GARDENING NOTES.

Shannon News, 14 October 1924, Page 4

GARDENING NOTES.

Workfor the Week* The warm and humid weather condi-* tions experienced ireccntly,' have*- resulted* in J all' plantar making* good growth, enabling the hoe' to be constantly used'to keep-idown weeds" and loosen the* soil.' . Push- ahead' with all garden work. Everythingwdll then get a good'start I before the hot -weather 1 sets in. Cucumber, marrow," and pumpkin beds may be planted or sown now. Sow an abundance of French beans, including the butter and runner vari ietiesr They are most" easily grown, ' and constitute one of our most nutritious and easily digested vegetables. Continue sowings of peas, thereby keeping up a supply of this favourite vegetable, over as long a period as possible ■ m . ■, The Imperial blue is a good variety to grow, allowing the crop to ripen for winter use. When, soaked overnight they cook very quickly and are floury and good flavoured, providing a most nourishing dish with the further advantage, of being able to utilise; them, when other vegetables are; scarce.

Seeds of all varieties may be sown 4 now, with the exception of savoy cab-; bag e and winter cauliflower. Sow. onion seed for main crops and prepare ground for, the date potato crops,i also for -mangel and soft turnips. Sow! maize and ihorse beans. The latter! provide a suitable nourishment food 1 through the winter months for thet pigs, which thrive well*on them. Crops of early- potatoes are advanc-: ing rapidly, and should vbe hoed-and slightly moulded.The Flower Garden.

In the flower garden-there is work on every hand;* empty flower-borders,} waiting* to be filled- with bright; flowering- annuals," seeds to -be sown? of all; varieties; which*' may now in-j elude "asters, zinnias- and cosmeas,', also- dahlias; which" ore L easily raised? from seed; Interesting speciments are?; often otbained'in that way. Beds intended"' for asters should' be? well prepared* and 4 manured.' 'Many aref the complaints voiced over asters go-i ing off dn the bud stage; being, attack-; ecLwith a fungua. disease.' This is j caused through;a.check in the growth! of the plant, but if the; bed is well • prepared, deeply dug., and manured,? few - failures will result,, the secret of« success,being,- to. .keep, them, moving. Cannas are interesting. to growfrom seed, blooming thesecoftd year, some-> times the first, if ,weli;grpwn. Before ? sowing, soak, for f twenty-?four f hours in \ warm water, and,when readyvfor, the? box majw an incision*with <a. sharp• knife in the.outsideiskin,, which is* very-tough; They ppovide- beautiful! beds of tropical appearance, blooming' all through our hottest-months. Plants from autumn sown pansy: seeds will now-be making growth. Keep the beds wedded and apply; liquid;manurerweekly;-.whe^the;buds. appear if the blooms are wanted for; exhibition purposes, Watch the,seed i boxes, taking, care, that the soil does | not dry up on the surface. More] failures are, attributable to that than j to poor and inferior seeds; Brdsraj paper or. calico placed, over the until the tiny seedlings, appear," will] greatly assist in retaining the moisture, thereby lessening the labour 'of constant sprayings. Clumps of violets" and primroses may b e divided 'and planted out.*

Colour in'the Garden, A-walk through the ; garden reveals new beauties ■> eachrweek. The, lovely ornamental maples are quickly unfolding ,their fern-like leaves, tinted with red shades, whUe the crimson maple, is a picture with its brilliant foliage, delighting the eye from the time it unfolds it lovely leaves until they decay. Tulips are beginning to raise their stately queenly heads in the border, forming masses of glowing colour. The beautiful Darwin selfs, with their glowing cup-shaped blooms and charming satiny-sheen, dominate the flower borders making air others pale and insignificant beside them. Grown in masses of one colour,- and viewed in bright sunshine, the effect is magnificent; their lasting • qualities making them-prized t or cut flowers. Anemones - which- droop-their heads Earthward before they dare arise, To flush the jborder

are still gaily, blooming, also*, the charming small scarlet anemone fulr gens, a truly charming flower, which loves to roam at will.:.not liking.to be disturbed. Wood-hyacinths-ar 6 ' blooming in shady nooks in colours of white, J lightblue, dajrk« blue,< and-pale heliotrope, also the dainty lachenalias with thejr bold stem s and ' drooping> bell-shaped flowers, in colours ranging from yellow to orange, with* and red shadings at the top of the blooms. Iceland poppies are blooming freely, and in sunny nooks,-the large Oriental varieties are unfolding their flaring blooms. Bedg of pansies and violas are becoming dotted' with charming little faces. The orchard too, is full of beauty. Pear trees laden with snowy-white blooms, apple trees with J a mass of charming-pink buds and partly opened flowers.. Quinces with soft green leaves and lovely pink tinted; buds, while the v peach, apricot and different of... plum., have smothered the earth with confetti, all promising well for a plentiful, haryest of, luscious fruit. Everlasting, Mowers and. Their Culture. Among the. maiiy. beautiful flowers grown our? .gardens <are those toown as everlasting,., which,, for their general usefulness: ar©<; worthier of a much larger share-of appreciation than is generally accorded them. Plants - that' bear everlasting* flowsra, fall into those- of* perennial .natur e such' as*stat4ce, ; gypsophtta* paniculata and those of ' an . annual hardy- or halfcrhardy;;nature. Gypso* philas»heads the?list.for.jusefulnesa,;.be* inga unequalled:, in lta.r capacity, to impart ] Ughtn««iiand datatiaesft>,to, the

heavier flowers usenV The'double"variety, is. especially, fine.

- Th e ..perennial !static e - produce tiny .flowers ;dn.. spreading- panicle form-, in colours; of yellow~and red shades. In,> common > with <- gypsophila they;love,«a<- light, warm- soil, 1 and whenvonce-planted, should l be ' left to should not "be disturbedi-

A.popular species'among the annuals isithe.jhelichrysumii large handsome' flowers, and a-wide range o£> colours -■ in scarlet,' bronze,- brown, gold, rose, -crimson;- violet and ' many others; The plants branch" freely growing- to; a -height- of "from three to four feet. Sunlight-is life to them, and- th 6 warmer- and sunnier the border, the better the results will be. any good- garden soil suiting them. Not-only do- they contribute their full share to the summer and autumn garden;- but'they help out the supply of fresh* blooms during the winter if well used. By "well used" we mean-first carefully dried, with their heads hanging downwards to ensure a straight stem, which should' be cut r long. When placed 'in vases along with some freshly gathered foliage which acts as a natural setting, doing.away with the barren shrivelled stems, which were such an eyesore ; in by-gone days much pleasure will be derived' from them. There need be no, monotony, for after one colour has, done duty for awhile, another may be substituted in its place. There is a plant called the gladwyn iris, which" is., charming,. for winter decorations. Its beauty .lies in its seed capsules, which, should -be left on, the plant until they tcrack, and begin .to expose the orange>, scarlet ■> seed. Then cut and suspend .head, downwards. Large masses of. these grouped with a few of their, own beautiful freshly gathered leaves, are splendid for .large vases during.the dull winter months.