THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 12

THE GARDEN

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Notes bj

IN THE VEGETABLE CARDEN SOW PEAS FOR SUCCESSION AS REQUIRED. SOW FRENCH BEANS AND SCARLET RUNNERS. GIVE THE ASPARAGUS BED A THOROUGH WATERING, AND THEN APPLY A LITTLE LIQUID MANURE. PREPARE A BED FOR THE RECEPTION OF CUCUMBER, VEGETABLE MARROWS, AND PUMPKINS. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN FORK OVER THE ROSEBED LIGHTLY. PINCH OUT THE CENTRE OF ANTIRRHINUMS WHEN THEY ARE SIX INCHES HIGH. PLANT A GROUP OR TWO OF SHIRLEY POPPIES IN THE FLOWER BORDER. REMOVE THE SUCKERS FROM LILAC BUSHES.

VEGETABLE GARDEN

USE THE HQE. The bright sunshine . and’ warm weather experienced lately may cause the surface soil to cake at this time of the year. To prevent this, also to check seedling weeds, the hoe should be used on every available occasion, especially between the rows of onions and other plants. The growth of spring cabbages and cauliflowers is greatly accelerated by the constant use of this tool. PEAS. Successional sowings of peas may be made, and the early rows must be staked directly growth is sufficiently advanced to demand support. Before placing the stakes in position the rows should be earthed up. POTATOES. Every effort should be made to complete the planting of this crop now Early sown potatoes just coming through the soil Bihould have a little earth drawn over them, as a precaution against possible late frosts. SCARLET RUNNERS. A sowing of scarlet runners can he made now, and the seed should be planted in a double row, one foot apart, and about nine inches between each seed. A few extra seeds cliould be planted at the end of the rows, to be transplanted later to fill up any gape. SALADS. A small quantity of lettuce, raddish, mustard and cress should bo sown every fortnight or so, to ensure a steady succession of tender young salading. Rich, moist loam gives the best results in all theso seeds. AMONG THE FLOWERS VIOLETS. It is now time to proceed with tho propagation of violets, and the runners can be divided and planted out. They prefer shade, and a certain amount of moisture, and the ground should be dug thoroughly and a little leaf mould added. Good varieties of violets ore Princess of Wales, purple blue, La France, violet. Mrs J. J. Astor, pale reddish lint, Marie Louise, pale blue, Rose Perle, light petunia shade. HERBACEOUS PLANTS. Herbaceous plants are now growing rapidly, so such kinds as require to be given supports, should ' have these placed in position before the growths get bent or twisted by the wind. Strong tall growers, like Michaelmas

Daisies, Delphiniums, and Canterbury Bells, require two or three stout stakes driven in around each dump, and looped around with raffia. The process of "hardening off” bedding plants, must now be taken .in hand in earnest, for in a short time, several kinds must be planted cut where they are to bloom. The "hardening off” process must be quite gradual, otherwise tho plants would bo checked so suddenly, that many would probably die. THE ROCKERY VALUABLE GARDEN ASSET. Rockeries have recently become very popular, and add much beauty to the garden. This is a good time to buy alpine, and succulent plants for raised banks and rockeries, as their character can be scon in the foliage, and many are now in flower. The majority prefer a sandy loam, but places should be prepared on the rockery for those that do not thrive in this class of soil, so that several distinct features may be presented in various parts of tho construction. To those who are in search of a plant that is of the easiest possible cultivation, and soon spreads into a wick) clump, the double whit© Milfoil, Achillea, Perry’s White is recommended. Ita growth is so rapid that it will need to be kept under control or it will invade neighbouring plants. It is, however, well worth increasing for it makes a good display in the rockery and is useful for cutting. For the pioper furnishing of the rockery some of the Mossy Saxifrages are absolutely essential, as in the spring they are a mass of bloom, and in the winter form a carpet of various tones of green. They are easily increased by taking off small pieces, which rot very readily, and inserting them in sandy soil, and then watering them to settle the earth about them. Other suitable plants which spread, and are indispensable either for their flowers or their foliage, are the Woolly Thyme, a beautiful olant with greyish fragrant leaves, Thyrnas Coceinea which also has fragrant leaves and bright carmine white Ktonecrop, of which the tiniest pieces will take root and grow, and Kingii saxifrage which forms a lovely green rras3Campanulas. Aubrctias in several van*, ties, Potentilla, Verbeua, Dwarf Candytuft, Phlox subulata. and Golden Ahssum, are also necessary to complete the selection. Cachcnalia:; will also contribute to the beauty of the rockery, their pretty spotted foliage and quaint blooms, forming a pretty patch of col* our in any position.