THE GARDEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19964, 4 December 1926, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK. Notes by D. TANNOCK, F.R.H.S. the greenhouse and nursery. Such hardy biennials as Sweet Williams, Myosotis, Canterbury Bells, etc.. should be pricked out into boxes of light, rich poll putting SO seedlings in an ordinary box. Place them in a light position near the class in the greenhouse, shade tor a few days during bright sunshine, and as soon as they are established they can be placed out in Lames to harden oft. Eater on they are planted out on a well-manured border, where they will grow into good specimens ready to plant out in th_ir flowering positions in the autumn or winter. To get good specimens it is most important that the plants make steady growth from the time the seeds germinate until they reach the flowering stage, for if they arc starved or stunted at anj lime the results are never so satisfactory. The schizanthus in the greenhouse will soon be past their best, and, after picking off any seed pods which may be set, they can be thrown away. Calceolauas will be at their best, ai d the geraniums and pelargoniums can bo staked out to occupy more space. . . . a Hydrangeas which have formed flower heads can receive a little liquid manure once a week. Timorous begonias will require spraying overhead twice a day and a moist atmosphere has to be maintained by damping the stages and paths IrefJlCuttin<»s of all winter flowering plants, such os poinsettias and coleus, should be put in. ami as soon as they are rooted they ■an be potted up and encouraged to make all growth possible. To get large spec; mens old plants which have been cut over can be shaken out an d re-potted in reasonably large pots. THE FLOWER GARDEN. The planting of beds should be com pleted, it being considered safe to put out the most tender kinds of bedding plants now, but there will still be some plantin'.to do in the mixed or herbaceous borders In fill up blanks which spring flowerin' kinds occupied, and to take the place of the narcissi and other early flowering bulbs which can be lifted now 1 rovidlo stakes for sweet peas and all tall and Rtroiv'-growiiig herbaceous plants, keep the rock garden weeded, and unless it is desired to save seeds all the old flower stems cun be cut off as soon as they cease tc be attractive. Violas and pansies have done narticu larlv well this year. They like the cool, moist conditions which have prevailed, and if they arc prevented from forming seeds ami arc fed with liquid manure from time to time they will continue to flower throughout the summer and autumn, this season Ims again demonstrated the adyan ta-es which hardly herbaceous perennials have over half-hardy bedding plants, and in spite of the unseasonable weather there is a fine display of Lupines, Ins, Colum bines. Sweet Williams, Oriental Poppies Pyrethnims. Delphiniums, and Geirnis. . Roses will require constant attention Keep the young sh- of the ramblers and climbers tied in continue to thin the buds on the bush roses, and spray with liver of sulphur whether mildew has mads its appearance or not. Green flv lias not been troublesome so far, but it will soon appear on plants growing in sheltered places. Spray with warm, soar"ntCl‘ THE IRIS. The iris i# often called the poor mm orchid because it rivals the orchid# in man ways with its peculiar structure, and the remarkable marking# and colour combine tious. Another very important advantage of the iris is they are all more or les hardy, are very accommodating, and kindcan he found to thrive under all the mb Went conditions we usually find in town

gardens. There are a great many species and varieties, but the more important groups are the bulbous section represented by what are known as English, Spanish and Dutch kinds, the bearded or flag <ris which like a well drained and fairly ary position, and the Siberian and Japanese which are semi-aquatics and thrive nea, or in water. Irie xiphinum, the “Spanish iris’’ comes from Spain and Portugal and provides quantities of brightly-coloured flowers at trie present season when flowers suitaole for house decoration are scarce. This -ris delights in a warm, rich, well drained soil, and as the bulbs soon become overcrowded they should he lifted occasionally, when the foliage ripens off, and divided up, the larger flowering bulbs being roplanteu in groups in the mixed or herbaceous border, or in rows or beds in the kitchen or reserve garden to provide cut flowers, iho smaller ones can be planted fairly thiculy in broad rows in the nursery or reserve garden, where they will soon develop into flowering bulbs. There is a number of named varieties, but quite good kinds can be obtained in mixture or colour groups Some of the Dutch hybrids arc very fine. They are a little earlier, the flowers are larger and of greater substance, but while they are excellent in the borders I do not consider them as suitable for house decora tion as the true Spanish types. Iris xiphioides. the English ins, ts a native of the Pyrenees, and has been in cultivation for centuries Those who nave too heavy or too wet a soil for the successful cultivation of the Spanish ins will succeed with the English, for it like? a cool, moist, well-manured soil, and a"? it does not increase very rapidly it can bo loft in the same position for years. It has larger flowers, and stouter foliage than the Spanish kinds, and the colours aie mostly shades of blue, white or mottled The most fashionable and the most u.-c ful for garden decoration are the bearded ins. They are very hardy, they thnve in any light well drained soil, they mat their best after the spring flowers are over and before the roses open, mu they are easily and quickly increased by means of division of the rhizomes; each piece with a leading growth will grow The very fact that this plant will exist where most other plants will die. has led to its being put in odd corners, among strong growing shrubs, and under trees where, it certainly will not die, but where it seldom flowers. The newer rarities, however, will not stand neglect. They have to be lifted and replanted every two or three years, and they like occasional top-dressings of basic phosphate or basic slag. It has been stated that the one drawback Jo massing iris in beds in the Bovver garden is the fact that they have only one season of flowering, and that riieir foliage is not at all attractive, but wp get over this difficulty by planting gladioli among them. The young foliage of tne gladioli harmonises with the iris whether in flower or not, and they begin to flower in late summer and continue right through the autumn. The following varieties of summer flowering bearded iris are amongst tho best in , flower with us at present, all arc compara- i tively common, none is very oxpen.-jvc ; and 1 should think they could bo obtained from the nurserymen or seedsmen in the I Dominion. Susan Bliss is a tall grower, very free growing, and of robust constitution. The flowers are a uniform shade of deep rosepink, and it is said to be the pinkest variety yet raised. Alcazar is a giant in both flower and growth, its colour being light • bluish-violet, with deep purple falls, and i j bronze veined throat. Crusader ha? large j flowers of good substance, standard? li'rin blue, falls deep shade of violet blue. Dominion is a wonderful iris and U in a class of its own. The plant is strong and vigorous, with broad, blue-green foliage. The colours are standard light blue, fall? exceptionally large deep rich indigo-purple. This is a variety which everyone who can afford it. should have. Eldorado is remarkable for its rich combination ot colours —yellowish bronze, heliotrope, violet purple, and clear gold. La Bcaute has large distinct blue flowers Lord of June, is exceedingly handsome and of noble proportions, its colours being violet-blue and lavender-blue. Neptune is pale blue with i dark purple-blue falls. Oriflamme is one of the largest of the bearded iris, it? colours being bright blue and dark purple Paragon is a strong grower, its flowers being lavender-blue and rosy-purple. Prosperous is tall and exceedingly vigorous, its colourbeing pale lavender flushed with yellow at the base and deep red-purple. Q'-een m May is lilac, purplish-Iil”' - and rose. Rhein Nixehas has large flowers, white with rich violet-purple. Tristram is very distinct and beautiful, the colours being white and deep purple. THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GARDEN. Continue to make sowings of peas, and both runner and dwarf beans. Sow beetroot, spinach, and silver beet, rum p j lettuce, and radish, plant out vegetable marrows and tomatoes, celery, nrocvui Brussels sprouts, savoys, and leeks. | Thin out crops as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle, provide peas and beans with stakes, and keep the soil among all growing crops stirred with tho scuffle hoe. Spray and earth up potatoes, and stop cutting asparagus. Round or summer spinach is one of the most useful green garden crops, and one of the first of the spring-sown to become available The first sowing should be iivu on a warm, fairly dry position, but later sowings are .rich, moist soil, and* j little shade will not do any harm Thin-1 ning is important, but this should be pro- I gressive, first two or three inches, then to six inches, and eventually to 12, the leaves of the, thinnings being used as they are pulled. | ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS, j •‘C. J. C.”—The mn'formefl plums arc what is known as “Pocket Plums,” and. these were described in last week’s notes. I cannot detect any disease on your rose bud, and unless there is some special reason why you should retain this bush I would advise you to throw it out and plant m other dark red variety. “J R.,” Milton.—The stem of your rose is still fairly fresh, and I would advise you to cut the plant down to near tho ground level. “Inquirer,” Maungat - ". —The dant sent seems to be a species of Pyrcthnum, or Anthernis. “Moonlight.”—The remedy for all leafeating insect pests is cither tc poison them or to make the foliage distasteful The best remedy will be to spray with arsenate of lead, lilb to 50 gallon? of water. -