GARDEN NOTES.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXV, Issue 1459, 10 November 1911, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES.

Continued irom page 2),

when tbis is done. Imported bulbs will be arriving this month, and should be put in-the Rronnd at once and not kept until planting time for acclimatised varieties. Keeping bulbs out of the ground lor any great length of time dries up the moisture oontained in the bulb itself, and considerably impairs its flowering dnriug tlw next season. Some of them may bloom before the winter comes on, but the majority will wait uutil the proper season. They should be'plauted in the coolest part of the garueu, where they are likely to rind a certain amount of moisture duiing the gammer. RAISING FROM SEED.

Those who ate caving daffodil blooms for seed should take care that the bads ate not bmst opeu and the seed lost. They must be carefully watohed or some fine muslin tied round them when they baton to turn yel-' low. Tub seed may either be sown as soon a? it is ripe or it may be kept nutil after Christmas and then sown. Sume of the English hybridists believp in sowing the seed a 9 soon as it is gatheietl and allowiug the sou to give it a good baking before it is covered with earth or leaf mould. Phillip Miller in the year 1724 published some notes about raising daffodil seed. He says: "Having provided yourself with I good seeds, you must procure some shallow cas:s or flat pans, made on purpose (oc raising teeilliugs, which should have holes in their bottoms t« allow the moisture 'to pass off. These must he filled witli light sandy eatth which must be luvelled very eveu, then sow the seeds thereon pretty thick, ooveing them all over with sifted light earth about halt au inoh thick. Plaoe the cases or pans in a situation where they may have only the morning sun till about ten o'clock. When the wet weather comes on place the cases or pans on bricks to, presarve them from toiug too moist. They should also be exposed to the full sun at this time of the year, but soreened from the oold cutting winds. When the plants oom'e up they must be carefully cltansd of weeds, and if the S'ason be dry they must be frequently watered." Two hundred years have &QB6 by sinoe this was written, but it is exactly the same method as the-tost grawets of the present day adept. Careful watch must be kept on the s?ed pods or they may suddenly burst open, and the hbour of some months lost. The pods may ba picked when they turn yellow and put out in the sun till they break opon.

SWEET PEAS. Sweet peas are beginning to flower now, and if they are being, grown for the show here on the &Brd of this month the plants should get their suaie of liquid manure. It should be very weak at first, gradually increasing the strength eaoh time. The plants most he kept straight up, and on no account must they be allowed to b.nl over. The hne must be 'kept goiug round the plants as often as possible to allow the air. to sweeten the soil. Mr Trevetliick says that if blooms are wanted for show purposes, every bloom'showing color should be picked from eight to ten days before tog tber with all stjma with two blooms on, also crooked stsms and useless giowths should be oat away, not lecklessly bat carefully so a» to admit the air and light to the can. tres of the plants whon they can he expected to give excelhnt lesalts, If the plants are crowded it mars the breathing power. The plants are fed as muoli from above as below the soil, biil growers as a role forget this or riou't know it. Now, as to blooms for exhibition.

THREE OBJECTS, There are at least three objects to he considered:—First, cultivation which means sizi of bloom, lengths of stem, aud stoutness of petals, ant the uuintor of blooms ou a stem, bo you can easily m that if yon uesr!>leot ta Cultivate pur plants the Whole ol your wurk will b3 nulli-' fted; s'coud, form, which means placement ou die st in. The flowers most not be too far apart neither must they be clcss together, ana all the bloom must be facing one way. There must not b3 any double standards (some varieties are notibly bad for this) or any butterfly wiugs, that is, not too reflexed. A broad upright standard fairly waved should ba aimed at. The Keel most not be nudulv exposed, hot nicely enveloped. ' Third, color, which means tiie bst color, cleaimvs of texture, and abswc; of spot i The shade of color of facli bloom throughout the base must bo the same. Some varieties oi sweet pbps vaty their color a lot arc Tiling to their age, busing their color and freshness very quickly. PIOKING THE BLOSSOMS.

The Show blooms should bi pioketl six hours before packing, and the stems placed in wntar. The sweet pea etitn beiiiß hollow it absirbs watsr very quickly aud takes a lot ot it. Ou no accuuut allow ilic w»t?r to touch the blooms ci they will ba stained, aud when packing take care that the blooms do uot come in contact with the damp Etsms. Wrap the stems, if th? show is some distauca away, iu damp waluius and annuel the watldiug wat'r proof fap?r. Butter paper will do. Di net crush the blooms, paik th.effl ii laye's -:h wa'. 1 .- •. diug not more than Uo deep. On arrival at the show hall immetliataly unpack the blooms aud put the stems J in water. Iu setting tlie.n up every! bloom should fuo the sa*ue way, sj that the judgo will nut have to handle tin vase. Iu order to gain this euil if the vasa is ten spikes, four straight status will bo required, then pick out the right and left hand blooms, by tinsel meau take a left libii i bloom for example, in the t tsm there will be a bond from right to left with the blooms facing you; st this in the left band side of the vase. It tnis bloom was put iu the right land side it would show its buck. It is alwavs advisable when setting up the flowers ti put the foliage iu the vase first. Then iu oniei to make a sjcuim foundation for the fl'iwerp, pack some ste« s of grrss in the vasa they will help a lot, not uuly in making your stems firm iu the vasa but iu holding them in the positicu;jyou want them to show thoir evey point to advantage.