THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 8986, 17 September 1892, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

• FLOWER GARDEN. Hardy annuals that have been raised ami are established in boxes, should now be transplanted into their places in the flower beds and borders. Annuals are indispensable for the decoration of the garden almost throughout the year ; and as plants of the different sorts may be purchased 'at low rates, they are within the reach of everyone. Those who have very small gardens, and only require a few plants of a variety, can purchase them, aud thus save the trouble of sowing seeds und devoting the care necessary to the successful raising of seedlings. Those who possess larger gardens ana grow annuals in quantities, should now sow the hardier varieties. The following are the best and most suitable for present planting :—Asters, stocks, larkspurs, rhodanthe, acroeliniutns, antirrhinums, dianthus, saponaria, callicpsis, gaillardia, Cape forget-me-not, linaria, lobelia, lupins, &c , and the more tender sorts during the early part of next month. Seeds of other hardy sorts that will not readily transplant should be sown at once where they are intended to grow and flower ; these include candytuft, nomophila, poppies, mignonette, collinsia, linum, &c. As now is a busy time preparing and planting herbaceous and other perennial plants that are required for summer season, any of the following are well adapted for the purpose, namely :— Fuchsias, pelargoniums, pansies, bouvardias, salvias, heliotropes, verbenas, pensteinons, carnations, and picotees, spirreas, petunias, cannas, pyrethrums, delphiniums, and others. Propagation of chrysanthemums must also be proceeded with in order to have nice healthy, well-rooted, and established plants ready for planting towards tho end of noxt month. Those raised from cuttings make the best plants ; but, as some little experience is required to grow them from cuttings, an easier method.is to take off rooted suckers or offshoots from the old plants, and plant these in a bed that has been prepared for their reception; shade them for a few days, and keep them free from slugs, and they will soon establish and be good plants for bedding out as recommended above, Dahlia roots that were taken up early in the winter, as directed, and stored should now be planted in a bed to start them into growth. A few of the tubers may be cut off to reduce the size of the stools. These should make enough growth to divide them for planting out into their permanent positions during the early part of November. The present is about the best season for planting gladioli bulbs. These are magnificent flowing plants, and should be largely grown, -.ney are best arranged in clumps here and there in the borders. Tuberoses that were taken up should also be replanted. Herbaceous preonies are now starting. They are benefited by being well mulched with manure. They require good, deep, rich soil. Tree preonies are now beginning to bloom, and are very handsome. THE GREIiNHOUSR. The present month is always a busy time in this department. In addition to the general work of cleaning and potting of all i stock plants, early struck cuttings of coleus, fuchsias, pelargoniums, and numbers of other young plants needed for summer decoration will require potting. Annuals, too, that were sown last month will need pricking out into boxes. The weather during the last few weeks has been all that could be desired for hastening on young plants, growth has been very active, and most of the older plants that have been resting during the winter are starting into vigorous growth. Ferns are rapidly developing their young fronds, and will soon make a grand display. These require a good deal of watching at this stage, as the slugs are very troublesome, and soon destroy the young fronds. Maecenas, too, are often disfigured by these pests% and every means should be used to keep them from the plants. Cinerarias are now at their best. These are most valuable early flowering plants, and make a fine show when interspersed with ferns and wellgrown foliage plants. It is almost impossible to keep up a good display in the greenhouse during tho summer without a good variety of foliage plants ; when these are grown, a few flowering plants will always make a good effect. There are numbers of hardy varieties of foliage plants that can be grown in any ordinary greenhouse. Dracoenas are very beautiful plants for this purpose Marantas zebrina, randam us.Veitchii, Aspidistra elateor variegata, Cyperus alteruifolia variegata are all very ornamental and hardy sorts. Palms, too, are invaluable for greenhouse, or even indoor decoratiou ; their graceful habit and fernlike foliage makes them general favourites. Areca Bauerii, the Norfolk Island nikau, is a very useful variety. Kontia Belmoriana, K. Canter bury ana, and many others will grow to perfection in any greenhouse with ordinary care. To alter the appearance of the house, the plants should be frequently rearranged; this not only adds a freshness to the house, but the plants are much benefited by the change. Bulbs and tubers, such as gloxinias, tuberous begonias, achimeues, and others that have been

stored away during the winter, should now be brought out ready for starting.' Gloxinias are already starting to throw up a young growth, and will require potting ; shake the bulbs dear of the old soil, and pot in a mixture of good fibrous loam, leaf mould, and Wild in equal parts. Achimenes and tuberous begonias should be watered occasionally until the tubers show signs of starting, when they must be potted. Seed of gloxinias and begonias may now be sown. The seeds of both these flowers are very fine, and very careful treatment is necessary to obtain ' satisfactory results. The seed should be sown in pans filled with nicely-prepared soil, the surface being niHtle smooth and firm; sow the seed evenly over the surface, and barely cover with'fine, sifted soil; cover the pan with a pane of glass, arid place a piece of paper over the glass to exclude the light until the seeds germinate, when they may be gradually exposed to the light. Ketos.