GARDENING NOTES.

Shannon News, 19 August 1924, Page 4

GARDENING NOTES.

The cold, wet weather experienced throughput the week with its lack of sunshine, has hadi, the effect of keeping gardening , operations at a standstill. The most that can be done is to manure and dig over all beds -and plots intended toe the - cultivation -of dowers and vegetables. Push .ahead With all work in this direction, thus providing more leisure for planting when soil and weather conditions im* prove. Plan out colour schemes for the flower • beds, - well ahead, ■ ordering seeds or plants accordingly. This method thoughtfully planned, will give most* satisfactory, A common sense method brings * its own reward, Beauty and Utility in the. Small Garden.-

Not enough* use is made of the small, garden for* the growing, of fruit, and other useful trees. The object should be .to combine the ornamental with the. useful. For instance, a few shelter , trees may be necessary on, .the windy exposed sides of the garden. Macrocarpa trees and other similar types, take up far too much room in -the small, garden, anu much valuable space is .wasted. The filbert, cob, and hazel nuts are ail profitable and commence bearing early. Again, there are. the beautiful, almond trees, too rarely seen. Apart from their useful nut-bearing qualities, their mass. of lovely, pale pink bloom in warm sunny positions, is in its glcry atthe present time, providing a beautiful ornament ,to any garden when. flowers axe scarce. The shelter belt could be varied with a few cherry plum trees, including * the prunus varieties, with their glorious coloured leaves. Although all these are deciduous ,losing * their- 1 leaves In the winter months, this- is often an advantage to l the -small garden, letting in more light and sunshine, to sweeten the soil, at a time when comparatively few!' things are requiring shelter,- and through* the summer months the hedge will provide fruit and nuts as well as pleasing-the* eye. Grow more fruit dn .the *small garden. On all sides is the complaint fruit is too dear,? and-is usually regarded as a luxury. This should, not be so, its valuable tonic, qualities mak-« ing : its;use. essential / for . general* good , health.; One of the. most common arguments against growing fruit trees in the small garden is the question*, ot space,, the t main, ideabeing that they take up too much room. But within the last few years, good results have been obtained by trees grown on dwarfing stock. This .means smaller trees,-with*more garden room. Then there is the training method of fruit growing, which gives excellent results and is most fascinating. A strong trellis is erected and the fruit trees planted at intervals. From each side of the trees, branches are trained along the, trellis, no branches being.allowed to grow in front, or behind the tree. This method shades the garden but little, giving beautiful effects through their blossoming and fruiting periods. Another difficulty which arises is the choosing of suitable varieties. The number on the market is enormous, and is certainly a problem. The best way as to find out which varieties suit your particular locality, making inquiries in your own neighbourhood. Be satisfied with as few varieties as possible, provided that they give you a succession of ripe fruit and do not come into condition at the same time. Let the man-with the big-garden do the experimenting. "Red Astrakan* for a very early variety, "Reinette du Canada,’ ’ for a medium, "Sturmer Pippin,” for a late variety, the "Twenty Ounce” for an excellent ccoker, all these -have proved continuous croppers on clayey -sub-soil land. Prunes axe; often neglected ,!>y the amateur gardener, considering that they rank amongst the finest dessert plums as .well as being invaluable for canning purposes. Their sugary flavour proves more * palatable to .most persons. ‘ ’Splendor” and

"Petite d’Agen" are both very .prolific fruit of a dark purple colouring. A valuable early plum is "Evan's Early’* ripening before the cherry plum and a sure bearer. An early "Moore Park” apiricet might with advantage be added to the collection, giving it th e most sheltered position in the garden. This variety is a good cropper. Of late years peaches and nectarines are more difficult to grow, being greatly afflicted with die-back, making it necessary to cut the trees bacK every three years or so. This is thought by. some to be caused through the heavy clay sub-soil, "William bon Chretien” pears will pro.ve ■ most desirable, making a good early dessert variety.

, Plant fruit trees carefully at the same depth as they have been planted in the nursery, digging the hole wide enough to enable the roots to be spread otit to their fullest extent, cutting off any root that may be broken, to prevent , ally decay forming at the root. Tramp the soil well down round

the roots, making the trees as> firm as possible. , Lawns. Lawns will be greatly improved thmughout the year if a top-dressing .of sulphate of ammonia be applied now. This manure is particularly suitable for. lawns, having a tendency to stimulate the fine surface rooting grasses, at the expense of the clovers. The sward will make a thick mat assuming a beautiful dark green colour, if used at the rate of about half a pound to the square yard. To prevent an acid state of the soil apply a,top dressing of lime, every two or three years, chbosing the late autumn months for its application. The ammonia will be easier to handle if mixed with sand or fine soil. Asparagus and s Rhubarb. * Rhubarb beds will be requiring a little attention. Give a liberal topdressing of manure. If making a new bed, take the-extra trouble of trenchinf the ground deeply, digging an ■large quantities of manure. Plant such varieties as "Champion Seedless,” one of the finest on the market, with large highly coloured stalks, th e skin being very thin, and the flesh of good flavour. /‘Weightman’s Invincible,” Is another great favourite, with immense stalks and a frequent prize winner at the horticultural shows. The improved "Topps Winter” is valuable on account of its all-the-y ear-round production. ■ Asparagus beds will be needing a little attention. Give a good dressing of manure with an additional dressing of salt—about five pounds tp a bed of fifteen feet by three feet would be sufficient