THE GARDEN.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLII, Issue 10116, 25 October 1917, Page 2

THE GARDEN.

DAFFODILS. At ;t lecture given before the Horticultural Society in Melbourne it was said that though the daffodil was not indigenous to the British Isles they bad found ;t very nappy home there, hut at flii l same time they did equally well in almost, any countries of both hemispheres. In recent years there have been great strides made in the size and beauty ol the blooms. During the first half ol the last century the polyanthus section reigned supreme, now they arc hardly ever included in a representative collection. Some idea may be gathered on tins subject from a paper lead beiore the Royal Horticultural Society by the Rev. W. Wilks when ho was secretary to that institution. He said, '‘lit the year 1 S 71 ) I set myself to collect all the varieties of daffodils i could got through the ordinary trade sources, and have been a consistent grower of them ever since. It is interesting to look hack at my old list containing a little more than hi tv varieties and to compare it with the list before us now with its three thousand distinct sorts. The cult ol the narcissus is hound to expand, as there is no flower that takes ids place in the season lor beauty and general utility. It is cheap, easily grown, and blooms at a period of general .scarcity, travels well, and keeps ire.sh mr a long time, in water. There are lew, it any, flowers i hat combine so many advantages; being so satsil'ac.lory its'cultivation is hound to increase, and there will not he a garden that cannot boast its little patch of daffodils.” ESSENTIAL TO SUCCESS.

In the cultivation of daffodils the lecturer emphasised the necessity for digging deeply and installing drainage where then- was a question of the, soil being ton retentive of moisture. Although daffodils and plants of that genera required to la* kept suitably moist 1 here was a tendency to impatience at wet led, or anything approaching a sour condition of the soil. Sour soil was made by allowing more water than the ryots could absorb to remain in the soil, for many days together. 1 nut made it clear that where moisture was unable, to get away that it was imperative that underground drainage nuist be provided. The tree use ol the spade was mentioned as another tiling that was necessary, and ui addition to digging deeply it was necessary to enrich tin' soil, lionednst and basic slag were the only artificial manures that -'luted bulbs, but well rotted farmyard ‘■’Hit! put well down in the bottom of the beds was most useful, but great care must bo taken to see that it did not come in contact with the bulb. When good flowers were wanted, fresh soil, or that which had been rested for ■-onto time should be used. It would never do to plant them in soil that had become impoverished by the cultivation >f other things such as dahlias or chrysanthemums. Success with them meant suitably rich land that had been I worked up to a fine state of tilth some- | time before the bulb's were, planted and | kept open to the air to sweeten. The | proper depth to plant bulbs was about I lour incites below the .surface of tho I bed, and then to sec that the whole | was kept moderately moist. If you want success begin at once to make the bed by digging it out to a depth of three led. and If there is any clay take it away ami put some nice sweet soil or turves in its place, adding a little well rotted manure to enrich the lower two feet or so as the- work proceeds.

SHOW ROSES. “ll< sa'' says: "In a recent article vou speak of .show roses, or rather show blooms. Can von tell me in what way ihoy differ from garden roses, or can von give me something to go by when selecting blooms for showing.” The National Rose Society have certain miles which may help yon. A show rose should posses: L Beauty of form—petals abundant and of good substance, regularly and gracefully disposed within i circular symmetrical outline. 2. Beauty of colour—brilliancy, purity, uni endurance. tl 'Flint the rose laving both those must be exhibited in the most perfect phase of its beauty md in the fullest development which kill and care can bring it. A garden doom may mean anything including he above, but it is a, description gencriliy given to rather loose pc tailed roses •villi irregular outlines. Betty is a '.ypiea! garden rose, but there tire many icca Buns when it is perfect in shape md everything ol.se, and on these occa.io:i:- it can be used us a show bloom. \s long ns a bloom holds up fill the judge has given his awards it does not matter if it goes to pieces. On one occasion in particular the rose here mentioned was awarded . the prize as the best bloom in the show. At twelve o’clock it. was a perfect rose, hut at three o’clock it was quite 11 al and single. It had just stood long enough to receive the prize and then collapsed. The grower was so disgusted with it that he replaced it with a fresh bloom the same evening. If you want to find out Hie points of a show rose go to one of the leading shows or to one of the rose-nurseries about (he middle of November, where you can see the flowers in all then glory. From these carefully pick, choose and note any that take your fancy, but at the same time—ii you are a novice—ask the advice ot one of your successful rose-growing tfiends before you finally make your choice or give iti your oi'ilei'. We have plenty oi (looks dealing with the ro.se, and it yon really want to grow them get one or niQre of these. Dean Hobs’ “Book About Roses” is written in a charming style and Is a groat, help, or hosterMelliar’s “Hook of the Rose," which is one of the most interesting, will give

• (Specially written for “Standard.”) Notks are published weekly under this heading, and readers interested iu. gardening are invited to send in questions relating to matterft upon whirl) they wish expert ndvico; ane.vve.ra will bo published with the weekly notes.

yon much food for thought. The prices may he high, hul they arc well worth the money. DAHLIAS. Dahlias are one of the most universally grown flowers in our gardens, and though the tide ol their popularity ebbs and flows, they are one of the most useltil plants we have lor the autumn decoration of our gardens. The soil lor the plants is much better it prepared some time in advance of planting, and il it has not already been done. set. to work and do it at once. It has been proved that - dahlias can he grown in the same ground year alter year without any apparent deterioration of plants or flowers, as long as the plants or tubers tire taken up every year and divided, and the ground is properly dug and manured. Any manure that, is given to them must not he near the surtaee, lint should he put deep down where the roofs will have to go in search of it and moisture. The plant being a gross feeder will soon exhaust the supply of food in the soil, and it is then that artilicial manure comes in iisel't I and can he given in ever-increasing (|uanlif,m.s. The exhaustion ot the soil will soon become known by tbo inferior (lowers grown. A I ter every applicat ion ol liquid manure, the ground mu: I lie hoed over or it will soon hem me hard and impervious to moisture. OC ESTIOXS.

“Amateur” says; ‘I have been raising a lot, ol tomato plants lor my own use. Ihe seed came, up well and 1 have pricked out several boxes of them. The boxes are made from benzine cases cot. in hall and tilled with a little old manure in the bottom. On top of this a little coarse earth and over all some fine sifted soil. The plants seemed healthy when I put them in ihe boxes, lint since then many have withered away at the ground and have died out. Can you explain the reason tor this: When planting mn do yon advise using manure in the holes or would you put it on the ground and fork it in after growth has begunb” The cause ol your tomato plants going in the way you state is probably duo to watering them in the hot sun or having insufficient frosting on the glass of your greenhouse or frame. Try washing the glass over with lime and milk, and only water in the eool of the evening when required. Put the manure down below the plants before you put them out to cause the roots to go down ; if it. is put on the surface the roots will stay there and consequently suffer from drought. A little superphosphate can he given to them when they are fruiting with .satisfactory results.

“Rock”: The plants sent for identification were: No. 1 Hclichrysum Bellioidc.s, a native of New Zealand, which is much used for rock work and is very handsome when well grown and in tings. No. 2: Cassia Corymbosa is a flowin'. It is easily propagated by cutnative of Brazil, but is quite hardy in most situations here. It is valued on account of the way it blooms throughout the winter and early spring. There are other varieties, but this one is the hardiest. No. ,‘i; Toadflax (Tinnria Vulgaris), a wood, and should bo rooted out,

VEGETABLES. Growing crops must never be neglected at any time, and it is important that the hoe should be kept going amongst them now so as to get the greatest amount of growth possible. Carrots, parsnips, turnips and all such crops should he thinned out as soon as they can lie conveniently handled. If you wait until they are three or four inches high it will mean that the plants become drawn and weakly, and weakly plants never attain the vigour that is so necessary to a good crop. Even when plants are thinned at the earliest possible stages they are likely te lie over on their sides for a while, but they will soon recover and regain an upright position, Growing crops ot such things as peas and beans w il! be much better ii the hoe can he used amongst them at least three times a week. Until gardeners have tried this they cannot understand what good it does to ho always moving the surface, but Jet them try it for a season and they will always keep the hoe going afterwards. Lettuce and other quickgrowing plants like plenty of moisture while they are developing and a little weak liquid manure will help them along considerably. Anything will do to make liquid manure of, but let it soak well and stir it round occasionally. Runner beans may be sown any time now until the end of next month. The soil that suits them best is a deep one that lias been trenched and heavily manured low down. These beans arc exceptionally deep rooting plants and the old stools will remain in the ground for years and come up again and again, in fact it will always he found that the best crops are gathered from old plants. Once a row is established it should he kept clean and free from weeds and every year a dressing of good stable manure can bo dug in to give il a fresh start. It is necessary to have poles or string for the beans to climb up. If a good stout post is. put in at each end of the row a wire can be stretched top and bottom and string or hinder twine tied between the two. ’The beans will cling to this of tlieir own accord and no further labour is required. Some of the new French climbing beans are worth growing. They are not perennials but give good crops for one season. The‘Casoknife bean is also an annual, but is very prolific, and tin* beans are very tender when picked and cooked young. Good use can be made ol’ runner beans to cover unsightly Corners and fences.