GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 26 June 1925, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

The wet weather has held up many of the outdoor jobs in the garden, delaying the planting of roses and shrubs. At the same time is serves in giving an opportunity of attending to minor details that can be done indoors, such as clearing and making labels', resharpening stakes, and cleaning and sharpening garden implements. Seed boxes will be needed in the near future, and now is a good time to clean and make, new ones. It saves a lot of time later on when the boxes, are ready to fill and plant labels ready to use. Weeds are growing fast and require gat-Tiering up and carting off to the compost heap, or used for trenching in when digging. It is of no use hoeing them, they turn up smiling every time and as quickly take root again. Delphiniums should be cut down and a layer of sawdust or rough coal ashes applied to the crowns, as a protection against slugs. Slugs are commencing to regain their usual alarming winter appetites, and many so-called cures for their destruction are always forthcoming. One the writer experimented with recently was to place small tins in the ground level with the soil and partly filling them with milk. The assurance given that daylight would reveal those same tins full of drowned slugs. My first thought next morning being focussed on those tins an early examination followed, but the tins were minus slugs. Milk evidently does not tempt the slugs that infest my garden.

Statice Dickson!. A new and beautiful statice has recently appeared on the market. This variety goes under the name of Statice Dicksoni, and grows into a large compact bush, with a more upright habit of growth than is noticeable on other varieties. The dark green leaves resemble the begonias in shape and size, but with a much hardier appearance. Dicksoni blooms in the late autumn and winter months and gives promise of proving a valuable addition to these useful everlasting flowers. The individual blooms are larger than other listed varieties, but its chief charm lies in the beautiful rose pink of the blooms. For winter decorations, these effective sprays mixed with some fresh foliage would be strikingly effective for brightening the rooms on the dull grey days experienced during the winter months. New Daffodils.

Two new daffodils in particular created great interest at Vincent Square, London, at a recent exhibition of new saddling varieties. The ones in question were respectively named Hades and Eskimo, a singular contrast in names, but according to the description nothing could be more appropriate. Hades belongs to the barrii section, and the broad rounded cup is likened in its intense colour to the fury of a fiery furnace; the perianal is creamy white. Hades was shown and named by Mr. J. L. Richardson, who was offered £IOO for his entire stock, "two" bulbs of tEis real "bobby dazzler." Eskimo on the other hand is stated to have looked as cold as Hades did hot, having the appearance of a pure white solitary statue in frozen ice, with a broad massive trumpet. Whether it will be" classed as a giant leedsii ,or a trumpet is a matter of doubt. Eskimo was staged by the Donald Nursery Company. Cacti Culture.

Cacti, as a rule are not appreciated nearly as much as they should be. They thrive with so little care, and under .such adverse conditions that they are often spoilt by too much coddling. They make the most beautiful and interesting plants for window cultivation, providing - that/ same window be sunny. Their quaint formations and magnificent blooms never fail to charm. Many of the species are thickly covered with prickly spines giving them a unique appearance. Some grow in a three-cornered style, others have fleshy flat fronds, while some are perfectly round. The flat varieties are usually thornless. Then again they vary so much in size, some being only one inch high, while others have been known to grow to a height of thirty feet. Nothing is so magnificent as the centres of some of these large blooms. An examination reveals beautiful, entrancing shades of colour,, with a satiny sheen overlaying the perfectly shaped flowers, some cream and others brilliant scarlet and red shades, often with an exquisite rainbow hued centre, finished with beautiful lengthy stamens which reach to the extreme edge of the bloom. The ease with which they can be cultivated is a great point in their favour, especially to the busy man or woman, Avho often finds the demands of the greenhouse plants a great nuisance. A cacti grower may make a voyage to the South Sea Islands or visit Timbuctoo and on his return will find his favourites happy and thrivI ing. Cacti always succeed best when the roots are restricted. They look 1 very well when three or four plants are grown in a square seed pan or benzine tnis cut off lengthwise suit them admirably. A miniature Sahara like setting has a most pleasing effect, which is accomplished by placing a few lumps of sandstone here and there, covering the surface of the soil thickly with sand. Growing cacti from seed is good fun and very interesting. They take a little time to germinate and first appear as little fleshy "blobs." It is best to take the precaution to hand fertilise the flower in case insects have not done so. Keep j the seedlings growing strongly for a few weeks, finally removing them to small pots filled with sandy soil. The I cacti fhrive best, in a soil composed of loam, leaf mould, sand, and some I very fine brick or mortar rubble. In conclusion, may I urge more lovers of flowers to cultivate the growing of cacti and succulents; they are well worth the little trouble involved.