THE FLOWER GARDEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18900, 19 December 1923, Page 3

THE FLOWER GARDEN

Keep the sur" ce ol ti e beds and bor'-rg loose wit the hoe. Sow portulacea. Stake and disbud border carnations. Keep a sharp lockout for aphis. Liquid manure and frequent waterings with clear wat--.- is necessary for perpetual and border carnations in dry weather. Shrubs such a spireas, lilac, guilder rose, forsyth' s, that haye finished flowering should be pruned. Tie in carefully the young growths of rambler roses now being sent out. from the, bate. Plant out zinnias, celosias, salvias, sunflowers, petunias, etc. Roses are now needing water, liquid manure, and mulching. If other means are not . ossible, give a good dressing cf blood an’ bone manure and hoe it in. If aphis appears on the roses spray with Black Leaf 4 0 at once. For black spot and mildew lime-sul-phur or Bordeaux should be used. Plant dahlias. Put stakes to them at the time of planting. Chrysanthemums should be spr..yed every two or three weeks for rust. Plant salpiglossis eight inches apart. Well drained, rich light loam and plenty of sunlight keep the plants going. Sweet peas now in full bloom should be supported and every spike ot flower should be cut as soon, as the first flower is well out; they will open nicely indoors. For mildewy foliage of sweet peas dust with plain sulphur or spray with lime-suipher soiut.on. GLADIOLI. The magnificent flowers of gladioli art a revelation and a wonderful advance upon those of a few years! back. The large size of the individual flowers closely arranged upon the stout flower stalks and. glorious colours give them prominence, and convinc" lovers of flowers that this tribe of bulbous plants must be included in next year’s selections for the garden. Gladioli are not only good for garden adornment but also tor cutting and house decorations as they last for a considerable time and continue to open out the undeveloped flowers. They are of easy cultivation and show to best advantage in the mixed border, arranging them in clumps about six inches apart, between each and inserting the bulbs 2Ainches beneath the surface. When throwing up their flower stem s they require to have stakes attached. After the flowe- mg and they have partially ripened off, the bulbs should be taken up and stored for replanting at the proper time early next spring. CAILLARDIAS. Among good dry weather subjects and useful plants for the production of a good and contiuous display of dowers of .. brilliant colour gaillardias arc m'St ur ful. The more the flowers are cut the better the production. There are single and double flowered forms. The large single flowered perennial grandiflora t p-e are the most esteemed although the double annual flowered kinds are exceedingly showy and of dwarfy habits. Calla or arum lilies, too, are most conspicious at the . .-esent time, not only for their richly coloured handsome flowers I’lt fo. their prettily marked bold foliage The species Elliottiana has lovely deep orangeyellow blossoms. These bulbous plants re also known under the name of Richardia, r _d include the Lily of the Nile, so common here, having become naturalised in many moist places. These lilies are of the easiest cult-rc ai d the flowers of all the varieties and species are highly prized for cutting. With the exception of Calla AethiopXa, the other kinds succeed and flower well during dry weather. Pansies are mother tribe of plants that are in evidence at the present time and receive considerable attention at the hands of many planters. The disjlay of blooms at the recent show was evidence of the care in selection and culture of the plants to preduce such fine flowers. Pansies require rich cultivation and to be watered during drj weather. PLANTIN ’-3 For the most part the transplanting of many varieties cf seedlings has been abandoned for the time being, although there are several kinds, notably scarlet salvias, cosmea, phlox, portulacea, eflesias, that may

be safely transplanted provided the plants have been well hardened off and receive proper attention when planting, such as recommended in recent notes. Dahlias that are established in pots may be transplanted into their lie -ering positions, provided they receive a good watering when planting, soaking the soil around each plant and filling in with dry earth. All vacant places in the beds and borders should be filled with suitable plants as mentioned above, not forgetting Am.'.ranthus tricolour. few plants cf this foliage plant interspersed here and there in the mixed border has a goorgeous effect with its brilliantly coloured foliage.