THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 1514, 9 November 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Conors rains, with a much warmer and more genial temperature, have produced a refreshing effect upon our gardens and grounds and greatly facilitated the working of the soil and the breaking-down of rough lumps to bring it into a good state of pulverisation, with an' even surface, in readiness for sowing and planting, and to give the beds and borders a neat and t-idy appearance. Sowing and planting should be proceeded with. Annuals have become indispensable for garden decoration, and have quite taken the place of the orthodox bedding plants so much in evidence a few years back. The facilities for obtaining plants of the different varieties at but little cost should induce everyone who possesses a garden, whether large or small, to plant a selection of varieties that are most suitable for the production of tho longest and best display.

Summer and Autumn Flowers. Asters, celosiaa. phlox Drummondii, calliopsis of sorts, gaillardias, zinnias, petunias, amaranthus, African and French marigolds, dianthus, miniature sun flow era, sweet sultans, mignonette, xeranthemums, portulaccas, and balsams?, not omitting a few of the best sorts of ornamental grasses, are all admirably adapted for summer and atutumn flowering. Mignonette, sweet sultans, poppies, and xeranthemums do not transplant well, and should be sown in clumps in the beds and borders where they are intended to grow. Portulaccas produco a splendid effect when sown on the gravel walks, where they grow and flower freely. Chrysanthemums may be planted up to the end of this month. As previously stated; the ground requires special preparation in growing varieties for ehow purposes. Firm planting is also recommended, such as ramming the soil hard around the plant, to produce a slower and firmer growth. The soil does not require to be too highly manured previous to planting. Fertilisers are better applied at intervals as growth develops. In growing for show blooms only select the very best kinds for the purpose, and for garden decoration and cutting choose good hardy growers, free bloomers and most striking and popular colours. Single-flowered chrysanthemums aro exceedingly popular and good for this purpose. Planting Dahlias. Dahlias should be planted about the middle of this month, from then until about the middle of December being the best time. As dahlias are always at their best early in the autumn, earlier planting than above stated is not advisable. The new creations of recent years afford a wide selection to choose from. Cactus dahlias are the most popular. Recently peonyflowered dahlias have come into favour, and also collarette varieties, another distinct type. Pompones are great favourites with many. They are of dwarf, compact habit and most floriferous, producing extremely neat, email, and very double flowers. Quite a number of other plants may now be bedded out, notably fuchsias, the different varieties of ivy-leaved zonal, regal, show and decorative pelargoniums, also heliotropes, Paris daisies, or marguerites, and others. Lawns require regular attention, as the growth of the grass is more active than at any other season. Regularly mow and occasionally roll. • Mistakes arc often made in over-rolling, which hardens the surface too much and crushes out some of the finer grasses. 'The GREENHOUSE. During the present month most varieties of plants make rapid growth and need/ special care in watering,' shading, potting : and keeping under the various pests that are prone to attack the young tender growths. At no other season of the yeas do plants require more care or present / more pleasing disolay than during tV | early summer months. At this time nt*" 1 bers of plants that have been practie dormant again push forth into vig<rH ' growth and produce a freshness and J :, } lwncy of foliage that is rarely obt/* b!o I at. any other season. Ferns, too, ar& r ? w " I ing rapidly. These are an 1 study in themselves. Their grace' " a " lts ' and beautiful tints as the young n< k e ' velope make them invaluable 0 /eoorative ' purpose*. i «

Tuberous Begonias - Tuberous begonias and gloxinias should' now bo shifted into their flowering-pot»; i both make splendid plants for grce?ihou» :i decoration. The begonia, is 01 easy cul. ture, and, being hardy, can be grown iuo. i. cessfully either in greenhouse, on a verari.-H dah, or even in the open border. Whea l grown in pots or boxes, they continue t# I fio\Ver profusely throughout th.i summer i and keep up a display until well into the f autumn. Gloxinia?, too. are a gorgeous ' flower and make a splendid display when 1 well grown. These, however, are not quito ' as hardy and require more careful treat- • ment than begonias. To obtain the best • results, they should be grown in a faijlv • warm, moist atmosphere; sudden changes of temperature they do not like. At tnii season "watering must be well attended to; never allow the plants to wilt or suffer froa ,- lack of moisture. At the same time, do not give water to plants that are already sodden, as excess of moisture is often nuni# fatal than want of it. The plants should be looked over daily, and any showing ; signs of dryness should be watered. It i» important, too, that the whole of the soil should be moistened. Free ventilation should be given and shade applied during the liotteet part of the day. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENT^ Mrs. N. 0., Te Kopuru : C. G. Van; Tubergen, jun., of Haarlem, Holland, a; the raiser of the new coloured hybrid! freesias that have come into such prcnii- 1 nence on account of their lovely shades 'of: colour and floriferousness. He" cataloguer nine named varieties at prices ranging/ from 9s to 24s per dozen. Colours art ' mostly shades of rose, deepening to e^r-; mine. One is a milky white, with as I orange blotch on the lower petals. 7 u " W.P.," Taranaki: Re 10-year-old neaclif trees and nectarines doing badly and being unfruitful The varieties may be tender] and shy bearers and unsuitable for youfe| district. Can you furnish names? Yofc have apparently treated them properly exf cept. in the pruning; which should be dentin the winter, and not during the summen l The spraying for leaf curl with Bordeaux must be done, just as the buds are swell! ing, in early spring. It is a preventatives not a remedy, and useless when the tree*! are in leaf. Your best plan will be to cut i down the old trees and replace them with? healthy young ones that are hardy and:; good growers and reliable croppers. ' ' " K.L.," I'onsontiy : General Mn Arthur is probably the best all-round red rose ij; cultivation. It is a rich, bright crimson/ does not burn, and has the delightful perfume of the old cabbage rose. It belong} to the hybrid tea section, and is a good»» grower and free bloomer. Kepos. „'|