June 1, 1908 
Henowaed for his Watches. Jewellery, and Repairs.. 
4 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. . ee atc Je 
that dividing at that time can only be 
done at the expense of the crop of flowers. 
Established plants should be divided and 
replanted into fresh soil in alternate 
years ; if allowed to remain longer, the 
shoots: become crowded and small and 
the blooms inferior. Varieties and kinds 
are ; — Perennials; multiflorous, Soliel 
d@’Or, multiflorous maxima, rigidus, Maxi- 
-milliana, Childsii. mollis, and Miss Mel- 
lish, Annuals; Orion, miniature (single 
and double), Stella, Silver Queen, glob- 
osus fistulosus, Henry Wilde, and large 
Russian, the latter being the best for the 
production of seeds for poultr7, etc.— 
Journal of Agriculture, Victoria, — 
Geraniums. 
The geranium still Jeads all other plants 
for bedding. Its period of blooming is 
from early Spring until the snow flies, 
and no other variety of plant will stand 
so much abuse and still grow and send up 
large clusters of flowers, bidding defiance 
_ to their neglected treatment. On the other 
hand, if in a good location, in a moder- 
ately good soil and given fair treatment 
geraniums will respond with the greatest 
profusion of handsone trusses the entire 
summer. : ef ; 
There are a great many varieties at the 
present time which are all splendid 
bedders. The old sitigle sorts, which were 
~ ufed &o successfully from 15 to 26 years 
ago, such as General Grant, Queen of the — 
West, Rey, Atkinson and General Sheri- 
_ dan, have been superseded by such grand 
_ varieties as 8, A. Nutt, introduced by the 
veteran florist, John Thorpe, Alphonse 
Ricard, John Doyle, Marquis De Cas- 
‘tellane, Beaute de poitevine, Jas. Vick, 
Grancis Perkins. Pink Bedder, Double — 
General Grant, and many others, 
The first thing to be considered for a 
geranium bed is the location, which should 
be the brightest and sunniest spot avail- 
able. Many times I have been called 
upon to plant a bed of geraniums, and on 
arrival found that no preparation had 
been made to receive the plants; and I 
will say right here that everyone contem- 
plating setting out any variety of plant 
should have everything in readiness. beds — 
all spaded and raked a little higher in the 
centre so as to drain off all surplus water; 
that the plants can be put at once. It is’ 
the duty of the florist who is to do the © 
ie er 
WT 
planting to first see thata proper location | 
has been selected and prepared to receive 
them, for in the height of che planting 
season time counts. In cities where a 
large amount of bedding is done, it is a 
very good plan to send aman beforehand 
to see that the beds are ready to receive © 
the plants. 
After the location has been decided 
upon the next thing to be considered is 
the soil, which should be a good clay loam ~ 
and not too rich, say about one sixth good 
well rotted stable manure. if the soil is — 
too rich it will induce a long spindly 
growth, and very few flowers; while on 
the other hand, with short stocky growth 
they will bloom more profusely. As the 
main object in view is flowers, everything 
sdould be done to make these and not 
growth, and the proper way is to keep the 
plants at all times a little on the dry side. 
Never let any water get on the flowers, 
if possible to avoid it. Watering is one 
of the most essential things in properly 
caring for geraniums. As a rule, almost 
everyone seems to think that in order to 
get flowers. thexplants must be soaked 
every day; but such is not the case. One 
or two good waterings a week will be suffi- 
cient to induce the plants to throw up 
flowers instead of long lanky growth. 
If the foregoing brief cultural direction 
is carried out, the plants will remain 
healthy und glve a profusion of flowers 
the entire season.—N. B. Storer, in ‘The 
Florists’ Exchange.’ 
Notes for the Month. 
During the month of June a great deal : 
of useful work can be done towards making 
Ai xi 
FLAKE CARNATION. 
worth preserving. 
“watered, °) 3 ~ 
DIANTHUS PLUMARIUS, FL, PL. 
new gardens, Wherever the leaves have 
fallen from roses and other deciduous 
plants, such plants may be removed and 
replanted. Plants ordered from nursery- 
‘men may arrive during the month, and 
these sh. uld be planted out as soon as it 
cam be dove. When planting, examine 
the roots of each plaut, and remove with 
a sharp knife all that are broken and 
bruised, and make as clean a cut as pos- — 
sible, The pruning of roses should be 
deferred, especially in the cold districts, 
until just before spring begins. : 
This isa good month to clear ont rub- 
bish from all overgrown gardens. Apply 
a good heavy dressing of manure, and dig 
it in amongst those plants which are 
The ever-popular carnations may be 
planted now or at any time of the year 
convenient. Those known as the tree or 
perpetual flowering varieties are the most 
satisfactory to grow, as they bear flowers. 
nearly all the year round. These plants. 
will succeed in almost avy kind cf soil, 
provided it be well dug, drained, and 
manured with rotten farmyard manure. 
They will not stand severe drouvht, but 
they can be preserved if mulched and 
EB. BLACKEBY, 
- BOOT & SHOE MANUFACTURER, 
226 Rundle St., Adelaide. 
CUT SOLES A SPECIALITY. 
