GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 24 March 1925, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

Dahlias. I Dahlias are making- a grand display I in gardens at the present time. There are few flowers that make such a | show and have such a long blooming period when they are properly looked after. They may not be quite so useful as cut flowers, as some other varieties are, but this disadvantage is amply atoned for by the beauty and glorious colourings added to the borders, by these lovely autumn blooming plants. Caterpillars are commencing to be a little troublesome and spraying is a difficult operation when the plants have made rampant growth. It is much better to go over the plants 1 carefully by hand; in the early morning hours the largest numbers will be ! captured. These wriggly little m- | seats seem to have appetites beyond what might be. reasonably expected of them, a single caterpillar often completely demolishing a beautiful halfopened bloom in one night, or perhaps a bud, or a fully developed bloom.

To bring the dahlia to perfection, liciuid manure should be constantly' applied although this is not necessary for ordinary garden display. Lime is very beneficial to these plants, and should be used generously. Apply at. intervals around the plants, and lighthoe into the soil. Chrysanthemums.

If any Chrysanthemums are backward in growth, they may be brought on with weak appi.-ations of sulphate of ammonia, or nitrate of soda, made at a strength of a quarter of an ounce to a gallon of water, but do not allow the mixture to touch the leaves, when applying or they will drop off. Common saltpetre may be used in much Ihc same way as it contains both sulphate of ammonia and nitrate of soda, but do not make it stronger than one ounce to two gallons or water, always soak the ground well with clean water before applying any chemical food to plants. The Bonfire.

Beds of bonfire salvia are adding vivid scarlet colouring to the garden. These beautiful plants with their arresting colour show to great advantage with a bordering of the charming little red-leaved bedding begonia, which also has scarlet flowers. The lovely soft pink belladonna lilies are rapidly opening their beautiful fragrant tresses of bloom, these lilies succeed well naturalised in grass, and show to greater advantage than when grown in tre borders, the grass adding the touch, of necessary green. Carnations. The layering of carnations should not be deplayed longer as most plants, will have finished flowering. Choose 1 nice fresh growths whenever they can be got, cleaning away the iower leaves, so that no leaves will be below the soil when pegged down, as these decay underground and are liable to set up decay in the stem also. Press the shoot selected for layering downwards until it reaches the earth, then with a sharp knife cut half way through the stem on the lower side, drawing the knife upwards, until it cuts clean through a joint. Sometimes two cuts are made, giving the plant two chances of rooting as the first roots are sent out from those joints. Now peg the plant down with a hairpin, or a small branch with a short twig attached to it, cover with some nice soil of a sandy loamy nature, and the work is finished. In about six weeks if the weather continues favourable, that part of the shoot between the plant and the cut, may be severed. This helps the young plants to increase their roots much quicker. From a fortnight to a month after this the young plants may be lifted, and the old stem trimmed away, replanting in permanent quarters.

To keep the plants in a healthy condition, plant in a well-drained bed, and sprinkle with lime every fortnight. This will keep red rust clown, which often attacks carnations. For garden purposes, it is not necessary to layer carnations every year, unless a quantity of one special variety is wanted for bedding purposes. Every two or three years is sufficient to keep a stock of nice healthy plants on hand. Some amateur growers are quite successful in striking carnations from cuttings, but a large majority never seem to attain success in this way, probably due to their being watered too much or too littl.e which in hot!), cases is bad for them. The layers require no water unless just to set lie the ground at the time the opiTation is performed. The present is one of tlie best, times to sow carnal ion seed. I mi. to avoid disappoinlmen obtain the best: seed procurable. Weedy Paths.

There is nothing more unsightly in a garden than weedy paths. With the reappearance of a few warm showers the weeds accumulate at an astonishing rate, thereby detracting much from the general attractive .appearance of the garden. It is a much better plan to clean up the paths by poisoning than by constantly breaking up the surface with the hoe or whatever is used for the purpose. The present is a good time to give theni a K'oort clean up before the ground gets too wet. There are several good weed killers on the market, which do their work most effectively, or one can quite, en sly be made by using the following recipe. Boil one pound of washing soda in a gallon of water until the soda is dissolved, then add one pound of white arsenic, boiling the whole for three quarters of an hour. The resulting mixture may then be diluted with from twelve to fifteen gallons of water, Ihe determining factor as to strength to be judged by whether the weeds are of long standing and thereby rooted, or young ones.

Care must be taken when using these preparations, to keep away from borders or edgings of grass, which wilt be killed also, if applied I (jo near their roots. Apply with a. watering can with rose attached, if nothing more effective is at hand. Poultry should be kept away from the

poisoned area for a few days, as there is the probability of their being poisoned by devouring the worms which come to the surface. ;A.fter three or four days- the dead weeds, may be swept up and either burnt: or buried. I'aths so treated will, keep clean and lidy for many months, with the additional advantage of saving a vast amount of labour.