IN THE GARDEN

Shannon News, 4 June 1926, Page 1

IN THE GARDEN

Showery weather has prevailed for the last fortnight, but the soil is still in a suitable enough condition for the planting- of all evergreens, including- macrocarpa, pinus insignus, and all. native shrubs, regarding- the latter discretion must be used, if trans-l-ianling specimens from tlieir native quarters, shelter must be provided until spring is well advanced, unless planting among other tall shrubs which provide this very necessary factor for their success. May in the "garden" should be one of the busiest months of the' ye-ar, a considerable amount of work may be undertaken, which greatly minimises the work of

<;arly spring. Divin all Wet portions oi the garden, free the borders of weeds and rubbish, top dress the nt.vns with basic .slag, and free them from objectionable weeds such as dandelions, and plantains, manure the borders and dig under as much green material as possible from any new borders that may be needed. Plans liliums, tritomas, Soloman's seal and a.ll hardy annual plants available. Lift and store dahlias tubers, being careful to label same with names or colour to avoid future errors in grouping. Plant roses.

The Vegetable Garden: Row broad beans, cabbage, lettuce and radish. Plant pota/to onions, eschallots, tree onions, and garlic. Plant strawberies, rhubarb, asparagus sen kale and globe artichokes. Plant currants, raspben ies and gooseberries. Prune fruit trees and spray. Some New Kn t )hofias (Tritoma? Of late years many new and beauiful hybrids of these useful subjects have been added to the old variety which always went under the name of red hot poker, or torch lilies. With lliosc handsome, gorgeous coloured ;pikes of bloom, they are always an arresting feature of the garden, and should be more widely grown. With their perfect-hardiness, free blooming habits, and evergreen foliage, they are one of our most - useful subjects Tor massing in borders or filling in the

outskirts of shrubberies. The most noteworthy among the late introductions is (Kniphofia) lord Roberts,' a strong growing variety with stately spikes of glowing scarlet flowers. St. Elmo, a massive growing variety with towering spikes of glowing scarlet flowers shading to orange yellow, flowering a month later than the above. A little gem is to be had in iVelson's "colcsbcrue", this charming plant' produces slander stems crowned with delicate hei-.ds of an intense sealing wax red, it is very floriferious with graceful foliage and habit oi growth. The Kniphoflas are a useful family for naturalizing on banks or streams, ponds and woodland gardens, where they bloom freely, but cultivation adds much to the size of the Inividual spikes. Planting Trees,

• Speaking of trees, % careful judgement must be us< d in their arrangement and disposition, otherwise the whole garden will be robbed of a-r, light, and sun, which are so necessary to good health. Other than in large gardens, trees of generous growth such as the plane, poplar, elm, lime and sycamore are not to be recommended. On the other hand the loinbardy poplar which is ornamental in the autumn may be planted in any wet cavity where it will flourish, the

common Laburnum, the double flowered cherry (Cerasus pseudo-cerasus) and the almond (amygdalus communis) are especially valuable . The hawthorns (Crataegus) behave'splendidly, the later varieties being very ornamental. The Cotoneasters give us a fine crop of berries which do much to brighten the garden in winter, as also does the Virbunam (sieboldti) eminently satisfactory are the tree or Htaven. The false Acacia (robinia pseudoacacia), tiro lady of the woods, or silver birch (betula alba) and the

mulberry are quite at home; these must find a place on account of their historic associations and character. In addition to these we have the poplar purple leaved beech (fagus sylvatiea purpurea), and the service tree (pyrus sorbus).' As a shade tree plant twelve feet standards of either weeping ash (fraxinus excelsior pendula) or the ' weeping elm (ulmus eampestris). As a foreground to larger trees, bring together a dozen plants of golden privet (ligustrum aureum) arching them with the same number of Prunus Pissardi, these will furnish a striking bit of colouring needing very little attention, when once they liave arrived at maturity. Both the green and the variegated type of holly should not be omitted when Wanting evergreen, and the pepper tree is one of our most ornamental trees, with its graceful fern-like leaves. Those who admire berries should also plant the mountain ash, wihch grows into a largo tree and should be allowed ample room. The general tendency is to plant too closely, each specimen should be given ample room for development, and for quick growth keep them cultivated adding manure to the tree at times of planting. These little attentions to i details make a.wonderful difference to j the grOAvth of each tree. It is a good plan to plant dahlias, or any subject of a spreading nature in groups among the trees while in their infancy stages these help to keep the weeds in checK and assist in the necessary cultivation.

Should your site lack shelter from the cold bleak winds, be sure and plant

something hardy, evergreen, a'nd of quick growth, in the background to form a screen for your group of trees.