AMONG THE FLOWERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20426, 30 November 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

AMONG THE FLOWERS.

SEASON'S GENERAL WORK.

This season is an extremely busy time fin the flower garden, and grounds in connection with the bedding-out of the usual mummer and autumn flowering annuals iind also herbaceous and other perennials including chrysanthemums, dahlias, fuchsias, pelargoniums etc. By the middle of nest month every vacancy in the flower beds and mixed borders, as well as rock (gardens, should be fdled. Iceland poppies that were the first to flower early are about over and should be deeply, "dug under. Although biennial growth tlfey are better treated as annuals and r.cw stocks replanted every year. Iris Tingitjinas that have ripened off, ishould be taken up and stored; anemones and ranunculi that are past should be taken out. The bulbs are not worth keeping to replant again next autumn as the last year's /seedlings are very much more satisfactory.

JVAOANCIES AND REPLANTING.

Replanting to replace vacancies occupied jpreviously by the above and other plants i&at are past should be done after the ground has been deeply dug and if necessary manured. All harmless weeds and lihe residue of the plants should be dug (under to lighten the soil and return some pf the dements extracted. After a few jJsys, replanting niay be proceeded with. '.Any or all of the following are suitable ;Eor mass plantings for summer, and later flowering. Asters are everybody's favourStes. To prevent the collar rot, White Island Product No. 1., should be worked liai-o ilie.snrface-. Lime and sulphur may be used, for ..the same purpose. The White Island Product must be worked into the Eoil not less than fourteen days before the .alters are planted. Zinnias are easily grown, and exceedingly showy. Arrange •the plants from fifteen to eighteen inches apart as they require ample room to ,'branch out: Phlox Druinmondii are the best of all isummer flowering annuals for mass 01 (group planting for a long season of flowering. Large giant flowered petunias are splendid bedding subjects. The flowers emit a delicious fragrance especially during the evenings. Portulacas are unrivalled for small separate beds J and groups. The different varieties of French marigolds, notably the dwarfs, are specially adapted for summer bedding. They continue in bloom until early winter. Scarlet salvias must not be omitted, they being indispensable for their brilliance and freedom of flowering. Ihcy last well into)' the winter and in favourable warm frost-proof localities may be grown ou for a further period. With the exception of the asters all of the preceding are splendid dry weather subjects. Profuse and continuous flowerers; they are specially adapted for mass production and to meet the present requirements of large quantities of special kinds.

OTHER VARIETIES.

In addition to the above named varieties a ic\i others are necessary to give variety for garden decoration and cutting. Cosmoeas are lovely autumn flowers and justly described as the glory of the autumn garden. 'lhey are mostly tall growers and require to be arranged accordingly. Tall growing African marigolds are very attractive and worthy of a place. The tall growing French aie valuable /for cuttings. Miniature sunflowers add variety. Celosia pyramidahs, the feathered cockscombs, are exceedingly shov.-y with their feathered plumes. Dianthus heddewigii, the Chinese pinks, are profuse slimmer flowers of d x warf habit. Eschscholtzias, clarkeas, godetias ant. viscarias, are all beautiful flowering annuals. , Coreopsis and gaillardias aie indispensable in every garden, lhe choice cf flowering plants to cover the whole season from early spring and well into the winter enables the planter, by careful selection, to produce a long and continuous Succession to keep a bright and attractive display.