IN THE GARDEN

Shannon News, 8 December 1925, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

Cold rough winds have played • havic in those gardens which have ■ very little shelter, and very little , growth is noticeable among the newly planted annuals during- the last week. Roses are still blooming freely ; and the spent blooms should be picked : off the plants; also keep the sweet peas closely picked to prevent seeding. Many perennials should be sown now in order to procure strong sturdy plants for next season's flowering, which should include delphiniums, iceland poppies, sweet.william, gaillardias, anemones, ranunculus, hollyhocks and canterbury bells. A variety of bedding pantls may still be planted with success, including zinniks, salvia cosmos, sunflower, celosia, cockscoobs petunia and amaranthus. Dahlias, gladioli and chrysanthemums may still be planted. The Vegetable Garden. Plant brussels sprouts, celery, leeks late cabbage, tomato, cauliflower'and broclli. Seed of all those previously mentioned may be sown for rotation crops and where space is limited All up the ground available from the early potato crop.. If seed is sown now it will only be a matter of a few weeks before the plants are in readiness. Make a sowing of lettuce and radish in partial shade if possible. Sow dwarf' and runner beans according -to requirements; also carrot, beet mangolds and swedes. v -.Bamboos The present is. a good time for planting and. transplanting bamboos. They soon get established and commence to root if moved when they are in good growth. Bamboos are more characteristic of tropical climes, although there are many hardy species which hail from Japan. China and the Himalaya. Asia is the great bamboo producing continent. Many of the species are of purely tropical origin and arc of very little value for cultivation in this ountry- Bamboos "at their best?.' ate amongst the most i charming evergreens we possess, with great decorative possibilities. They 'are not however, suitable subjects for

every position, and instead of mixing them in shrubberies with other shrubs or including them as isolated lawn specimens in prominent places, they ought, wherever possible, be givsn a position to themselves, or be grown with such kindred plants as arundo and miscanthus. The reason for this is, that whilst bamboos are peculiarly attractive for six or seven months of the year, they are decidedly dingy during- the winter and spring months, when other shrubs are at their best. The first cold winds of winter cause the leaves to turn brown, a condition maintained until the new leaves develop. An ideal site for a bamboo j garden is a semi-shady position shel- ' tered from -cold winds but not im. poverished by the roots of trees. The banks of a' pond or stream may be utilised <v with charming effect, the proximity of water lending an additional advantage for their successful culture. The different yarieties of bamboo range from 12 feet to 100 feet in height—some with large leaves, ranging down to leaves an eighth of an inch in width. A particularly dainty species from China is a nitida which forms masses of slender arching sterns clothed with the daintiest of "pale green leapage, there are about forty desirable hardy varieties in cultivation including many variegated specimens. Every spring the old spent looking wood should be cut Lack close to the ground, the stems of the, strong erect growing varieties are often utilized for fishing rods certain poles, and in the making of furniture. Bamboos. planted.in large pots or tubs are: use'Jul for the decoration of large rooms, and beyond watering give very little, trouble.

A Pond Garden. To the garden lover the most valuable asset that any site can possess, is the presence of water, either as ,; stream, pond, or lake. One often sees scattered up and down the country, derelict pools and ponds that, in their present condition offer nothing in the way-of attraction to-the senses. 'Their advantage not being realized they have been neglected until overgrown

with rubbish, filled with the muddy deposit of generations of fallen leaves and they become stagnant, dismal and unwholesome. Delightful possibilities which provide inspiration for the artist, unbounded joy to the gardener are to be found in the making of of a water garden. Water as a necessary adjunct to the garden has been recognized throughout the ages, because the desire to have water in the garden has been so great it has in some instances, led to gigantic understandings at an enormous expenditure of labour and money, some'times with magnificent results and sometimes otherwise. But the most charming and the simplest method is to beaut- ! ify by natural planting any pond, lake or stream. Sometimes the water may be a long way below the level of the surrounding banks, and the initial mistake that most people make is in | concluding that because the banks ar e near the water they are [ necessarily moist. Many good moisture' loving (plants have lost their reputation by .; being planted in such positions. If .ithere is a desire to plant moisture | loving plants on the margins, the banks must be sloped.

But many,plants grow successfully on these banks including irises, monbretzia; ! flax, pampas, and o'rna r mental rushes and grasses. Clumps of such rambler rose;? as Dorothy-Per-kins give a delightful effect overhanging the banks with the ends reaching the water. If there are trees near ■ the water which keep the banks in iperpetual shade some should be rc[moved certain plan's love moisture but they do not thrive in semi darkIness. If the trees are good always i leave some, as the' variation of light, and shade on the water's surface is as valuable as the colour of flower or foliage, .first considering carefully .What trees can be removed to admit sunlight and air to such portions of the pond which are to be planted with sun loving objects. Trees should be at least twenty feet back from the waters edge, in shady, portions, planl flax, bamboos and rushes, and where cultivation is possible primulas and

cinerarias. Many varieties of the iris family will flourish at the waters edge, but must be in a sunny position while many beautiful water lilies may Do planted in the pond, where their lovely leaves and blossoms will be seen floating on the surface. Where a clay subsoil is in evidence, an artificial pond may be made with little.expense but when making these avoid straight lines, an "irregular outline, is much to be preferred Trees however should not be planted too close as the roots would penetrate' the clay and cause the pond to leak. In planting a wise restraint should be observed about the numbers of different plants that are to be seen at a glance. If many different kinds are seen together, restful enjoyment of their beauty will \ be lost. One good thing at a time in fair quantity, or two at most is the better way, letting this go on for some yards and before introducing another kind leave,an interval. The effect will then be quite natural, in planting do not overlook the finer of our hardy ferns which are very effective, whon grouped. .;'..;. i. j*