AMONG THE FLOWERS.

Otago Witness, Issue 3890, 2 October 1928, Page 11

AMONG THE FLOWERS.

HINTS ON THE RAISING OF - SEEDS. As this is the sowing period the following few timely hints should assist the amateur to rectify any former mistakes, and get better results. Much of the pleasure one gets from tjie garden is in raising from seed the plants, that adorn the beds and borders. If we are in a hurry for immediate effects, seedlings are purchased. No doubt they give satisfaction, but there is not the exciting anticipation of watching the first flowers of our own seedlings unfold. The soil for annuals, as well as that for other herbaceous plants, should Jie both deep and rich. When it has to be specially prepared for these plants it should be double dug and heavily manured with well decomposed stable manure or such chemical manures as the soil may require, or both, which is still more advantageous. For reasons often too obvious to the more experienced gardener, seeds which the planter has gone to no end of trouble to set out, fail to show above the ground. The seeds of many annual plants are tiny things, and unless they are mixed with a portion of clean, dry sand or earth, are. difficult to spread. The ground -which is to receive them after being dug should be firmed down so that the seed has something solid into which to push its roots. After being spread all small seeds need to be lightly covered with some light, finely sifted-soil, or with a thin dressing of well-rotted stable manure. This must be light, so that, as the seeds germinate, they will have no difficulty in pushing their heads through into the light. The seed will require both warmth and moisture to cause it to germinate, and consequently must be lightly pressed down into its bed to give it a hold* Any watering that is necessary should be through a fine rose, such as will cause no disturbance or float off the seed or its covering. A far preferable way is to water the ground to be sown the day before the seeds are sown. If this course is followed, and the seeds are not sown too thickly one may reasonably look forward to seeing the young plants above ground before many days are over.

As the different sorts of shrubs and herbaceous plants are now beginning to push and grow vigorously, the beds, borders, and shrubberies should be thoroughly cleaned from weeds and every other kind of litter. This will give an air of liveliness to the surface, and the whole will appear pleasing to the eye. Neatness in this’ part of the garden should be attended to at all times.

In order that the constituents of the soil shall be made available for the use of plants, it is necessary that air be freely admitted. Without a plentiful supply of oxygen, many plant foods remain dormant in the soil, and consequently arc useless to the growing plants. But the admission of air is not the only benefit derived by good cultivation. Digging, increases the depth of good soil, and every inch gained in depth means a decided increase in fertility. Although under certain conditions a large number of summer and autumn flowering annuals can now be sown, the following varieties, being all perfectly hardy, may -be specially recommended for sowing in the open ground this month.. and for best results should be Sown where they are to remain —Clarkias and Godgtias, Larkspur, Linaria, Lupin, Nemophila, Scabious, Petunia, Phlox, Poppies, and Ten-week Stocks.

Germination should take pldce quickly, and good root growth made, and immediately the ground gets some warmth in it, the young plants will rapidly shoot up and early-flowering displays will ensue. Those gardeners who did not manage to get their perennials sown in early autumn, can do so this month. Sow them, in patches, each sort separately, and in two or three months’ time, when large enough to transplant, they can be planted out to their permanent positions.—“ Syringa,” in the Garden Lover.