GARDEN NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume 65, Issue 270, 2 November 1940, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES

(By “Ngaio.’’) The recent rains have put the soil into excellent condition for sowing seeds in the open ground and this should be pushed on with rapidity now before tho earth dries up again. Besides saving a great deal of labour in handling boxes and pricking off, this method of seed sowing is the best for some kinds of plants. Asters are a case in point—they learn to come on and do better if they are sown where they are to bloom. Choose a position for them which is well sheltered as they greatly dislike the wind, and they prefer a spot which is not exposed to the full glare of the mid-summer sun. Dig the ground well, putting in grass clippings or some light manure and scatter some blood and bone on the surface before raking over. Scatter tho seed as evenly as possible and cover lightly, pressing down the soil with the back of tho rake. There are various types of asters, some being the long-pctalled kind and others having short, stiff petals. The variety known as Giant Crego is very popular with its large blooms and good strong stems. American Beauty is another good one with large fluffy blooms, and another excellent type is the Bunshine aster, the blooms of which are single with long petals and a quilled centre; the colours in this section are very delicate and lovely and tho blooms last excellently in water.

Zinnias can be sown in the open now, too, but except in the case of the smaller varieties they should be sown in drills in nursery beds. Work the soil to a good tilth and draw half-inch drills across the bed—place the seeds individually along the row and the plants will then have room to develop and can be planted straight into their permanent places without being pricked out. Zinnias are very greedy feeders and if blooms of size are required the ground must bo well enriched; they will enjoy plenty of cow manure and if they are a good size when planted out they can be puddled in with some. Miniature zinnias can be sown where they are to bloom as they do not require to be so richly fed as size is not aimed at; they are one of the most useful bedding plants for the summer, particularly the variety Lilliput rosebud which is a very pleasing shade of soft pink and the blooms are a little larger than in the other colours. Planted now, these useful subjects will begin to bloom" at "the end of December or early January and will go right on till the frosts get them if the dead heads are kept picked off. Early Wonder is one

intermediate type which is very useful; it is not so large as the giant flowered • nor as small as tho miniature type, but! it blooms, early and is good for picking. An attractive zinnia for bedding is] miniature Fireball, with tiny bright scarlet blooms which are useful in mixed posies in the house and strike a good note of glow in the garden. | Other seeds which can be sown now in the open are French and African marigolds and sunflowers. French marigolds are very useful for lato blooming and can be tucked away at the back of borders where they will get a little shelter from early frosts, and they will ( then prove very profitable later on. The ! best varieties aro Winter Harmony, Josephine and Royal Scot; none of these are as tall as the tall tree marigold and so do not take up so much room, but • their picking value is just as good. The . dwarf French marigolds and the tiny Tagetes should bo remembered for borders and edgings. Miniature sunflowers aro rather over-; looked, but they are very useful for hot rather dry places, and they also have a very long flowering season. Bronze hybrids contain a variety of soft shades of bronze and copper. Miniature gold has bright yellow blooms with dark centres and is a good cut flower and double gold has attractive dwarf double flowers.