GARDENING

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 109, 11 May 1939, Page 11

GARDENING

(Specially written for “The Times” by “Lorna.”)

Routine Work in the May Borders. ! i Dig and manure beds which have had ] summer bedding plants in. . |< Clear away all hardy annuals if win- 1 ter bedding is to be put down. 1 1 Lift and divide polyanthus primroses, t Plant violets and lily of the valley, j] Sow Beeds of sweet peas and any j other hardy annuals wanted for early . 1 IsummeT blooming. ( Plant stocks, Iceland poppies, linariasl and calendulas. \ * Sow Virginian stock around the do- l clduous shrubs or edgings for the bord- t ors. This Sowers early and is very wel- ; I come on that account. ) c Sow seed of mignonette and night - i scented stock near the house ioT frag- ; ranee. f > 1 Plant all kinds of bulbs in the borders. Tulips make some of the best sub- c jects for this work. ' 1 | Plant plenty of dwarf bulbs in the t , rock garden. I ' I Take cuttings of shrubs, Tock plants, i etc. , 1 j Apply basic slag to lawns and greens c ! ath the rate of four ounces per square ; ! yard. ( | Trench land intended for autumn : j planting of perennials as soon a 3 pos- i sible. *

more loosely petalled flowers. The best known of this group is the charming dwarf-growing species, magnolia stellata, with pretty white flowers; another, not so well known as stellata rosea, the flower buds being coloured an attractive pink, changing to white with age. Those mentioned are just a few of many beautiful varieties. Plants to Grow with Bearded Irises. I Whether irises are grown as part of the general garden scheme, or only to | be seen when they are in full flower as a choice and particular sight they are | yet more beautiful if they have some other plants with them for contrast. For I instance, pink lupins near to deeper majenta irises can bo attractive with a * pale, clean, clear blue iris as contrast. Try lemon or straw-coloured lupins with copper and bronzo irises; the effect is ! pleasing. Aquilegias, run to many of the same shades as irises. The deep , I blues and dark purples aro useful amongst blue and mauve irises. They i are light in growth, and so their foliage does not keep the sun from the iris rlii- i zomes. Other plants come in handy for edgings to such beds. Rock roses, especially the big pale pink one with its grey foliage. These plants are good, whether they aro in flower or not, and spread

Cut down perennial plants as soon as they go out of bloom, clearing away the refuse. Top-dress pockets in the rock garden with good soil. Put pieces of glass over choice plants which get a little damaged by heavy frosts. The Vegetable Garden. Remove all foilage from asparagus when it has turned brown. Collect fresh fallen leaves from caks; these make valuable leaf mould. Gather all well developed fruits on tomatoes in case of frost. riant a few shallots and lettuce plants. Sow broad beans and a few peas in a specially sheltered border. Give Brussels sprouts plenty of liquid manure. Lift rhubarb roots for forcing, and leave them exposed on the surface for two or three weeks under glass. Sow onion seed and complete the lifting of potatoes. Choose a few tubers for the first early planting, leaving them beneath a hedge or trees for sprouting. Deeply dig and manure all vacant land. Bum all rubbish which is too rough to dig in, on the plots if possible so that the soil can obtain the benefit from the ashes. Lily of the Valley. This is a general favourite, and is not so often seen in good condition as it ought to be. Its wants are few and simple, as it will grow in almost any aspeet, even behind a north wall. Where increase or renewal is necessary, the whole patch should bo lifted and the site well worked up and liberally mauured. Shake the roots free of soil, select the most prominent corns, and replant in shallow drills, keeping the crowns just under the surface. The smaller crowns may not flower for two years, but two and three-year-old crowns can be depended on. If renewal is not meditated, a good dressing of old manure, leal-mould, or any enriching material should be given as a top-dressing. A well-grown bed is of great value, as turves cut out to the size of a seed box can be put in heat and forced in spring, a better supply of foliage beiug had from it than from retarded crowns. If the holes made by such liftings are . filled up with good soil, fresh crowns soon fill up the space as those forced are practically useless. The Deciduous Magnolias. Among the beauties of springtime is to bo seen that aristocratic raco of shrubs, the deciduous magnolias. The bare stems of the dormant trees are beautiful in themselves, but when they are decked with exquisite blossoms, poised like white flames on the branches they are remarkably lovely, while beneath them can be grown drifts of crocus, polyanthus primroses, primulas, forget-mc-nots aud many other things. For a great many gardeners, magnolias mean the evergreen variety, usually grown against the house wall. This variety, however, beautiful as it is m its way, docs not display its charm so completely as the deciduous varieties. With these the flowers are completely displayed and are not half hidden by the foliage, and although at times they may be seared by frost and cold winds, yet, when favourable circumstances permit, the result fully justifies any experiment in planting. In view of the fact that these deciduous varieties flower at a time when unsettled when is often experienced, the first problem to be solved is to select a suitable situation where the plant is protected from severe frost and cold biting winds, and the ideal spot for planting is a sunny clearance in the shrubbery among evergreens where the surrounding greenery is high enough to protect the plant iu severe weather, and at the same time makes a suitable background, as it is a point well worth remembering that a dark evergreen background will help considerably in accentuating the beauty of the flowers. fho deciduous magnolia is, as a rule, slow in growth, but it is of easy cultivation, and eventually makes a bushy shrub or tree of about twenty feet in height. The only difficulty is in transplanting, but if this operation is carried out just as the leaves are failing, or when the roots have become active in spring, all should be well. The roots are fleshy and very brittle, and if the transplanting is done while the plant is dormant, the damaged roots often decay and the plant die? or takes a very long time to recover its former vitality.

over the front edge towards the sun and look like the hem to a garment. They have one other use. If the bed is raised five to six inches, as it often is for irises, this rather close edging seems to keep the frost and cold from penetrating to the iris roots. Tho little mauve cheiranthus linifolius, like a dwarf wallflower, is similar in colour and tone to many of the iris, and has a long flowering season. It can be grown easily from seed, and it is well to grow extra plants each year, as they are apt to flower themselves out, aud some usually need replacing. For an annual, candytuft is most pleasing with its modern colourings, queer pinks; majentas and mauves carry ou the colours used earlier in tho sea-

If irises aro planted near the house they certainly need interplanting, in order not to bo bereft of colour at other seasons of the year. The gladiolus pnmulinus is a success planted with irises and its growth and green are similar. It is not intrusive until iris bloom is over, and comes when one is glad of extra colour. The mixed ones are best, as the slight variety in tone is pleasant, and being cheaper, one can afford more, and undoubtedly they are valuable for cutting. Both biennials and annuals are useful. Most people have their favourites. If spaces are left between some of the groups of iris, larkspurs and Canterbury bells, being tall, follow on well, and with the iris green often succeed in making a delightful picture for a long time. With the follow-on plantings, it is not possible to have enormous masses of col--our, but one can get effects from carefully considered groups using the iris foliage as a setting for such purposes. This method of treatment gives a peaceful and restful effect, in planting, the important thing to remember is that if plants are arranged so that for colour aud contrast they are in happy combination with their immediate neighbours, the whole general effect is likely to be harmonious too.

At this season of the year groupings of narcissi and tulips may be made among the clumps of irises. Late tulips which are often still in flower when irises begin their season, are, to mj' mind, quite essential, and as many as one can afford should be planted with, and in front of the irises, especially the softer-coloured tulips. Another planting is that of verbenas, which always gives a pleasing effect throughout the summer, and if not l>lanted thickly will still allow plenty of sunshine to penetrate the rhizomes of the iris. Irises and Shrubs. Shrubs are important. It is they which help to give shape aud drawing to any lay-out. They, together with Jow walls, stone edgings and pavement, and the cool green of grass paths, form really tho skeleton of the garden and are at the root of success, because they are what is the’ main source of interest in the later autumn aud winter, when flowers and colour aro scarce, that is, the harmony and balance of the whole garden plan. The Value of Grey Foliage.

There aro eudlcss other shrubs, but on the whole it is safo to add anything which is grey-leaved. Scnecio greyii is always beautiful. The young shoots are a most beautiful grey aud it is invaluable for cutting foliage from all the year round. As a background and for dividing up a larger space it is excellent as, because of its colour, it never looks heavy, and iu winter it helps to shape any plot well. Lavender bushes of all sorts are good and Rosemary suits tho tall and dignified foliage of irises.

A very beautiful species is maguolia campbellii, a lovely pink, but unfortunately does not flower until the tree is large. Another beautiful one is denudata conspiciia, sometimes called the lily tree. This specie soon grows into a shapely open bush, and each spring it is covered with large cup shaped whito flowers, an unforgettable sight. Htill another species is “purpurea,” a native of China, whoso flowers arc w T hito within and a vinous purple and white outside. Quite distinct from those , already mentioned is another group of deciduous magnolias having much smaller and