GARDEN NOTES.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 26 January 1927, Page 6

GARDEN NOTES.

The Ornamental Garden. The -ornamental garden is looking very well indeed. Shrubs and perennials have clone better this year than they have done for several seasons. Rhododendrons and azaleas have made a splendid growth and should give a very fine show next spring. - Perennial pM-cx are at present making a very line show. Sweet peas are past their best now. They will from now on -bloom only if thev are kept picked or constantly helped with liquid manure. The -second crop of blo-oms on tlic delphiniums is beginning to come out. They will do all tile bettor if helped with extra nourishment. Spring planted seedlings -of tlie belladonna variety will now begin to bloom and will, if* treated well, continue to flower right up till April, or even later. They make a .very pretty bed, aud ns one can easily s'ave one’s own seed they are quite inexpensive. They must not*-be sown too early in the spring. The last week in October or tho first week in November is about the best time. Narcissi should be lifted. Tulips and hyacinths should be lifted ready foi dividing and replanting. Ixias, spiraxias, tritonias and-all other bulbs should be lifted now if the clumps are too large or if any alterations are contemplated. Do not leave them until they begin to grow or moving them will check their growth considerably.

Lilium -eandicum and lilium longi'dorum should be replanted -before tlicii now growth starts. They usually begin to grow after the first rain we have after the first of ALarcli. Lilium eandicum will grow almost anywhere, but longiflorum likes- a warm, dry place; goud drainage is a necessity. This month will -see a start made in sowing seeds for autumn planting. Pansies for bedding arc usually planted coo late. If they are to make a good show they should be planted in April. They will then bloom very early in spring; in fact, if the locality is suitable, they will-bloom right through the winter. To attain this, however, a warm spot must be selected and plenty of old manure must be put into the bed. The seeds may be Sown now either in boxes or in the -open. If in 7-oxos light sandy soil must be selected and drainage provided in the bottom of the boxes. If sown ui the open, select a shady place where they will not get the drips from large trees. Mix some sand with the- soil ami cover the- sheds only lightly. The soil must be kept damp, but not wet. Shade fr-6m the sun with some suitable mate-r----ial, scrim for preference. It must be arranged so-that if rain settles -on it, it can 'be removed. Too much moisture is quite as fatal as too littl.e As soon as the plants grow into their third leaf they should be pricked out into boxes or in the open. They must be in a position where the sun and rain '-can -be kept from them and the soil can 'be kept at a uniform moisture. Primula malacoidcs' for early transplanting -should be- sown early in Febj -ruary, but the sun must be kept from the -plants, or they will not be a success. Primula -cinensis may now be sown for winter use in the conservatory. The first pinch of cineraria seed should be sown, not for planting out, but for potting up for flowering iu v the glasshouse in midwinter. The first sowing of nemesia may be made at the beginning of February. They should be kept shaded from the sun. | Chrysanthemums must .be allowed to run into flower now. No more pruning ' -should be done this season. The same applies to Alichaelmas daisies. These should now be allowed to run to flower. Clematis have Kept flowering well this season. Pick the seed heads and mulch, with manure, and they will continue to bloom. They like moisture. As violas stop blooming they should have their tops cut off to induce now growth for young plants next season. Where pansies are intended to -be grown from cuttings, they should be treated in the same way.