GARDEN & FIELD

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 65, 18 March 1936, Page 7

GARDEN & FIELD

(Specially written for tho “Manawatu Daily Times" by “Lorna")

Routine Work in the Bordera Those bordera which have.been deeply dug and provided with adequate drainage-are now roaping tho benefit, as so much rain has tended to leave the soil in rather a sour state whore the ground is heavy and not too well drained. Oontinuo to plant all kinds of bulbs, ranunculi and anemone corns, but bofOro doing so prepare the ground well, by deep digging and at the same time trenching in plenty of strawy, litter, and slightly raise the beds, which all tonds towards earlier blooms and better drainage. Continue to plant all kinds of things that will tend to brighten the gardon during winter and spring. Whore cut flowers are wanted reserve any warm, sunny nooks around tho house or warm walls for planting Iceland poppies and calendulas. Antirrhinums and liuarias also flower during the scarce time in such favoured spots, winter blooming sweet peas, mignonette, and primula malacoidos. Plant generously of tho deep blue, dwarf for-get-me-not. It is a littlo gem where a good bluo is wanted, and is lino for use as a groundwork for Darwin tulips. Plant violets and primroses. Prepare trenches for. sweot peas, und sow as soon as possible. Plant all kinds of irises. Plant pansies and violas, and strike cuttings of same. Strike cuttings of cactic, geraniums, hydrangeas, fuchsia, and pelargoniums. The Vegetable Garden. Iveop all winter groons well dusted with tobacco dust, or soot aud wood ashes do much to ltoop the fly in cheek if sprinkled around wkilo the dew is on the plants. Contiuuo to sow carrot, bootroot, while turnips, silver beet, onion, lettuce, parsley, spinach, and spring cabbage. Sprinkle limo and soot about the celery trenches before commencing to mould up, slugs will bo very troublesome during the winter months. Harvest shallots and onions ns soon as dry enough aud store in a dry airy shed. Plant a few shallots for oarly uso. Liming The question of liming is no new one, but how many gardens neglect this most important part of thoir soil treatment. It should be remembored that where limo is deficient no amount of manuring or fertilising is of use. Probably the best and certainly the most convenient form of limo to add to the soil is finely ground carbonate of lime which is immediately available for use by the plant. The late autumn is a good time to apply. The Prostrate Rosemary Rosomarinus prostratus deserves all the praise given it. It is practically a new introduction and should find favour with all those gardenors who own rock gardens, as it is pleasing either in or out of flower, It trails prettily over rocks and in its flowering soason is densely packed with tho same coloured blooms as tho well known upright one. Beauty in tho Garden Ono of tho features of all small gardens should bo tho herbaceous border. Once started, with a little renewal each yoar, it is a source of continual pleasure. AH plants in it should be grouped, as stray plants hero aud there give no effect. Have the border wide, six feet or eight feet at least —and the full longth of tho garden. Group tho larger plants with a tall habit of growth at tho back of it i 3 best to choose types of plants that will give shelter for this purpose, and of a habit of growing close to the ground to prevent cold draughts. The shrub senecio greyii is good, and providos a good background for bright flowers fronting it. Another good low growing shrub is Virburnum sciboldtii. Lavender in tho tall growing variety is good, and so are the red hot pokers, or tritomas. Ornamental flax provides good shelter and looks well at tho back of a border. Hemcrocallis (day lilies), the tall growing kinds also provide thick shelter, but the foliage dies down in winter and this is rather a draw back. With tho background catered for

with this type of plant, two or three groupings of. tall liliums can bo made near the. back, say a grouping of Madonna lilies, regale, auratum, and tiger lilies, all of which throw their spikes up to a good height and flower at varying seasons. Groups of peren uial lupins are pleasing and as the foliage of these dio off after blooming, gladioli conns may bo planted here and there among thorn. The same applies to oriental poppios, and delphiniums. Most of the holeniums are fairly tall and should be placed well back. - Fronting these again, should be planted such things as gaillardias, gypsophiln, bearded irises,- and a good thing in yellow can be had in the perennial coreopsis. The tall blue campanulas too are very acceptable. A grouping of the dwarf dark leaved' dahlias add interest and these may bo taken out when frosts appear and bulbs or dark leaved antirrliiniums put in their place. The front is easily caterod for as there aro so many plants to choose .from such ns clumps of fragrant pinks, verbenas, bcllis daisies, aubrictia, houchera, nepeta mussini (catmint), polyanthus primroses, etc. A few pentstomons are ideal for the mixed border as they flower so long and tho old valerian is not to bo despised. I Care should always bo taken that two groupings of similar low habited plants be not placed together, such as aubrictia and bcllis daisies, but rather place something immediately next of taller habit like verbenas, study this throughout the bed, which will relieve all formality. Grouping .. of tulips, Spanish irises, and other bulbous things should bo placed hero and there among tho groupings of plants, and tho frontage can bo brightened for spring if groups of lachenalias, crocuses, scillas, tritonias, and other low growing treasures aro included. Always soo that the perennial border gets an annual top dressing of manure as' much of ' its beauty depends on tho various plants being well nourished.. Flan the border for effect rather than to see how many different kinds of plants can be accommodated, and the result will bo always pleasing. ■ - Re-arranging Hardy Borders

Thero comes a time when growers of hardy borders flowering plants have to do some thinning out in autumn, and to neglect carrying out the job invariably leads to confusion. It is a job too often put off and not done at the right time.

If bulbs aro planted in hardy .borders in May or June, then, before this work is done, hardy plants ought to bo lifted, divided, and replanted, because if left until spring tho job cannot well be carried out without disturbing bulbs.

Take up the roots ip sections, well digging and manuring the soil before replanting, so that tho roots of plants aro not exposed too Jong. Thought must be given to the position of . tho' various plaiits. Tho tallest obviously, must bo planted on back rows, and they must bo distributed so that their height will be.seen to the best advantage. Some borders pro planted with little thought as to height, but it is a good tiling before sotting to work to draw up a rough plan which will assist as the work proceeds. Special oaro must be taken with doep rooting subjects, such as gypsophila, alstromerius, and tritomas, providing them with well dug sites, in which the roots can easily penetrate. Boar in mind, however, that unless, it is absolutely essential to disturb such plants, they are best left alone, because it often takes a year or two before they become established again. In lifting clumps, on no account use a spado, a fork is much loss likely to injure roots, particularly in the case of "delvers.”

If the ground has been occupied for years by porennials, and the soil, as a consequence, has bcconie worn out, something moro ■ than . deep . digging should bo done. Konow the site with either fresh soil brought in, or old rotted manure, rotted weeds, or a good artificial manure. Particularly docs this refer to ground which has bocu planted with delphiniums, poloniums, michaelmas daisies, solidagos, etc. all of which are likely, to .render soil poor if roots are loft a few years.. Irises for Cutting There is always a shortage of cut flowers after tho Darwin tulips are over and before sweet peas turn in, and this gap can be filled by planting a batch of bulbous irises which are always such a popular lino too. If a row or so of Dutch, Spanish,.and English is set, a succession of bloom will bo available for a month or six wooks. Any good gardeu soil will grow them well. Plant in rows oightcon inches apart, sis inches to eight inches between the bulbs, planting them four inches deep. Protection from Slugs. With the exceptionally heavy rainfall slugs will prove very troublesome. Delphiniums arid Pyrcthrums which are a prey to slugs during tho winter may be kept secure if covered over with ashes from tho domestic hearth. Ashes should always be kept in store for winter use, as on heavy soils these have quite a good effffect on the ground. A dressing of wood ashes given to the soil in w 7 kich potatoes, turnips, beetroot, and onions are to bo grown is of immense benefit. Spinach Beet

In small gardens the spinach beet is particularly valuable, as it gives such liberal returns for tho small amount of labour and space occupied. In hot, dry soils the ordinary spinach runs to seed quickly, but tho spinach beet will be found most satisfactory. It is usually ready to cut from six weeks after sowing and given fairly mild conditions may. bo cut from throughout the whole year. Sow the seed in drills eighteen inches apart and manure tho ground well beforehand, thinning the plants out. to six inches apart, the thinnings supplying the first dish. Rich, well dug soil.is necessary for the best results, as the plants grow so quickly and lux*

uriantly that good feeding is necessary to keep up the quality of the. leaves. It is one of the best of things to grow for poultry--