290 Journal of Agriculture. [8 May, 1907. 



Flower Garden. 



r reparation of ground for winter planting and material for enriching 

 the soil according to the needs of plants groiwn are important at present. 

 Most of the summer and autumn blooming plants will continue to flower 

 jnore or less this month, and little can be done but maintain neatness until 

 the time arrives to prune, store, or transplant the different classes. 



In preparing new beds one of the most important considerations is, that 

 the whole area is well under-drained. It is of even more importance than 

 the character of the soil, for no matter what plant food a soil may contain, 

 it remains inert and useless unless an effective system of drainage exists. 

 Well drained soil when cultivated is always warm and moist — conditions 

 positively necessary for the perfect development of plant growth. Organic 

 matter in the soil is decomposed and made available for plant food by 

 the action of air, with its elements ox^ gen and carbonic acid gas, which is 

 constantly in attendance on water moving through the soil. The proper 

 depth to set the drainage material varies according to the depth of the 

 c]a\ or other sub-strata. In heavv retentive soils with a strong clay 

 i lOttom, shallow drains set a few feet apart are best ; in deep light soils 

 the pipes or other drainage material will need tO' be placed in the clay no 

 matter how deep it may be, to be thoroughly effective. 



Where possible a compost heap or pit should le made, in which leaves, 

 stems, and general garden rubbish may be partly decayed before being 

 dug into the soil. Stable manure should be mixed through the compost 

 and the whole mass occasionally turned over and watered if dry. Lime 

 should not be added or any ammonia that may be present will be dissipated. 



Mr. B. V. Rossi, nurseryman, Coburg, is one of the most successful ex- 

 hibitors of rcKses in Victoria, and it may interest readers of the Journal to 

 know how his rose beds are prepared. Initially the soil is thoroiighh 

 drained bv means of agricultural pipes set at a depth of about 2% feet below 

 the surface. Then the ground is trenched to a depth of alx>ut 2 feet, the 

 bottom broken, and a layer of stable manure of about 3 inches in depth 

 placed over the bottom of the trench. About 6 or 8 inches of soil are 

 pla''ed over the layer of manure, and another layer of manure follows, then 

 soil again, and again manure, the top spit from the next trench being 

 placed as the surface of the prepared bed, which is raised several inches 

 oyer the former level by the working and addition of manure. The last 

 laver of manure is placed at a depth of about a foot below the surface of 

 the bed. Mr. Rossi describes his operation as 3, or 4 sandwiches, as the 

 case may be. A Large amount of manure is used, probably at a rate ex- 

 ceeding 200 tons to the acre. When thoroughly settled by rains, the beds are 

 planted, August being chosen as the most suitable time to plant. The soil is 

 heavy black volcanic loam., and the plants receive no artificial watering. 



Seeds of sweet peas may be sown now. The most suitable soil is a 

 fairlv heavy, well drained loam, although quantities of splendid blooms are 

 produced on sandy soils near Melbourne. Stable manure is the most suit- 

 able fertilising agent, a little bone-dust, or superphosphate, also being of 

 great benefit. Plenty of space should be allotted each plant, the most 

 common mistake being sowing the seeds too thicklv. Plants of hardy 

 annuals raised earlier in the year may be transplanted to their flowering 

 quarters. A fair amount of room should be allowed for each plant, a 

 greater number of and far finer, blooms being produced bv a few plants 

 well grown than by a quantity over-crowded and half-starved. 

 Bulbs of \arious summer-l>looming species may be planted. 



