GARDEN NOTES

Taranaki Daily News, 1 May 1937, Page 19 (Supplement)

GARDEN NOTES

THE WEEK'S WORK. THE FLOWER GARDEN Complete the planting of narcissi etc. Hyacinths and tulips can be planted. , Clear away all spent annuals, manure and dig over the beds. Plantings of Iceland poppies, ten-week' and beauty stocks can be made. Sowings of various annuals, such as cornflowers, clarkias and godetias, can be made. This is a good time to manure and renovate herbaceous borders. Delphiniums and paeonies can. be planted. Liliums of' various kinds can be lifted and replanted. Plant wallflowers, sweet Williams, Canterbury bells. The Grecnhouse. Give ventilation' sufficient to keep at- . mosphere fairly dry. Do any watering during early morning and do not spill water about. Remove any decaying foliage or stems likely to cause mould. Plants that are growing or coming into bloom must have sufficient water, but do not over-water. Freesias and lachenalias can do with a fair amount of water. Wash the outside of pots occasionally to prevent moss growing. The Vegetable Garden. Plantings of cabbage and cauliflowers can be made. Plant silver beet and perpetual spinach. Sow prickly spinach. This needs good rich soil. Seedling crops should be kept clear of weeds. Thin out late-sown beet and turnips. Clear away any spent crops, manure and dig the ground and sow down in a soiling crop. Gather and bury all yellow, grub-eaten leaves of cabbage etc. Fork over the ground between the rows of Brussels sprouts etc. Seed of lettuce, cabbage and cauliflowers can be sown now. Sow onions for spring planting. Hand - weed those sown earlier. The Fruit Garden. Cut out any decrepit or useless trees. Select' the list of trees you intend planting this coming season. Clean up the orchard, burning all fallen leaves and branches and burying all decayed fruit. Comnrence the planting of strawberries. Any late varieties of apples and pears should be gathered. Frequently look over fruit in store and remove damaged specimens. Planting of currant, gooseberry, loganberry and raspberry bushes can be begun.

DOUBLE LILAC PRIMROSE. Perhaps the oldest, that is the longest cultivated form of a double flowered plant is the primrose. For generations some form of double primroSe was considered part of every garden and great care and attention were bestowed on them by our great-grandparents. Many of the old sorts have died out or are lost to us, and although there is a revival of interest and a search among old gardens to find and rescue some of these old-time plants from oblivion so far some of the varieties have not yet been found However, there are in exis- j tence some varieties and these are again attracting the attention of garden lovers. One of the best of these double primroses is the old double lilac primrose; cornparatively speakdng, it is seldom seen nowadays in gardens. It is, at any rate, . a vigorous grower and, if divided every second year makes a" fine show on the ! shady side of a shrubbery. It is also useful in the rock garden, even if many people draw the line at double flowered, j L

piants there. Its entirely pleasing colouring and its freedom to flower make it a very desirable plant and one which should not be allowed to die out. There are several other interesting double forms, 'but none of them seems to . be very largely cultivated at the present time although they are worth room in the garden and should receive more care and attention. PRIMROSES AND POLYANTHUS. Primroses are beginning to wake up after their long summer sleep. All old or faded leaves should be removed. Work a little bonedust into the soil about the plants and spread a light mulch abotit them. Plants that are about three years. old should be lifted, broken up, and the pieces replanted in well-dug soil, to which some thoroughly decayed vegetable rubbish or cow manure and a little sand have been added. , If the soil. is deeply worked before primroses are planted the plants will send their ; roots down a very long way. This is a great help to them when they have td f ace a hot, dry summer. > TR1TONIA CROCATA. Tritonia crocata has many varieties which are very beautiful plants for the cool greenhouse. They flower very freely and last a long time. The flowers when cut are very useful for house and table decoration. T. crocata is a native of South Africa and requires the same cultural conditions as are accorded other South African bulbous plants such as freesias and lachenalias. As the corms are very small six or eight may be placed in a 48-sized pot. After potting stand them in a cold frame, giving them exactly the same treatment as freesias.

LIMANTIIF.S. Limanthes is a hardy annual with flowers very much like a buttercup. The . colours are yellow and white. It makes a very showy edging for a spring border and is charming when used as a carpet plant for wallflowers. By the time all danger of frost is over the limanthes plants may be pulled out to make room (for lobelia seedlings.. >M.