THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLII, Issue 12955, 26 August 1905, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Axkmones, daffodils, and other hardy earlyflowering bulbs and plants are now a profusion of bloom, and give the garden a very jay appearance. Primroses, violets, and polyanthus are better than usual. The fairly dry, mild winter has been favourableto the plants. Lovers of daffodils will have an opportunity to compare notes and witness the advancement that has taken place in the. cultivation of this popular flower by attending the show that is arranged to take place next Friday and Saturday at the Choral Hall. Attention must now be devoted to completing the digging of any portions of the beds and borders that havenot been treated, in order to get rid of weeds by turning them under and in a measure to lessen the harbour for slugs, which aro always greatly in evidence at (ids season. _ An occasional dusting of freshslacked lime over the surface of the ground that has been dug is always beneficial, provided it. is applied when tlio soil is fairly dry. It is no use liming during wot, showery weather. Hand weeding around bulbs and amongst border plants must be attended to. This is important, not only for appearance, but for the well-being of the plants. The soil, too, should be lightly stirred after a few fine days. This lias a very marked effect upon the growth of the plants. If the cutting back of bouvardias has not been dono they should bo trimmed at once, cutting the plants back to within a few inches of the sod. The cutting back is a necessity in tho cultivation of those useful flowering' border plants. All tho varieties, with the exception of Humboldtii, require hard pruning. When this is done the plants throw up strong, healthy, vigorous shoots that produce an abundance of bloom throughout the autumn and early winter months. When loft unpruned they always present an unfinished appearance, with a few flowers on the tins of the shoots. Cannas should havo the old stems cut off and tho clumps rearranged. The best plan to treat cannas is to take them up when they have completed, their flowering in the autumn, store them away in some fairly dry corner for the winter, and replant about now or a little later. It gives them a good I rest and the garden a more tidy appearance, as cannas are very unsightly during the winI tor season. These plants are exceedingly attractive during the summer months; they present, quite a tropical appearance with their broad, handsome foliage, surmounted by gorgeous spikes of bloom. They are best adapted for planting in the mixed borders and on the outskirts of shrubberies. A few of the dwarf varieties may be utilised for the centre of beds. The gladioliflowered carinas are the best and showiest. The planting of gladioli bulbs should also be attended to at various intervals— portion now, others in about a fortnight, and so on, to provide for a continued display. The propagation of summer bedding plants must be proceeded with as per instructions given in previous notes. The season is favourable for the planting of hardy annuals, such as stocks, nemesias, antirrhinums, calliopsis, wallflowers, larkspurs, asters, etc., also cinerarias. THE GREENHOUSE. This department will now require very special attention, for in addition to the ordinary spring routine work the propagation by seed and cutting of the various plants required for outdoor decoration will occupy all the time and attention that can bo given. The various varieties of annuals that havo been raised with tho view of producing an early display of flowers will need to bo planted out into boxes as scon as the seedlings aro large enough to handle, allowing sufficient space between each plant to admit of their being lifted with a ball of earth when ready for finally planting out on the border. Cuttings, too, of plants required for outdoor planting, as well as those for greenhouse decoration, must be put in. Although this operation takes up a | good deal of time with judicious managei ment most indoor work can bo dono when ! the weather will not permit of outdoor j work bciiis satisfactorily performed. Dur- ! ing tho present month tho whole of the I plants should receive a good overhaul. Most plants aro benefited at this season by being repotted, either by increasing the size of pot or by reducing it, according to the condition of _ tho roots. Where " the plants require an increased size of pot, however, they should only be shifted from one size to the next and so on. Too large a shift, unless the plan are most carefully handled, is often fatal to them. In potting

the requirements of the different varieties must be studied; those that are making rap l growth should be shifted into larger pot while those that have made little or So growth may be benefited by shaking a the old soil free from the roots and then ashing the roots and repotting into ,as small a pot as the roots can be conveniently placed in. Spotting it « important hat plenty of drainage be provided in the bottorn of the pot. One of the most difficult things to learn in plant culture is when and how to water, the rule generally being to water at tegular intervals, whether the plants require it or not, the result being unless the pot is provided with free drainage that the plant soon sickens and eventually dies. After potting all plants vvatei must be carefully applied until the pants commence to make fresh roots. Bulbous and tuberous rooted plants should again bo brought out from their winter quarters, be shaken free of the old soil, and warn repotted. Gloxinias are already starting into Growth; these should be grown in a fairy close, moist atmosphere. Ferns are rapidly developing their young fronds. At tins stage they require constant watching to prevent the destruction of the fronds by the slues. The adiantnm family are more subject "to the attacks of this pest than any other variety of ferns. Traps should be laid by placing pieces of carrot, turnip, cabbage, 'lettuce, or other dainty that will attract the slugs. By examining the pots each night numbers can be destroyed. Kkpos.