THE FLOWER GARDEN.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXIX, Issue 80, 24 May 1911, Page 5

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

Efforts arc being made in London ]>.Y a prominent daily newspaper, and by certain growers of the sweet pea, tov boom that, liower and cause it to bo known as the Coronation dower. Others point out that the carnation has more claims to bo called the Coronation dower, as its very name is derived from the word coronation, which, as Professor Henslow has pointed out, was a corruption of “coronariia.” As a buttonhole- dower it is superior far to the sweet pea, and while the carnation will bo at its best in June, the sweet pea season is not generally at its prime until .Inly or August. Dahlias, orysanthemuins, cannas, arc all fading, and so are the hot weather annuals, such as asters, marigolds, zinnias, portulaccus, and even the cosmos are saying good-bye for another year. When these arc really gone and getting shabby, they should ho pulled up and conveyed to a compost heap, which should he in every garden, for this contains most valuable material for potting and such like. When the crysanthemums have finished dowering all the spent blooms should lie cut off and .the old plants lifted bodily and stowed away for the winter in a dry, airy place; otherwise in our wet, warm winter season th.e plants will continue to grow, arid the new suckers also will grow and exhaust themselves before the proper dowering arrives. The dahlias, however, must not be lifted until all the foliage has absolutely left the stalks, when they also must ho lifted, and this only on a dry day, and stored away also for the winter. The end of May or beginning of June is considered to be the best time for planting roses. Finish the sowing of all the early dowering annuals. Pansies are shadeloving plants. As soon as the plants are large enough, culling,s may be taken off the best, or such as have dowered the best in the past season. A good pansy must have good substance iu the petals, dear colours, which must not run, and must bo as nearly a perfect circle as possible. THE LAWN. A correspondent of the London “Field” writes to that paper iu reference to plagues of worms, which for years had infested his lawns. Ho liad used many vermicides with very little effect, until a local chemist made him up a solution which has practically cleared off the plague. It was made up as follows; Mercuric chloride, 10 parts; water, 90 parts; dissolved and stored iu a bottle. When used, a small dessertspoonful of this solution is added to a gallon of water. A very little more may sometimes bo necessary for deep-bor-ing worms, but even less will do in suitable weather. It does not injure the grass. The solution made up costs, about Gs or 7s per gallon. After four years of unavailing labour in attempting to rid his lawn ot worms, ho at last succeeded,'' and at little cost.