GARDEN FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume LIII, Issue 6667, 21 July 1928, Page 4 (Supplement)

GARDEN FIELD

Seasonable Routine Wort. Plant roses and deciduous flowering shurbs. Strike rose cuttings, and prune tha plants.Plant sibirica and Japanese irises. Plant and divide all perennial subjects for the herbaceous borders when weather is suitable. Stake and train early sown sweet peas, and prepare trenches for the spring sowings. Where glass is available sow seeds of hardy and half hardy annuals; also seeds of cyclamen, petunia, coleus and gloxinia. ” Sterilise all soils for expensive seeds by supplying sufficient heat to kill all weeds, grubs, etc. Vegetable and Pruit Gardens. . Where hot-beds are, available, sow tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, etc. In suitable weather, and in suitable plots sow broad beans, peas, carrots, oniqns, cabbages, cauliflowers, spinach, lettuce. Plant early potatoes, rhubarb, potatoonions, eschallots,and artichokes. Commence forcing rhubarb. , Prune fruit trees and prepare hot beds. ■ ‘ - Manure strawberries and prepare ground for onion sowing.. Manure 'and trench all garden plots during suitable weather,, and get them in condition for next month’s work. Where birds. are troublesome in the garden plots, try feeding them. Place a dish of scraps daily where the birds are wont to alight. This has been found a very effective remedy. Fumigate the soil if full of garden posts. Some gardeners prepare their own fumigates by purchasing a box of sterolene, a powerful soil fumigant., Berberis for Exposed Positions. When planting shrubs-in exposed positions'‘do not omit some species;, of berberis, or as they are often called, barberries. ' There are a great many attractive shrubs which must 'have a Certain amount of shelter if they are to bo a success. -All species of the berberis family are very hardy, and in the. fall of the year they create splashes of colour in shades of yellow, orange’and crimson. Even when the leaves have fallen, many, of them are stiff enhanced by dainty sprays of coral red fruits. In spring, summer, autumn and winter, these barberries are always lovely ,ind for growing in bold masses in shrubberies, by the side of water, or on the edge of a woodland garden, they have no equal. Always easy to grow, they, require very little attention in the way ,of pruning. ■ . . Boses from Cuttings.

; , Choose a sheltered border, digging over the' soil to break it down finely, and make the plot fairly firm. Sloping tf enches' should be . dug out tb a depth of. from four to five inches. ‘ Along the .bottom of these: should be placed a layer of sharp sapd, the trenches being sixteen inches apart. The cuttings should be of i well ripened wood and, when prepared, about a foot in length. Remove all leaves and place them in the trench nine inches apart, taking care to press the soil firmly around the cuttings as each layer of soil goes in. These cuttings should attain sufficient size to be available! for bedding purposes the following autumn. ' , Prevent them from blooming while ,in the trenches by pinching off the buds. Plants foe Effects, The use in gardens of plants with large and handsome leaves has taught us the value of grace and verdure amid masses of. low and unrelieved fldwbrs. ioye of colour, .should mot blind us or lead’ us, to ignore the exquisite way ip. which nature’s plants are set. By a careful study we may, have in our gar-* dons—and this without making wildernesses of them—all the shade, the relief, the grace, and the beauty of nature. ■, ■ • ' The expense attendant on. such work will not be great if good usq is made of the hardy plants suitable for this purpose. - Often there 'is a low-lying plot or the edge, of a pond where a massed effect of pafnpas grass will have a natural setting, backed with some native cabbage trees. Groups of the hardy yuccas are handsome and impart quite a tropical appearance; Clumps of native-flax in green, varigated, and the bronzed-leaves variety a#e always pleasing. Care should be taken not to plant things of this nature in rows. To give a natural effect, mass them and group all plants. Tree ferns (pungas), hardy palms, and other native forns should be freely used wherever a suitable spot is available. The variegated form of the coltsfoot (tussilago farfara) is good for shady positions, and looks well as an edging to a clump of ferns. ■ ' • Then there are rheum emodi, arundo conspioua, ferulas ,and many umbelliferous plants as graceful as some of the tenderest exotics, and all of which help to set off the glorious colourings of beds and borders in other parts of the garden.

Planting time for these things comes only once in the season, so full advantage should he taken of it and an effort made to beautify our' gardens. Spirea Arguta. There are many lovely spring flowering shrubs and among them, for those who love white flowers, arc few fairer or more delightful than spirea arguta. The old-fashioned name for these spiroas is “flowering May.” The plant is usually the earliest to bloom, every branch being wreathed with small white flowers. These arc followed by pretty, fine, fern-like leaves, which turn to gorgeous colourings during the winter months.

(Specially written for “Times” by Lorna.)

Alpines. Year by year one becomes more impressed with the extraordinary value and beauty of the various forms of thymes for the rock gardens. They are perhaps, the most beautiful of all carpeting plants through which to grow small bulbs such as iris reticulate and species of crocus. . They make such neat, dark green carpets, following the contour of the ground closely in the most beautiful manner- Then in the early summer they burst into flower, painting —e ground with sheets of rich heather purplp, crimson and white. Broad plantings of thymes are not only beautiful in themselves, but are much to be recommended for making a break between or among the rooks. Too often a rock garden is seen monotonously studded with stone evenly distributed in all parts. Two or . three rocks omitted, leaving the open space to be planted with such plants as described throws up the other rocks in. a remarkable manner. - , '■ .

There are quite a number of thymes which may be used in this way, as well as 'many bush types which are .suitable for other purposes. Thymus jserpyllum is a deep crimson variety, a later development being the major, dark-leaved with heads of brilliant crimson, but with each flower-head rising on a halfinch stem above the foliage. There is a pure white variety, albus; also the pretty woolly-leaved form, lahuginasus, a later development still being, aureus. This, in summer, is just ordinary greenleaved, with flowers of the normal heather colour,.but in the autumn the whole plant turns as gold as a guinea, and makes a beautiful display. The latest addition is a variety named “Annie Hall,” a lovely plant with flowers of a delicate flesh pink. It is a most Valuable adition to the race.’

Many years ago in Corsica; a 'specie of thymus was found, which was after*wards named “herba-baxona.” The finder, sitting by the roadside, became suddenly aware of a delicious smell as of seed cake, Which compelled him to examine his luncheon packet from the hotel. But its contents in no way accounted for the tempting scent. Further search revealeditho above named plant, which is, described ,as having dark glossy green foliage, rather fleshy, with a wiry tendency which prevents it hugging tho ground as closely as most of its species. • Its flowers are deep crimson in colqur,. *;• for Dry Banks. Frequently the gardener is reminded of the suitability of marigolds for drybanks where the soil is poor, and where little else will grow. ’Where these homely plants once get a footing, they soon spread and reproduce themselves year after year from seed with but a tithe of the attention which other plants require; Nasturtiums are also especially well suited, for Similar spots, and some of the most brilliant masses of colour over seen, have been produced by antirihinums,- rvliich null grow on old .walls, where, scarcely any other vegetation, with the exception of wallflowers, can exist. , Tho only secret in the matter is to get the plants well established during, the moist rainy months. ’ 1 ‘ Hemerocallis fday lillps). There can be but one opinion as to the merits of the various forms of the hemeroeallis family, . which thrive in almost any kind of soil and position. They increase freely, ate very floriferous, and are capable of holding their own .with all but the strongest vegetation., These, characteristics render them very valuable for large, mixed herbaceous borders, where : they may remain with no need for transplanting or, divisionYor many years. Every year they produce an abundance of bloom. Hardy flowers of this description are precious, they give such a lavish display, for the small expense which maintaining them in good condition involved Extensive plantings of day lilies may bo made in woodland gardens or in clhmps around ponds. They are also most suitable for dotting among low-growing shrubs, their strong rooting nature enabling them to withstand, periods of heat and drought. ■ , ■ ; ~.. Their ’ ability to produce an abundance of flowers under adverse conditions constitutes one of their greatest charms. Even in very light soils that part with moisture freely and where the majority of hardy flowers are not .happy, the “day lilies” can bo relied on to live and thrive, and arc therefore of great value.

There are about a dozen varieties of hemeroeallis which arc ,with one exception, free of growth. ■ This exception is kwanso variegata, which is, however, the handsomest member of the family. It makes a’ good pot plant, but if grown in the open ground must be given a good position and not crowded among strong growing things. The variety flava (pure clear yellow) is much prized for cutting and is as perfectly shaped as is a trumpet lilium. Dumortieri is equally good. Aurantiaca is one of the finest hardy flowers and is most impressive grown in clumps.