GARDENING NOTES.

Shannon News, 28 November 1924, Page 4

GARDENING NOTES.

Work for the Week. *

Now is the time to sow seeds of the late varieties of cauliflower and broccoli, also savoy cabbage. If these are sown too early they are ready for use when other vegetables are fairly plentiful, but, on the other hand, if sown in the early, summer months,

they will come to maturity at a time when they are not needed. Continue sowings.of peas and French beans. Do not sow beans thickly m the rows; a distance of six inches should be left between each seed, while some varieties do better a foot anart. A much heavier crop will re-

suit if sown in this way, thus giving each plant a chance to develop and produce large quantities of good quality beans. If wanted to germinate quickly water the drills well aftei sowing. Summer sowings of peas require deeper drills,, so that when the necessary covering of soil is given, the gur-

face of the row will toe two, or three inches below the level of the ground on either side. By following-this method, much more mqisture will toe retained for the growing crop during the hot, dry weather; also make the bottom of the drill flat and not con-cave-shaped and sow seeds two inches Pumpkins, marrow, cucumber and

pie-melons may still be sown in prepared beds, using a liberal quantity of manure. Sow*, lettuce and cress where they are to remain, choosing a shady portion of the garden, if possible. '•* .:■ ' Sow beetroot, sugar-beet and mangolds for winter use, also maize, horse beans and field peas. Plant the pota-

toes intended for the late crops,aiso plants of celery, tomato, brussels sprouts, cabbage onion, and lettuce may still be planted cut. - In the Flower Garden. Plant chrysanthemums without further delay and dalhias in well worked prepared beds.; Plants of all annuals may still be set out. Sow seeds, of anemone and ranunculas r for early spring displays, also Iceland poppy, •forget-me-not. wallflower and mignon ette.

Disbud roses if large blooms are wanted, also carnations, which are now ' budding freely. Apply liquid manure regularly to the- pansies and sweet peas and keep the hoe moving among the bedding plants. This will greatly assist them to make rapid headway. Thia is a good time to free the lawn of undesirable weeds, which should b<removed and a few drops of good weed-killer applied to the root. The grass will quickly cover up the bare patches, and your lawn will give you much more satisfaction. A favourite method of applying weed-killer is with the aid of a small syringe which injects the poison effectively. Colour in the Garden.

Late varieties of Khododenarons are making a brilliant display together with charming masses of azalea mollis, while beautiful trees of the crimson and red manuka are commencing to open 'their bright blooms, also the lovely boronia shrubs, densely packed with small bell-shap-ed flowers. Bright splashes of: colour adorn the arches, walls and pergolas, where climbing roses run riot, in at- ' tractive red, crimson, pink and yellow

' combinations. The rose borders are daily adding more beauty and' colour to the garden Borders and. beds of brilliant tritonlas. in fascinating shades of salmon and flame are to be seen. Masses of dainty aquilegias, whose' loilg spurred blooms gaily

, dance in company with the wind, adding a graceful touch to the perbaceous border. Bright coloured geraniums and pelargoniums grace the walls, while iceland and oriental pop--4 pies, and the beautiful shades found in the Shirley varieties are all helping to add bright masses of colour to the garden.

Pansy beds are masses of innumerable friendly little faces, while clumps of antirrhinums are proving most attractive. Beds of satiny eschscholtzias are blooming in a beautiful range of colours. The ever-popular gerbera daisies are providing a, generous supply of bloom in many attractive shades with clumps of late,irises and montbretias filling the back-ground with graceful spikes of bloom.

Lightning Gardening.

In these days of high pressure, the gardener, like many other folk, is often, anxious to get quick results, especially when the blooms are wanted to compete at some horticultural, event. In this connection, a curious plan known as lightning gardening is occasionally used by French gardener s in order to securje a rapid development of rose blooms. A bush is selected in which the buds are in an advanced stage. .A trench is then opened out around the bush about six inches deep, into this is scattered a few handfuls of powdered alum, the soil being then filled in. The bush is further covered with matting l or thick bagging material, arranged on a wooden framework. Water is then poured on to the ground where the trench was dug out with the result that the alum generates heat accompanied by volumes of steam. In the course-.of an hour or so the rosebuds expand into perfect flowers. i : A somewhat similar idea used to induce seeds to germinate rapidly is as follows: Soak the seeds in water for twenty-four hours. , After that operation, secure a bucketful of fine light soil and a lump of quick lime, about the size of one's fist. Put the lime on some, fit surface and grind it to a powder, taking care to keep it quite dry. Then' thoroughly mix the lime with, the soil which should be rather dry. Place the soil in boxes or pans to the depth of about three inches, scatter the soaked seeds and cover with thin ' layer of soil, water through a fine rose, finally covering the boxes with glass. The action of the water on the lime causes this to heat creating a high temperature of the soil which brings about an astonishingly rapid germination of the seeds. In a very short time they

burst through their casings and the growth continues until the seedling leaves have developed. Many interesting experiments might be made worked on these lines, when.gardeners tire of adverse weather conditions, which retard the growth and develop jient of both plants and blooms. 1 Sw '