THE HOME GARDEN

Waipa Post, Volume 48, Issue 3477, 9 June 1934, Page 3

THE HOME GARDEN

igF- TEp WEEK. | THE FLOWER GARDEN. Plant up any spring flowering bulbs still on hand. If you have no permanent positions available, just plant them closely together' m a vegetable palcli ''or ' available" spot. They,' are how beginning to sprout and must v plaht'ea _ 'imhie3iateiy. O-f^felUies may now be planted, "pface^tlie' bulbs on'their side fa prevent scales becoming waterlogged, and rest them oh a little 'bed p^^nd'^to-ensure ' good drainage, '''plant stocks/ violas," pansi'es'and nemesias, " : ;"'•',_ 'prepare positions for rose bushes. cow if you want "blooms., \ r '-" :4 f fiift S as foliage fades. ; reset rocF'plahts.' i;;THE GARDEN. Sow; a green, crop (mustard, lupin or: oats) Cin?all vacant plots. : Plant shallots and sow seed of onprepare^;fpr'the planting of fruit trees.*' ?feruh'e Bush fruit: "" jpake another planting of cabbage ' ; v Apply a "dressing 0 f potash to the strawberry bedl"' ' i Gut" r dQAvn asparagus when ripened oJßf§hd ; vapply a dressing'of decayed fri>riureV * ■'*"■ ' ' r Hoe * between rows of vegetables, turning under' all weed seedlings at frequent intervals. TAMELY TOPICS. I NOTES, NEWS AND VIEWS. ■ Vacant' flower beds and borders may he' manured and dug now; as of trees have dropped their ieaves^'ihere', is'less 'fear' of" the dug surface being littered with these. r "'\Kiost bf ; Us'lTbssess'a"few sun roses (•hefi&themum)' h whicl? are generally fpuhofa* home in the rock"garden, hut few"* gardeners 'realise 'now" effective tTfiey took* asa- massed border edging. A% s PaTmefston..North, "the" City "Reserves' planted long edgings of "these•plants,'' which lodk "effective.""' Even when rl^in'flpwer,' the "dense matted effect cfeVted'by .the' leaves'" is" very' ple'as- ' '." ■'■ '■ i r HINT. . As a gerierar'rule the best time to cultivate r garcien soil' is when it has - dried "sYightiy after rain." , Sandy soil' may be" 'worked when rajffier we.ty'but'h'eayy soils' form clods if;'worked'iri * we t state. r " Successful gardeners' keep their soil in" condition by constant wo'rkmg. Especially is. this the case during dry weather, as the constant tilling of the soil prevents caking and allows the soil to become thoroughly aerated. Another .benefit from working the soil well is that it allows the moisture to penetrate after every shower. } k "v. s!;M>v:Mi,' '>■ •■; - '-■ ■■'• "v ' • CARNATION CULTURE. ( PvSY IN ENGLAND. •'A. cpntroyersy .is raging in England between the'old school of carnation growers and the' new school, "the old fift carnation fuller one. At »!^meelin^'of-'t|| : ' 'Horticul|fr ''JonesC who : is'" in clpfe touc|h.' w\th' ''the'Rational'Caniatiojf Society, England, expmh%'Mn\:detaif''the''' improvements whlcOave taj&en place in the carnatiorrm'jine'\&sf% years.' : The Englis| society 'had'elected three followers- ofif school to choose six bfooins they considered the best, and

(By US!W.) I ' i

THE GHOST TREE.

A (REMARKABLE PLANT,

THE TREE POPPX.

HOW' TO PROPAGATE IT

three of the new school to choose six they considered the best and the result was expected to be interesting to all cultivators of carnations, he said.' Eighty per cent'of the members of the carnation society had decided that ithe constitution of the carnation should count more points in judging than the bloom. Trial grounds were being established and the plants would be giown for one'or two years before the award was made. The tendency was for a fuller bloom and a serrated or jaggi'j'l edge Was not tolerated on a show carnation.

Picture a tree some sixty or seventy feet high, covered with beautiful big heSrt-shap'ed leaves from which issue hundreds of globe-shaped flowers accompanied by "pennantshaped white" bracks six or - seven inches long. The Avhole effect is that of a giant tree smothered with huge butterflies. Such is the impression one gets on viewing a* fullgrown Davidia ("ghosr- tree") for the first time.

* One" of the most outstanding flowering trees "in 'existence,' theDavidia, was" discovered in the 'remote mburitainou's' regions of Claiia "by a Fi'ench missionary, and it was hot' until IGOO that' "Dr' E. H.' Wilson (" Chinese Wlilson"), the famous' plant collator/succeeded in sending seed to England.

The Davidia' is unquestionably one of the garden aristocrats, ard is remarkably hardy. It ' flouVishes in any well-drained, i-iedium garden loam, and prefers a sunny position. This beautiful tree is still very much of a garden "rarity.

The Califorin-au tree poppy (Romnqya Coulteri) ?s that 4 to 6ft tall shrub having beautiiui silvery-grey leaves and satiny, cup-shaped fioweis often 4'in. across". A yellow centre adds to 'the charm of these otherwise snow-white '.blooms. In early summer, when the shrub is in its glory, there is nothing more exquisite in the garden. Planted at intervals in the herbaceous in association with redleaved.'maples .or primus passardii, or as an isolated 'spechuen with" a carpet of 'blue violas or catmint round it;* the dalifornia' tree poppy'makes'"a glorious picture. ' tf you "have but one specimen, you can' "soon have many more by inseitmo: root 'cuttings now.

Though the cuttings will root in a sarioy, : sunny, sheltered outdoor border, more certain results are achieved more quickly by inserting them in a cold frame in 3in. deep seed boxes. After placing at the bottom of the .boxes an inch layer of rough compost siftirigs, fill fairly firmly to within three-quarters of an inch of the rim with a riddled mixture of loam, 2 parts; leaf-mould and' sand, |t part each. Spread oh'the" surf ace a qua r-ter-inch layer of sarid. : Lift your stock shrub carefully, and remove the soil from the cord-like .roots'.,' ' Sele}ct ; ' for "cuttings; "roots about the 6f ah' ordinary ctothesline; ! a sharp knife "cut the'ni' into pieces 'ilin.'iorig,' riialcing a horizontal cut at each end. '-i|hble them into' the" boxes"' an inch apart, leaving just'the top 'exposed,'"and water to'"settle the soil'.' Afterwards water only when'the soil" is really dry until young growth starts.

Ventilate'freely from 'the' beginning when the weather' perriiits,"but during very keen spell's throw a mat over the frame.

In early October plant out the rooted cuttings into a sunny, shel-

-'■ "- —'—"i WgME. . lyf tered, moderately rich border 9in. apart. throughput the season hoe frequently, *ahd water as .necessary. By autujmn your tree poppies will be ready for their permanent places. \ If, when taking the cuttings, you don't cut off more than two-thirds of the roots, the stock shrubs will be little the worse and should be replanted straight away.

DON'T SPOIL YOUR PATHS. Never push your barrow along a gravel path when the surface is soft after rain. The wheel would make ruts which would be difficult to fill up again. : < Do not roll a gravel or ash path when the surface' is so wet that it would " pick up "on the roller. To roll then would do far more harm than good. If you are working on the border at any time now, scrape your boots on a spade, or in some other way free them of soil before walking about on a gravel path. The amount of border soil which adheres to one's boots- these days soon mars a gravel path if trodden into it. ' "Should you pull up big weeds from a path now, straightway fill them up with more gravel or ash, as the case may be. If small holes are left to fill with rain water they soon become big holes. TRANSPLANTING STOCKS. Seeds of stocks should be sown in the early months of the season. They should be sown in boxes or beds. Very rich soil is hot necessary, and a fair amount of sand must be mixed with it."' Thorough drainage is essential as the young'seedlings do riot'like dampl ne^s.'"' , *Any"go ! o&" garden soil, well worked,'with plenty of old manure dug iri will grow good stocks, but virgin', soil is the best for them. When selecting' the seedling plants for transpla'hting the' 'small,' shapely plaints"'' should 'be chosen rather tlian the' strongest ones. Tht smjall dries generally produce the dpub'le flowers. 'Shade must be provided for the young plants for a few days, but "the covers should be removed in the evenings'. ' Once the plants become established growth is rapid. "To conserve the moisture in the soil : and "keep down weeds, the soil must be kept well stirred as the plants ; grow. '"'When the plant's are snowing' buds, liquid manure ' and soot water can be given every two or three weeks: Early sown stock plants will begin to Sower late in July arid after the'flowering spikes have faded they snould be removed, and a fresh crop of flowers will be produced in the late spring. The Broriiptoh variety of stock will last for' a couple cf'years if cut back after each flowering.' Small cuttings'may be "taken. They strike very easily, and this is a certain way of obtaining' ered plants.

PREPARING FOR PANSIES. Pansies, if grown in ground which has been well prepared, will give an abundance of flowers over a long period. Deeply trenched, rich soil is essential for success. The ground should be prepared some time before the seedlings are to be put in. Dig deeply, and mix thoroughly with the soil a liberal quantity of well-decayed cow or horse manure . Seeds may be sown now in weil-drained pans or boxes containing sandy loam. Sow thinly and not deeply. When the seedlings are large enough to handle transplant them, into their beds, allowing about' 12in between plants. The first buds to appear should be nipped out so that the plants may become sturdy before producing flowers. Use the hoe frequently between the plants while they are growing, and when growing well a light sprinkling of bone dust may be given and forked into the surface soil. 'lf the weather is dry an abundance of water is necessary, and liquid imanure and soot water applied regularly during the flowering period will prove beneficial.' To prolong the flowering season any seeds should not be allowed to form on the plants. AU blooms should be removed as they fade. Soo.t placed around the young plants wil.l prevent attacks by slugs.

HERBACEOUS BORDERS.

.WJHAT TO PLANT

If the flower border is. properly prepared, it will not need disturbing for several years after the plants are put in. Some 0 f the most rampant growers such as Michaelmas ' daisy and heleniumi will require dividing and l-epianting occasionally, while others, such as peony, anemone japonica, and anchusa italica are better left undisturbed for several years.

Select an open, sunny site, well away from the drip of trees. A background of trees or shrubs is an advantage, however, providing these are not too close. If room can be spared, allow a width of about 12ft; 6ft should be the minimum. Doubledig it and add manures appropriate to the type of soil.

Efeavy soils wi}l need lightening, and require leaf-mould, decayed gard-en-refuse, qld mortar rubble, and long strawy manure. Light ground re-

v_. ,\i fci J," ■£*!& -li*'l XT^ii'l^i^''.J: quires the addition of moisture-hold-ing materials such as cow or farmyard irriahure, instead of the strawy material, although leaf-mould and garden'refuse may also "be applied. These "manures must welf 'incorpo'rated into the subsciL Enrich" the fjop spit with wood .ashes, soot," arid lime which," if sprinkled on the surface, will become incorporated as the digging proceeds. Allow a week or more to elapse between digging "arid planting. If this precaution is not taken," the soilj iri sinking,'will'leave the topmost roots of the plants exposed. TALL, HANDSOME PLANTS. The tallest plants, such as hollyhock, delphinium, and ' Michaelmas daisy, will be planted' at the back "of the'border, but it is as' well to bring one or two clumps toward the centre at intervals, to avoid formality. Tall, bushy plants should be planted singly or in groups of three, the mediumsized ones in the centre of the border iri( threes or "fives, arid the dwarf kinds iri the frorit in larger groups of severi upward. Leave spaces with large labels for the inclusion of dahlias'and gladioli in due seasoiC ' For the back of the border, the most pjopular plants are delphiniurii, l'upiri, phlox red hot poker Michaelmas' laisy, gilden rod (solidago), and perennial sunflowers. In the middle, plant campanula, anemone japonica, chrysanthemum, gypsophia p'ariiculata, pentsf^'oh,' corebpsis',' pyrethruni, and gaUlardia! In the front,' dwarf plants l such' as viola', pansy," polyanthus, aubretia, auricula, sweet" Wiliia'm, d'oilonicumi, and pinks 'may be used.