HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 18, 30 October 1912, Page 38

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Spring Bulbs. To avoid moving daffodils an I other -pring bulbs when the flower- ar*- over and only unsightly bunches of leave* remain, make a hollow beside the clump ami bend the foliage into it. covering with earth. 'This entail- no injury to the bulbs. Stake- Hequired.— Michaelmas Daisies and other subjects should be staked earlv. Strong wind- will quickly damage them. Manure for L’o-e-. Where cesspool liquid can be obtained, it i- a great stimulant to rose*, ami should be freely given to all not yet in bloom. When the plants are in flower it is wise to withhold manures until the first bloom is over. Be-t Place for Primroses. Primroses, to be seen at their be-t. should be grown to a pond or stream, and in a lightly -haded position, which i- more natural for them than full exposure. '“owing Mignonette. The best time to -o.\ mignonette i« in October in the ground where it is intended to bloom. Pansy Cuttings. Most amateurs grow pansies from -cod. but seeds very seldom come true and if it is desired to increase any special variety, cutting* should be talon. These will strike either in the open ground rr under handlights at almost any season. On examining the old plants there will be found a number of thick hollow stemmed shoots which have produced flowers. These should not be

used for cuttings ; the small, slender growths which have been formed round the base of the plants are the best. I'hey can be gently drawn out with the lingers, and with a portion of the roots attached to them. They are generally placed under glass, but there is no difficulty in striking them in a rather shady place out of doors in light soil. The Orange Marigold. The new orange marigold (Calendula officinalis “Meteor”! makes a brilliant show in many gardens. The orange marigold is hard to beat as an annual, especially for poor soils. Sown in autumn in the North or early spring in the South where they are to Hower, we find three or four months later perfect plants 10 or 12 inches high and 15 or IS inches through

in full blossoms. The flowers are double and rich orange in colour. A useful companion is Lemon Queen which comes into bloom at tin* same time. Leeks. Leeks should be earthed up as they grow, if long, blanched necks are desired. Indeed, the earthing of Leek causes the stem to elongate. If they are covered up to 1 ho bases of the leaf blades, the stem will grow up out of the soil again. Where good specimens for exhibition are aimed at. the best plan is to roll a piece of stout brown paper round the stem* at tin* commencement of blanching, and this may even hug the l»a*e of the le i vcs. Every time fresh

earth is added the paper is pulled up a bit, and this prevents the soil from getting into the crown of leaves during the operation. I'he Tall Bellflowers.—When Campanulas have done blooming, cut oft’ the Hower stalks at once. This gives the plants a chance of making further growth, and they will be helped still farther if liquid manure is applied occasionally : then in the autumn there will appear a few spikes not so large as the summer Howers, but useful for cutting. Melons and Cucumbers in Frames.— Both of these require plenty of sunshine to make them grow freely, and for this reason the frames should be closed early in the afternoon to economise sun heat. Little or no shading will be

necessary, except in the case of cucumbers after they begin bearing, to keep tile fruits green. Even then the shading should not be continuous. Tiffany or some light scrim is better than mats or whitewashing the lights. It should be put on when the sun begins to get warm, and removed when it begins to shine feebly’ on the frames.