DELPHINIUMS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

DELPHINIUMS.

VALUABLE PERENNIALS. The annual varieties, commonly called larkspurs, and tlio' perennials, known as delphiniums, arc all in evidence at the present time enlivening tho (lower beds and borders with their showy spikes. Tho tall-growing, branched, annual larkspurs, in beautiful doublo and single-flowered varieties, aro invaluable for largo beds and borders. The rosy-scarlet is a superb colour, nntl as a dinner-table decoration is unsurpassed. Other colours aro old rose, shell pink pale mauve, blue, white, deep mauvo and violet. Larkspurs aro the easiest of annuals to grow, and once they have flowered an annual crop of seedlings is produced from tho seeds that, have fallen.

Perennial delphiniums furnish our gardens with tiill, upright, stately flowers of striking beauty during several months of tho year. Specialists have devoted much time and attention to the raising of new hybrids of superior merit that are named and catalogued. As seedlings from specially-selected strains reproduce remarkably true tiie ordinary grower need not go to the expense of obtaining tho specially named hybrids. Formerly, perennial cieplhiniums of special sorts wero propagated bv divisions, necessitating considerable trouble in saving the plants from slugs and tho weakening effects of such a system of propagation. These delphiniums aro remarkable for their many shades of blue. Nudicaule, a dwarf-growing species, produces bright scarlet (lowers. The formosum coelestinufn strain produces light sky blue flowers. Perennial delphiniums show to the best advantage when arranged in groups dotled here and there in tho mixed border. Their flowers are greatly in demand for table and other floral decoration. They keep well after being cut.

GROWING VEGETABLES.

SEASONAL ATTENTION. Instructions given in last week's notes regarding hoeing and keeping tlie ground woll broken up are still applicable in tho case of all growing crops. There is still sufficient moisture in tlio soil to ensure healthy, vigorous growth. At this season drier weather is naturally expected. It is surprising what a week of fine weather and wind will do in the direction of drying up the soil. The effects on tho crops, howovcr, depend very largely upon the condition of the ground and the cultivation practised. In deeply-worked, well-manured ground the roots penetrate more deeply as dry weather approaches. Keeping th« surface soil frequently stirred is .1 means of retaining much of the ir.oisturo. By breaking up the ground to the depth of the hoe, or better still, lightly forking between the crops, air is admitted to sweeten the soil, while warm rains havo a better dunce of ponetrating to the roots. The tendency with many amateur growers, is tu resort to artificial watering immediately the surface soil shows the least signs of dryness. With soil that has simply been scratched over, or at most only shallowing worked, watering may be an advantage, providing sufficient is given to penetrate well into the ground. In very many cases, however, the soil is merely sprinkled, with the result that 4 ho roots are induced to corno to the surface, where they quickly suffer from the least neglect. BENEFITS OP MULCHING. A good mulch applied while there is plenty of moisture in the ground is preferable to watering. .Stablo manure, when obtainable, is naturally the best mulch, as it contains manurial properties that are conveyed to the roots of the plants by the rains. Failing this, grass clippings, party decayed leaves, or other material that will chock evaporation and assist to retain moisture at the roots will be beneficial.

Such crops as peas, beans, lettuce, rhubarb, cucumbers, marrows, melons, and others that aro quickly affected by dry weather are especially benefited by being well mulched. Before mulching, thin out marrow:) and other trailing plants, leaving about th"eo of the strongest plants to each plot. Tomatoes may still bo planted. If trained on a single stein, the plants need not bo placod more than 18in. apart, in the rows; tbe latter being three fcot apart. This allows the free circulation of air between tho plants, while the crop is fully exposed to th& sun. s GROUND TOR KUMERAS. Continue to plant out kurneras in well worked soil. Egg-plants, cape gooseberries capsicums and other tender plants that have been raised under glass may al.'<n be planted out. The egg plants sue reed best ti a "warm, sheltered position and in soil that has been well worked and manured These plants succeed best when grown without check from tho tim** of planting until the fruit has matured Swiet corn, too, is a useful vegetable, and succeed'! well in any reasonably good soil. A sowing raado now and another a fortnight or threo weeks later will ex tend their season of usefulness. If thf cobs are gathered as soon as tho grain is developed (but before it begins to b»» come hard) it makes a delicious vegetable Continue to aov/ peas and beans for succession For all further sowings the ground should be deeply worked and well manured. In the case of late crops the best method is to dig out a fairly deep trench, and place in a good layer of man ure.

Scarlet and other runner beans are now well away and may need some attention in training to their supports. By making another sowing toward tho end of tho month their cropping season will be extended well into the autumn.