GARDEN FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume 59, Issue 268, 15 November 1934, Page 4

GARDEN FIELD

(Specially written for the “Mana Colour in the Garden Bright November days are full of interest, verdant foliago is everywhere, bright and beautiful flowers, tho joyous song of the birds, and tho restful green of tho lawns, as yet unmarred by lack of moisture. Bright sunlight lights up the foliage of tho prunus trees, and those of ihc handsome copper beech, whose leaves are acting as a wonderful background for the blue spikes of delphiniums, pink and blue lupins and flaunting scarlet Oriental poppies. A most attractive spot is that where tho irises aro massed in all their soft, restful shades, giving forth a sweet perfume very noticeable during the evening hours. The fragrance of the old-fashioned pinks belongs to tho joys of November, and, massed in close proximity to the ‘‘bird bath” they lend a charm to the garden scene, rue satiny blooms of ixias and esehsoholtzias open wide their blooms to the rays of the sun, togethor with those of bright mosembryanthemums. ltoso borders daily grow more beautiful, particularly when visited in the early morning hours while yet bedecked with dew. The lily pool is again a place of delight where large pink, red, white, yellow, and apricot flowers are to bo found floating on tho water’s surface, and on the borders of shrubberies lupins hold full sway as spike after spike arises boldly from a wealth of fern-like foliage. Routine Work in the Borders Autumn-sown sweet peas are now budding freely and where large blooms are wanted a weekly application of liquid manure will prove beneiieial. Continue to plant gladioli cornis. Chrysanthemums may now be set out in permanent quarters. Where there arc any vacancies out of the frost-line, such as against warm walls or in sunny corners of the house, devote them to late flowering chrysanthemums, such as Edith Gavel, PockU’s Late Crimson, etc. Prepare ground for dahlias and get them into position during this month. Continue to plant such things as iieleiiiiuitb and luichaelmas daisies, and all kinds of annuals. Prepare well manured'plots for asters and zinnias. Plant generously of salvia-s and petunias, which stand the heat of summer exceptionally well. ■Seed may be sown of French and African marigolds, asters, zinnias, ageratum, celesai, sunflower, cosmeas and many other autumn-flowering subjects. Place a good mulch around recentlyplanted shrubs and roses, and should the soii appear at all dry give a thorough watering before applying same. Keep the hoe going constantly around growing plants until they spread and fill up the space allotted to them. Fill up all bare spaces in the rock garden and keep the soil in the pockets well loosened. If it seems inclined to bake on the surface, give a good topdressing of sand and leaf-mould if possible.

Make fresh plautings of violets on Well manured soil.

tVor!: up the soil at the back of the rows of polyanthus primroses and plant suck things as nemesia, phlox dnimiuondi, or anything (hat will slightly fall over them and thus hide the bare appearance. This also acts as a screen to the primroses against the hot r,T"s of the summer sun.

The Vegetable Garden Continue to sow all kinds of tweeds, including maize, mangolds, pumpkins, etc. Continue In plant cabbage, lettuce, and early cauliflowers. Keep cabbages well sprinkled with tobacco dust as a, precaution against the “fly.” Continue to plant onions and cschallots, artichokes aurl kumcras. Plant tomatoes in deeply dug ground. Make fortnightly sowings of peas and French beans for a continuous supply. Also make fortnightly sowings uf lettuce. Givo strawberry beds a thorough soaking with water and follow with liquid manure before bedding down

recollection,” the latter not necessarily connected with the former. Hostesses for the afternoon were Mcsdames Terry, W. Woodley and G. Woodley.

TE ARAKURA On Saturday last, instead of the usual monthly meeting, the institute paid a visit, lo Mrs J. A. Bailey ks beautiful old garden at Ohakea. After a delightful .drive through a beautiful countryside, the members and their friends were . received by Mrs J. A. Bailey and Miss W. Bailey. Mrs D. T. Whisker (vice-president), apologised for the absence, through illness, of the president, Mrs A, Griffith, and conveyed. her good wishes for a happy time. Much of the time was spent in admiring the flowers, especially the beautiful rose-beds, in which were roses of all known shades, now in their first flush. Cinerarias brightened the shady spots under trees half a century ofd, ami peeped from beneath hedges. Among the many ornamental trees the magnificent Portuguese laurels, so seldom seen, now coming into bloom, created most interest. Many of the younger members played tennis while ■the older ones joined in a croquet competition and chatted under the shady trees. Afternoon tea was served out-of-doors by Mrs Bailey and her daughters. At the conclusion, Mrs W. E. Thomas proposed a vote of thanks to the hostesses, which was warmly carried, and reminded everyone of the. social and dance to be held on November 1(3. It was unanimously decided to send a message of sympathy and good cheer lo Airs Griffiths. The competition for a week’s menu for five persons was left with flic Misses B’ailey to be judged, and the results .will be announc'd Inter. In December there will lie'll demonstration of lamp-shade making, and Iho competition will be:— Seniors, best pot of gooseberry jam; juniors, best sponge sandwich without butter.

watu Daily Times” by "Lorna.”)

with straw to keep the fruit clean. Give all newly-planted fruit trees a good mulch to prevent drying out. Plant main crop potatoes. Achilleas in a Dry Season No one interested in hardy herbaceous flowering plants ought to ignore tho claims achilleas havo upon them. They give a beauty to tho garden for a long time, yield their flowers most ungrudgingly, are easy to grow and withstand the conditions of a town garden, doing well in quito ordinary soil. From a small piece of root, a good sized specimen is not long in tho making, as they grow rapidly. Flowers, when cut, are serviceable for decoration, and they aro so hardy that one need have no fear in planting them in tho most exposed condition. Achilleas are known to most people by tho common name of yarrow or milfoil. Gome are valuablo as border plants and some are ideal for the rock garden, being of dwarf habit. They vary in height from three inches to some four feet in height and arc best served when they can be given a sunny position. Among the tall varieties, ac-hillca kelwayi is the most showy with largo panicles of a. pinkish crimson shade with a white eye. This variety blooms both in spring and autumn, while there aro several good yellows. Among rock garden species ackillea lewesii, with heads of cream flowers with brown eyes, is very useful as it blooms practically all the year round.

Dahlias —Small Flowered Decoratives. This is a typo of dahlia which is increasing in favour, for as garden plants they are ideal. The plants generally possess a good, bushy habit, are free flowering, and the blooms are dainty and of pleasing form. The flowers are generally less formal than the largo decoratives, smaller, and of many bright and pleasing tones, and very free flowering. The small-flowered pompoms are growing in popularity. The small flowers are so even in form and outline, and withal, in such pleasing tones of colour that they lend themselves admirably for indoor decoration as well as for garden display. The flowering season of the dahlia is'a long one provided the plants uo not suffer too much from lack of moisture ana aro not allowed to seed.

The star dahlias are among tho best of tilings for indoor decoration, but for garden, display they need to bo seen in the mass and whero possible against a background of green. With the largo decorative type it is difficult to make a selection for a small garden as the varieties are so numerous and ail so beautiful. Tho cactus dahlia still retains tho interest of growers and is still a favourite as a florists* flower. The dwarf single mignon is also gaining in popularity as a. bedding plant, useful for filling borders which have been devoted to early spring things. Theso arc very easy to manage and are not greatly damaged by gales'. 'When preparing the soil for dahlias dig as deeply as possible, as this helps to retain the moisture, and work in as much manure as possible, and also ashes from wood fires. Before the dry weather sets in, it is a, great help if the plants aro given, a good mulch of lawn grass clippings or something similar to prevent tho evaporation of moisture. More interest is now being displayed in the semi-cactus dahlia, as the varieties improve in both form and colour. Azalea Mollis from Seed.

Tho* time Jo gather Iho seeds is just, before the pods begin to crack, and if watched for, this will easily be seen, and if placed in a dry place or shed the pods will open fully and the seeds fall out. The seeds may be sown in pots, boxes or in beds out in the open, and for preference in partial shade. The soil should consist of sand, leafmoiild, peat and sandy loam in equal parts. This must be sieved Hue and after being levelled and firmly pressed down, the seeds should be scattered over the surface. All the covering they need is a sprinkling of silver sand, sufficient to half bury them. From the time of sowing it; is important that the soil should be kept moist, but at no time sodden, and owing to the fineness ot' the seeds a very Jine-roscd can should be used when watering them. Until germination has taken place, and to prevent evaporation, light shading should be provided in the form ot light canvas screens or shaded glass. Tho above remarks apply equally well to the raising of rhododendrons troni sped. The Rod Sage. This sago differs, from the ordinary green variety,in the colour of its stems and foliage. These are purplish red, but. being thickly covered with grey down, the impression retained by the eyo is that of ,soft dove colour rather than red. ft is very useful for special places, such as dry banks, its unique colouring harmonising well with other plants. In the variety tri-colour, one half of tho leaf is a peculiar shade, of mauve-pink, occasionally blotched with yellow, a well-coloured specimen being a beautiful object.. Like the common sage it can bo easily propagated. Select shoots about nine inches in length and insert them in the ground to a depth of six inches. If made quite firm they will soon root and form good plants. Care must, be taken to select the best coloured branches for cuttings, otherwise the plant will soon revert to type. Men of old considered that tho use of sago conferred longevity. Many quotations have been given to prove it, such as. ‘‘How can a. mail die who has sage in his garden ” (Arabian proverb). ‘‘He who'would live for aye must cat sage in May” (old English proverb). Another says that Ihc common red sago has the greatest virtue, and that sage properly prepared will retard that rapid progress of decay that treads upon the heels so’ftist i:i .the latter rears of life, will preserve I lie 'faculties anrl memory, will long prevent the hands from trembling and the eves from dimness, and makes the. lamp of life, so long as Nature lets it, burn brightly..