IN THE GARDEN.

Shannon News, 19 September 1924, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

Spring Colour. As the season advances,. the garden is daily unfolding new beauties. The beautiful and numerous-tinted varieties of japonica are holding full sway, •closely followed by the altogether charming Japanese flowering cherries, with their panicles of lovely double blooms, in exquisite shades of blush, rose, and white, and is undoubtedly one of our most effective spring flowering shrubs. eTlieir great size and general attractiveness adding a , most ornamental touch to the landscape, while the earlier blooming rhododendrons are adding their quota to the spring garden. Hyacinths, anemones and the nmerous varieties of the narcissi family are nearing perfection, violets are filling the air-with delicious perfume, charming primroses, the plants almost entirely covered with bloom, also send forth their subtle perfume, while the polyanthus varieties look over their heads from clumps in the background. Here' and there will be found charming clumps of forget-me-not, vieing with the sky in their perfect blue tones, later the pure white flowers of the lily of the valley, their while bells almost hidden with the largo green leaves. In sunnier positions, beautiful narcissi are lifting their heads in clumps among the grass, while overhead the trees are sending forth fresh green shoots, in the softest of tones, gradually awakening from their long winter’s rest. Pansies, and Their Culture.

There die very few lovers of flowers who have not a weak spot for the wonderfully improved velvety fancy pansy. Special classes are provided for them at most of the leading horticultural shows. There is an undoubted charm about these old time flowers and a border devoted to their exclusive culture grows most fascinating, giving endless pleasure and a wealth of bloom, throughout the season if well watered during the hottest montihs.

For exhibition purposes high culture is essential, If the soil is of a heavy nature, it must be worked well with stable manure, and coarse sand. If on- the light side use plenty of cow manure. Pansies do specially well if a situation is chosen that only gets full sunshine for half the day. Plant 'seedlings nine inches ‘apart, press the soil -firmly around each plant and give a little water. Keep the beds free from weeds. All the nourishment available is needed by the plants if good blooms are looked for. Pinch away any weak laterals or branches. When they begin to show flower buds, give a weekly dressing of liquid manure not necessarily the same kind always, as all plants benefit with an occassional change of stimulant. Fancy pansy blooms for exhibition must be clearly blotched and the colour must not run. Three petals should show clear blotches; if the five do, so, much the better. The bloom should be symmetrical, the petals showing substance and pile. When staging, place light to light arid dark to dark in opposite corners, then blend the other colours to- the best advantage, placing the largest blooms at the back.

' In raising pansies from seed, it is of the utmost importance that the best seed available should be procured. and even then you will only get small percentage of the true exhibition bloom. A little more care is needed for the successful germination of such seed. Use boxes about three inches deep, place a layer of leaves or other material for drainage, then fill with a mixture of loamy leaf mould and coarse sand. Leave the boxes standing, in about one and a half inches of water until the soil at the top of the boxes becomes moist. Sow the seed thinly, just covering it with fine soil and repeat the process when the soil appears to be drying on the surface. Save seed from your best varieties, but before doing so pull out any plants that show poor colouring and form, and do not leave too many dark varieties. Ctettings may be struck at suitable periods, with success, enabling the grower to acquire several beautiful improved varieties of the Viola pansy and they are all remarkably early blooming, working in charmingly in bedding arrangements, Much has been done recently to improve the viola, resulting in much larger blooms with beautiful self colours, constituting the difference between the viola and pansy. The true viola has no blotches, and i s usually a self colour, some varieties showing a faint margin of a contrasting colour on the outer edge of the petals. Amateur exhibitors should learn to distinguish between the two, as it sometimes occurs that an exhibit of pansie s is disqualified because it contains one -or more of the viola species. Of the white violas, Swan and Snowflake are remarkably fine Mauve Queen with its flower of a blush mauve tint, and John Quanton, a light mauve, are of distinct value in large masses. W. H. Woodgate is a striking variety, a bright lavender

blue in colour. Of cream and yellow sorts, there are a good many varieties to choose from, Moseley Perfection being very popular. Lady ! Knox is a refined flower of palest primrose, Primrose Dame striking a little deeper while the flowers of Mapgaret Wood are lemon yelLow with a rayless eye. Mrs Chichester is always much admired, a white ground edged with 5 mauve. Their robust growth and strong constitution render the viola, invaluable for bedding purposes, their deep rooting tendency enabling them to withstand the hot weather remarkably well. Garden Enemies. The heavy rain experienced early in the week lias given the garden an enforced period of rest. Unfortunately ■the weeds do not follow suit, but still keep on growing. The soil will take some time to dry sufficiently to allow of any handling. It is also. at these wet periods that the troublesome slug plays- such havoc in the ; garden, and plants disappear at an alarming rate, unless the gardener is enthusiastic enough to venture forth with his lantern when hundreds of •them are usually to be found. Small ’ birds are also proving very troublesome just now, hunger making them defy white streamers, cotton and ether methods used to keep them in check.- The quickest and easiest method is to procure some poisoned wheat which may be obtained in small quantities from a chemist. Mix a little of the grain with some chaff and place here and there in the garden, keeping the fowls, if any, “securely locked up in the meantime. The birds will'soon depart, leaving the garden in peaceful solitude.