IN THE GARDEN

Shannon News, 19 January 1926, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN

Gardens and gardeners, one and all, will welcome the recent beneficial showers. All growing things were badly in need of moisture, and it was only thosft plants which had had the surface of the soil constantly kept in a loosened condition that had made any headway worth speaking about. This emphasising the need of surface tillage, take for instance, a hedge which lias been planted with the idea of gaining quick shelter. If the hedge has been hoed at intervals and its growth compared with one' that has been left to. take care of itself, the former will Lave provided the ivecessary shelter lequired some years in advance of the latter. Mulch any shrubs that were planted last Spring where they are showing the least sign of distress. Some varieties do not root very deeply and may fade away for the want/ of a little moisture. Also sow any varieties' of hardy perennials in a shady spot. Cuttings of carnations may be struck in a sandy compost being careful to. keep moist. It is rather early in most cases to commence layering as the plants are still blooming freely. \Cuttings.of geraniums and pelargoniums are easily rooted at thU season, during the winter and early Spring months they have a tendency to decay. Prune the roses down to one half their length as they finish blooming. Dalhias are making rapid growth, give the plants a good mulching to help retain this week's welcome moisture. This should help carry them well on through the growing season. Do not let them grow too much wood, in cases where good blooms are wanted. Chrysanthemums. Chrysanthemum growers will heave a sign of relief over the improved condition of the soil. Watering becomes rather a severe task to, the grower in hot weather by keeping the soil well loosened and free from weeds, the plants will need little attention until the time arrives to take the 'bud" which done some thne during February. Taking the "bud" means the removal of all the growth shoots whs oh form around the flower bed, the bud which forms at this time usually develops the best flower for exhibition. Where only required for garden display, it is still advisable to disbud, letting the plant develop all its branches, but only leaving the centre bud on each growth The blooms of these are beautiful and just a nice size for all cut flower work. , ■ ' The Vegetable garden. Nowhere will the rain prove more beneficial than to this section of "gardening." Brocoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, etc., are all waiting to be planted out, and the operation will now bo"*'a pleasure in cases where gardeners are quick to take advantage. Never putting off for to-mor-row what they can do today. So far the troublesome cabbage sfly has not made its appearance, but a constant watch should be kept over the plants and spraying or dusting with toDacco dust resorted to when necessary, treating the plants "in time" will make a wonderful difference to their well-being. Seeds of dwarf beans, carrots, lettuce,, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., may be sown. A good crop of carrots often results from a sowingmade at this time. It is as well to pinch out the tips of the runners of marrows an pumpkins when they have grown the desired , length,; as the heaviest crop is produced ,from the side shoots, which branch off the main stem. Stocks. Everyone loves.these scented favourites. The Brompton, Beauty of Nice, and the variety known as the •Ten Weeks are all equally fragrant. To get nice early. Spring blooming plants the seed should be sown now of the two former varieties mentioned either in a roomy seed pan where the plants will have ample room to develop or in the open borders, where they,may be transplanted later to permanent ' flowering quarters. The Brojnptohs take a much longer period to come to the flowering stage than the Beauty of Nice. The plants are much stronger in growth, taller, and develop larger spikes of bloom. The Beauty of Nice is a valuable early Spring and-late Winter bloomer, wonderfully prolific, blooming for months with a wide range of beautiful colourings. Stocks revel in a loamy soil on the light side but it must be well drained, a low damp situation does not suit them. . Seed Saving.

Seeds are ripening on the early Spring brooming plants which should be. watched and gathered at the righttime. There are always complaints to be heard on all hands of seed failing to germinate, or else coming up in very small numbers. The only way to remedy this is to save your own seeds, much could be done in spare time in this way ,and money saved which could be expended on novelties .in the way of re:.i'ls and plants for the "garden." When yon have decided what seeds you would like to save, choose the finest specimens and gather seed from the largest flowers. Most of our garden plants are crossed from one to another and cannot bo expected to some true to colour, but a large proportion will be found to be satisfactory, one pod of seed will often contain a dozen or more colours. If the seed .is labelled , with the variety, colour and the date, hto ensure the sowing of freshly very interesting. It is not generally gathered seed, the results are often known that the chrysanthemum ger- ; minatos readily from seed, also : . blooming the first season. Dalhias are also very easily grown, coming to maturity the first, season. Rhododendrons, azaleas, and many other shrubs not usually associated with seed saving, prove delightfully interesting to the amateur gardener. The Worcester Berry, 'Very interesting are the notes on the Worcester Br-rry, grown at Worcester. This berry is the result of a I crofts between the gooseberry (Whinham's Industry)" and black currant i

(Boskoop Giant). Described as a cropper far in excess of either of its parents, fourteen pounds of fruit being picked off two three-year-old trees. One of it-3 peculiarities is, that .when the fruit is picked at gooseberry time, one gets the pronounced flavour of the gooseberry. If the fruit is allowed to stay on the bushes a month or so later they assume the flavour of the black currant. Ordinary gooseberry thornr, are half an inch to throe-quarters of i.n inch in length, on the Worcester berry they vary from seven-eighths to one inch. The foliage is similar to that of the gooseberry, and the fruit is entirely hairless. Being easily struck from cuttings, combined with their remarkably quick growing and heavy cropping cnalities, this new fruit should quickly win popularity. When tasting til-.} fruit gathered at gooseberry tmie, the gooseberry flavour is always followed by the black currant, and vice versa.