IN THE GARDEN

Shannon News, 12 January 1926, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

The- New Year's welcome showers wero very beneficial to the "Garden" ' and all growing things are holding up their heads with renewed vigour. Bedding annuals are rapidly throwing out fresh green shoots and flower buds, with stray blooms here and there. Among the most noticeable of the perennials blooming at the present time are Gaillardias, Scabious, Iceland Poppies, Gebua Daisies, Carnations, Geums, and the beautiful lilac shaded Erigerons. It is as -well to take notice of all those var-ieties which have a long blooming period, for future bedding schemes. The Geums in particular which have been Blooming since early spring, are still flowering freely, and where massed: their scarlet blooms show to great advantage. Anemones and Ranunculi should be lifted as soon as the foliage has withered off. If they' are >in well drained borders , that do not lie wet during the winter months they may be safely left in the ground, unless in an overcrowded condition. Seeds to sow ror Early Spring Blooming. Pansies, viola!:', Wallflowers, Aqui-k-gia, Geum, Brompton and Beauty of Nice stocks anemone, ranunculi, penstemons, delphinium, iceland pop. py, also it is worth while to sow some aster seed setting out the plants in a semi_shaded position where an early frost will not penetrate, they produce lovely blooms at chrysanthemum time. All seed sown now should be placed in a cool shady spot until germination takes place, as it is difficult to keep the soil moist out in the open sunshine. Under glass cyclamen, pri inula, and cineraria may be sown. The dainty little primula malacoides is • very easily raised from seed, and seed sown now produce nice plant? for the autumn bedding schemes. They are charming used as a border for the varying shades \Of mauve and purple anemones. If a sunny, sheltered, veran. da or conservatory is available for later use, it is well worth while to strike some of the side shoots which appear on the chrysanthemums these, when potted bloom through the early winter months and are beautiful . for home decoration, choose the latest blooming varietiesleaving them to grow out of doors until ihere is danger from frosts. The Vegetable Garden.

Among the vegetables, the most important and pressing work is, the planting out of celery, broccoli cauliflower, savoy cabbage and brussels sprouts and all greens intended for winter and early spring use. If possible choose dull and showery weather for these transplanting operations, keeping them well supplied with moisture until they show signs of' new growth. Attend well to the hoeing and Stirling of the surface soil, and thin out carrots, turnips, parsnips etc, as <;arly as possible. Continue sowings of peas and dwarf beans. A sowing of carrot seed should be made if there is a spare plot of ground, they will come in ,very useful during the winter and early spring months. • Rambler Rose. One of the glories of the "Garden" is the display of rambler roses. These are now at their best, and the season seems to have specially suited them in most cases they are free from blight with huge clusters of bloom. Particularly beautiful are the rose hedges planted with the American pillar variety with its charming pink single blooms, while dorothy perkins, ! white dorothy and the crimson rambler show masses of their double effective blooms. Another very pretty rambler has small single crimson flowers with a yellow eye. 'Nothing excels these hardy delightful creeping roses for covering unsightly fences ,and if left to ramble at will on sloping bank 3 they look charming. Another position where they appear extremely effective is overhanging the banks of a pool or lake with the edges of the sprays touching the water. All varieties of the rambler tribe are effective grown as standard roses where they branch out in a peculiarly graceful manner, grown in this way they are useful for all bedding purposes.

I Wood Ashes and their Uses. Every gardener has noticed the i luxurious growth of plants . grown | where rubbish has ' been previously i burnt. At this season of /the year a good deal of rubbish from the garden accumulates, and it is an excellent plan to burn this on a plot of ground intended for the cultivation of plants. Wood ashes are valuable as a means of warding off (.lie attacks of slugs and other garden pests from tender vegetables and border plants, with the added advantage of enriching the soil and accelerating growth. A mix--1 tiu-e of ashes, spot, and lime is in. valuable for dusting over freshly planted lettuce, cabbage 'or any plants specially liked by the slug family. Fresh slaked lime during the wet weather often has to be used to excess, owing to the wet soil quickly allowing the slug to pass over with impunity. Personally I convert any and everykind of garden rubbish into ashes, with the exception of those weeds suitable for the compost heap. When once a good bonfire is kindled ,and a glowing red heat obtained, however gr<:en the wood and leaves may be the fire will burn away as merrily as the driest straw stack if kept constantly fed with fresh material until the whole is consumed. There is no more certain way oC getting rid of noxious weeds, such as couch grass, docks, etc., than that of passing them through the fire as it destroys all seeds that generally abound in rubbish heaps that are rotted away by the slow process of fermentation. To get the full benefit of all their good qualities the ashes should be kept Quite dry, by removing them as soon as they are cold to a shed, there to remain under cover until required for use. The early turnip crops are specially bene-

I filed- by a mixture, of! the ashes either alone or mixed with the soot and lime; in fact the only limit to the 'many uses to which ashes may be put is the power of procuring them in sufficient quantities. They are the best and safest of manures for mixing in new vine borders, also with the potting soil of many of our choice exotic plants. Onion and potato Crops are specially benefited by their use ,and in conclusion the writer would strongly advise everyone interested in growing vegetables and flowers to gather up anything of use lor the rubbish heap and have a good supply Of ashes in readiness for the next seed time, and to apply them liberally to all crops directly they are planted or coming through the soil. Their use will enrich poor soils and render heavy and retentive ones pliable, and they may be applied J without fear of injury to the most | delicate of crops. Under glass they they are extremely useful for mixing with the soil for forced potatoes, tomatoes, and such early vegetables as are usually forwarded before their ordinary uea*on out of doOrs.