sure to attract all passers by, O. Haasti in particular, as tho -whole plants arc entirely covered with their snoAvy flowers. O. Haasti"has box-likf leaves Avhito beloAv, and is an accommodating plant, and makes a good hedge. Dues' Avell hr town and suburban gardens. Primus. The dwarf plants of I*, sinensis that one sees during the very early spring floweriug in, the greenhouses Are so interesting that one is constrained to isk how it is these are not more often seen in our" shrubbery bordei‘B. They are perfectly hardy, and when in hloo there is nothing more interesting. ■■ soon as they have finished .flowering the shoots should ho cut back to Avithiu five or six of the,- previous year’s, growth, when they will make a second groAvth from a foot th eighteen inches in length, Avhieh will produce small, double Avhibe flowers the avliolc of its length. IS'ow there are a number of species of these doublb-floAvering plums: Sinensis floro alba plena, and Sinensis rosea plena; also a doublcfloAveriug sloe. Some of these have purple foliage, which make them doubly attractive. ■ Spartium Juncoum (Spanish Broom). towards tho latter part of the summer one is struck with the profusion of yelloAv flowers produced on the A'oung shoots of this plant. So prolific is it that the whole bush seems one mass of yelloAv, yet it is by no means common. Hero and there one sees a i.v-b, bnt not so frequently

as it should be found. 'lt will thrive in almost any place, and in any kind of soil, but an open, dry bank seems to suit it best. In appearance this plant much resembles the cytisus, but on closer inspection one finds there is a difference both in the- foliage and flowers. Viburnums, During the autumn the foliage of the.yihurnu.ui laucaaa is sure to attract attention, for the foliage assumes those glorious hues that are more easy to imagine than to describe. Then one is-also struck with the clusters of red berries of V. opulus, while the flowers of Opulus sterilis are known as snowballs. All these in their way are very beautiful, but they are not to be compared with such kinds as V. plicaturn, macrocepbaluni, and tomciitosnm Maricsi. In these we have some most lovely species, producing their clusters of snow-white flowers in great profusion. A light soil suits them best, though, provided they have' a sunny situation, they will thrive almost anywhere. Magnolias, In these we have a, class of shrubs that certainly, arc both noble in appearance and conspicuous when' in bloom, as some of them produce flowers tully six indies in diameter of a pure while, warlike nature. There is a great variety, so thtit it will be .impossible to name them here. Two of the mostbeautiful, however, 'are stellata and conspicua, both' are deciduous, and are perfectly harfly, though their blooms are some times cut off by late spring frosts.’ A rather dry situation suits them best, though they will grow almost anywhere.

Brcoms. The brooms (eylisus) are pleasing bushy shrubs Avith tAviggy branches, which bear innumerable small peashaped flo Avers in early summer. Cybisus praocox is cream; C. albus, white; .C‘. Audrcaiius, yellow and broAVU. Syringa (Lilac). Everyone knoAvs the common lilac, but it is not all that are acquainted with the varieties. Lilacs, like many other shrubs, pay for doing avcll ; for this reason an open, sunny position should be chosen. There is no need for shelter, as the hardier they an groAva the more abundantly av!11 they bloom. As" they flower on the points 'of the prceediiig year’s shoots,. Avlion plants get too large they should be cut back to ■ induce/ thorn to make- fresh growths. ; Spiraeas. . There is such a host of these that kinds may be selected to suit all kinds of gardens and to fill all sorts ol places, for they, as a rule,; ai'e uot at all particular as to soil or situation. Some, hoAvevcr, groAV too fast for small gardens, and arc on that . account liable to overgroAV other things. S.

Watereri, S. confusa, and S. lleevcsiaua are best for small gardens. There is also a pretty dwarf-growing variety named Thunhergi that blooms very early in spring, the foliage of which assumes a glorious shade in the autumn. The shoots of this, like that of confusa, arc useful for cutting to mix with cut flowers in vases. Hibiscus Syriacus, or as sometimes named, Althaea fruiex. Those who are unacquainted Avith this can have no idea ot its beauty whou in lull bloom. There are many A'arieties, producing flo Avers of various shades, some double, others single. All however, arc Aery showy, and, flowering late in the autumn, are more interesting on that account. These should be grown in a sunny spot, on ratlicr poor soil, as it is in such positions they flower most freely. When grown in a shady position they are most unsatisfactory, as the, wood does nob gat sufficiently ripened. Philadelphus. The sweet-scented flo Avers of these reminds one Aery much of orange blossoms, and ou that account they art frequently called mock oranges. To keep these plants Avithin bounds they should bo pruned every year when finished blooming, as they flo Aver" on tinyoung growths. Any kind of soil wil suit them, and almost any position.