THE GARDEN

New Zealand Times, Volume LII, Issue 12211, 8 August 1925, Page 19

THE GARDEN

NOTES BY “RATA” IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN WHAT TO DO JUST NOW Sow early poai, broad beans, turnips, and parsley. Plant out cabbages* lettuces, cauliflowers, and onions. IN THE FRUIT GARDEN Finiah pruning a. .non u possible, and complete the planting of all (tone fruita. ; THE FLOWER GARDEN The vernal sun new life bestows Even on the meanest flower that blows. Make the final planting of roses this month. Insert cuttings of heliotrope and fuchsia in the hot bed.. Plant flowering shrubs Sow seeds of spring flowering annuals. SEASONABLE SOWINGS The ground from which leeks and celery have just been removed is an ideal position in which to sow turnips, peas and broad beans* It being usual to enrich the ground for the former,- the soil should now be in first-class condition for planting the latter vegetables. Parsley can be sown now, and the soil should be* made very fine. The seed germinates slowly, so the bed or border should not be disturbed for some time. A sowing of turnips can be made this month. “Snowball” for preference. To ensure the' roots being tender and well flavoured, growth must be rapid, therefore it is best, to sow the seed in drills about twelve inches apart, and apply at the same time, a mixture of wood ashes an<t soot, then cover the seeds lightly. Later, thin to about eight inches between each plant. ASPARAGUS Keep the asparagus bed free of weeds, and remove any self-sown seedlings. A good dressing of Kainit will be beneficial, at this time of the year. If it is desired to rear any of the self-sown seedlings, they should be transplanted to a permanent position' either in beds or bbrders, and planted about nine inches apart. ONIONS Another planting of shallots, tree onions, and potato onions ■, should be made now;. „ A sowing of onion seed, to provide' bulbs’ for pickling should also be made. This seed must be sown very thickly, and no thinning, of the plants should he done. . .“Early Marietta.” and “Silver ■ Skin”, are the best varieties to sow, the latter especially so. on account of its fine appearance. The seed should be sown in shallow drills, and covered lightly with fine soil, which should not be too rich. They should make good growth, afid as they meet in bulbing will starve each other; and the result will be small, round, hard and perfectly ripe bulbs. T r The strawberry bed should receive attention, and a\. thorough weeding done before the “ weeds obtain any size. Deep ‘ hoeing must be avoided as the strawberry is a surface-rooting plant 1 , and the rqots'would be damaged, were the ground deeply cultivated. • - : . A good dressing of bone-dust, can bo 0 pplied_ as _ i (jon as . the weeding, is*- fin-. ished, and .the top soil loosened? • DAFFODILS Twice during the year, special-at-, tention must be paid to the queen of all bulbs, the daffodil. . One is when the time comes to plant then in the autumn, and the other is when they are in full bloom in the

spring. The latter is probably the most important, as at that period, one can judge of the merits and demerits of the various varieties, and form an accurate opinion as to what varieties are well worth growing the following year. Seeing a beautiful variety impresses it far more Forcibly on one’s mind than by reading a description of it at planting time, and the vendor of a grand flower, who-shows it in.his window and stutea that, it will he available next year , at a'stated price, does far better advertising, than he can by describing it in a catalogue. Apart from the great beauty of some of the varieties seen, there is another point to considerfi and that is, whether they are reliable varieties, and can bo depended upon to flower practically every year. • Take the rich, golden variety “King Alfred” as an instance. It is one of

the finest trumpets grown, but unfortunately a large number miss flowering each season, quite fifty per cent., which is very disappointing. “Lord Roberts” is another story. This flower is even of finer formation, and every bulb pan be xelied upon-to pro--tjiibe a bloom. grand? paje, soft, yellow, of wonderful Bize and substance. Take note' of it. “Weardalo Perfection” .is the most reliable and beautiful bi-colour, the white perianth; setting off the soft yellow trumpet to perfection, and the flower is immense in sfee and perfect in form. “Duke of Bedford” runs it very dose and is much the same colour, hut of rather different form, the trumpet being a little shorter-,.and dr in colour.:. “Mrs Wkltbr.-Atfuneilf. a bi-colour, is a smaller, bufctyery fined flower, and practioaily . pvegy bulb produces* one or two flowers. “Van Wayerens Giant,” ,is an, enormous gignt self, but ■ like ‘ ‘King Alf-' red” is a shy bloomer, in -some districts. “Golden Bell” has proved itself to be one of the best garden sorts, nearly every bulb producing two flowers. The perianth is a little weak, but it has a fine expanded frilly trumpet, and makes grand decorations. It is a hardy grower, and multiplies very rapidly. Emperor, a self, and Empress, a tri-cofour, are both very reliable, andmust be included amongst the best of the moderate priced varieties. Amongst the ineomparabilis section, “Blackwell” is delightful, the scarlet cupped flowers, borne on long steins', being near perfection. The blooms last a long time, and keep their colour well; - 1 “Flambeau” and “Gloria Mundi,” are also very brilliant-, the scarlet edged cup .showing up against the deep yellow perianth to perfection. “Noble” is a fine soft yellow ,and the valuable and reliable bulb “Sir AVatkin” is a satisfactory garden variety. “Hercules',” a soft yellow, and “Fleeting,” a tri-colour, flower freely, a noticeable feature being their long flower • In the' Leedsi class; "Lord er” is a verv fine flower, and “Bridesmaid,” "Fairy, Queen,” Ariadne and “Albatross” are all good specimens. The two poetaz, "Starlight”. and “Jaune d’Merville” stand' out above all others in that class. NEMESIA Nemesias are invs-hffcble for making a display in.the garden in the early spring, as .they come into bloom, lphg before other annuals, sown at the same time. The seed can be procured in separate colours, Which range from white to Orimson, and there are also several strioed and mixed varieties.