IN THE GARDEN.

Shannon News, 15 February 1927, Page 4

IN THE GARDEN.

ROUTINE WORK. During the hot dry days of summer gardens are often left to take care, of themselves. But an effort should always be made to keep the hoe going, choosing the cool hours of the evening. It has often been said that the use of the hoe is the success of the Chinaman's garden. A garden kept well and constantly hoed never suffers to the same extent from drought as the one which is left to take care - of itself. The removal of dead flowers is always a great help to the growing plants. Use all lawn clippings to mulch the dahlias, chrysanthemums and any choice shrubs. Dahlias are commencing to bud freely and should not suffer from lack of moisture; a good mulching helps them wonderfully through the 'hot days. Layer and strike carnations from cuttings, also pelargoniums and geraniums. If the two last mentioned are required to bloom through the winter months, they should be pruned well back at the present time. Trenches should be prepared for the sweet peas, and any fresh bulb beds required should be got on with. Order all bulbous subjects required for the autumn plantings. Sow seeds of hardy perennial subjects in boxes placed in a shady nook. Remove all unsightly things from the garden, such as spent sweet pea vines, seed heads from Sweet' Williams. The eschscholtzias will benefit if they are cut well back; they will often make ' fresh growth and bloom again during the late autumn. These plants should not be discarded, as although classed as an annual they are really biennials in our climate, often flourishing well for a period of three or four years. One of the most useful things to sow at the present time is the Iceland poppy. It produces nice plants for autumn and will bloom early in the spring or winter if planted in a sheltered sunny corner. The Flower Garden. At this time of the year notes should be taken of all improvements thought out or seen to be necessary in the garden. These plans and improvements are best carried out as soon as the autumn showers have commenced, when the soil is neither too wet nor too dry. Many gardens of long standing would benefit by a general remodelling. Often one of the simplest means of effecting an improvement is to deprive the garden of a "square" «or formal appearance, which so many of the old gardens have. The simple act of imparting to paths and beds more graceful lines often clanges them beyond recognition. Straight lines and paths are sometimes necessary, but in the view of many authorities, tho most charming pleasure garden is that which has not a straight line in it, every tfath and outline being modelled on gentle curves. Curving outlines to shrubberies and long flower borders not only rob such features of formality, but tend to show off the beauties of the flowers to better advantage. The most pleas- , ing designs for flower beds are those ' that are simply laid out in oval, oblong or round shapes. The cutting of a lawn into small beds meets with very little favour in present-day gardening designs, although beds naturally have to be made in accordance with the si&2 of the garden, it is best to have them few in number and fairly large in size. The lawn is then much easier to cut and the larger beds will accommodate a larger type of plant; miniature flower beds may only be utilised for miniature plants.*" When planning a new garden or improving an existing one, advantage should be taken of any natural features. For instance, the beauty of a distant view should be encouraged rather than cloaked. The sacrilice of an attractive tree or shrub is well worth while if its removal opens to view the charm of a distant range of hills, a pretty village, or sweep of meadow land. The far end of a garden should be made as attractive as possible with the aid of bold masses of herbaceous flowers or evergreens, with golden or glaucous foliage. Another factor which adds to the interest of a garden is what might be termed hidden charms. The garden should not give up all its treasures to the casual glance. Some pretty feature can usually be masked with shrubs, which could be a small rock garden, a pool with water lilies floating on it, a fernery, or just a cosy corner with a comfortable, shady scat, where many a pleasant restful hour could be spent. The charm of a paved way, surmounted with a good pergola, especially when it terminates in a path side pool, which is easily managed with a little cement and a few rocks, or if there is a rise in the ground, a »hort flight of stone steps is very effective.

In making flower beds a round one is very simple, it being only necessary to drive a stick in the centre, tying to it a piece of string half the length of the entire width of the bed, another stick at tho end of the string being carried round to mark the ground. This gives a perfect circle. An oval can be marked ou*. t in a somewhat similar fashion, save ( that two sticks, set at a given distance apart, are used instead of one, the guiding stick being looped round these two sticks, the two ends being joined and tied to an edging tool. If this tool is driven into the turf, the string being kept taut all the time, it will mark out a perfect oval. For instance if an oval is to be nine and ' a-half feet long and six feet wide at j its widest part, the two sticks , would then be driven in at three n c efficiently IOPg

to permit the coupled ends to reach a point three feet away, measuring to the centre of the edge of the oval, being used. If making a new bed near a hedge, or improving an old one, the first necessity to ensure success is to dig it to a depth of at least two feet, lopping away all the roots that are encountered. This is the only way to prevent the hedge from robbing the bed of food and moisture. New paths are always best done during the autumn, before the winter rains commence, which may be paved, tarred, gravelled or of concrete. For those who have very little time at their disposal, concrete is perhaps the best to use. The mixture may be darkened by using some colouring, if the light colour is , objected to. The first cost is higher than just gravel, but when properly made it is permanent, always keeps clean, and requires no further outlay in the way of maintenance, and the work can bo done without employing labour other than the cartage of the gravel. One part of cement is used to four of gravel. It should be mixed on a square of boarding, first in a dry state, and then watered and . mixed again. It ■ should be made just sufficiently I moist to handle, much the same way as a cook would mix a cake. To J keep a nice level pass a forming rule or the edge of a board along as you go, working the surface until it assumes a smooth appearance. It is a good plan to water concrete occasionally during the first few days to prevent cracking; also it is best left for a fortnight before allowing a wheelbarrow or lawn mower to pass over it. The Vegetable Garden. these will mature fully a month later than is usual, and should be treated accordingly. The tomatoes should have their tips pinched off to allow the plants to concentrate their energies on the development of the fruit. All members of the Pumpkin family should be treated likewise, bers are making rapid growth. Ail Do not commence watering or applying liquid manure unless you are able to keep going with it. Hoe and mulch if watering is out of the question. Keep the French and runner beans gathered. If unable to use them all, preserve for winter use. They will produce large quantities if kept gathered and none left to form seed. It is not too late to make a further, sowing of these also a few early maturing peas may be sown. Water the trenches well before filling in. Sow cabbage and cauliflower seed and -lettuce, cress and mustard for salads, in shade. There is no time like the present for gathering all rubbish and litter and having a good bonfire. Clear the garden plots of everything that is not useful or valuable for the compost heap: the ashes will be of great benefit used as a top-dressing for the garden. Newly Planted Shrubs. This Is the critical period for shrubs and trees which were planted during the last spring months. Keep

a watchful eye on them, and if any show signs of flagging, supply them with a generous amount of water. Rhododendrons and azaleas, especially Azalea Mollis, often'die during their first summer if they are not attended to. They also need the soil stirred around them at regular intervals. Any shrubs or trees which have not made sufficient roots to carry them through a few weeks" dry weather are liable to suffer; but very few are lost if watering is commenced in time.