GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 20 September 1927, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

An excessive rainfall during our first-month of spring has in no way detracted from the wealth of the daffodil display. Those that are naturalised in grass are at their best and their sunshiny . yellow, white, and creamy blooms are a welcome sight. The narcissi family seem to love moisture, as also do the primroses, these are full of beauty with their wonderfully sweet and refreshing perfume. The spring garden is an enchanting spot in the early morning hours, when the wallflowers fill the air with fragrance and near by violets are a welcome sight,, with brompton stocks laden with spikes of sweet perfume. Then there are clumps of mignonette, Avith frdesias just beginning to open, masses of violets, forget-me-nots, hyacinths, with masses of the narcissi family crowning all.

In the shubbery the japonicas arc at their best, their glowing shades tending to a dominant-note. Forsytliias are opening golden bell shaped blooms. with the cistus broom) family to keep tliem company in the same' sunshiny shades. The early rhododendrons, heaths, and camellias add their bright reds and pinks to the colour scheme, aided by the ribes (flowering currants), Avhos< .invigorating scent adds much to its attractiveness. Pergolas and archways the beautiful liardenbergia blue, is in its glory, this lovely creeper appears to great advantage Avben grown side by side with the pink tinted variety. The yellow jasmine is a mass of starry blooms. ? OA r er the deciduous shrubs and trees there seems to be a hush. With sAvelling buds and partially opened leaves they appear to be awaiting, the hour A\'hen nature will ha\'e clothed them in all their spring freshness and grandeur. General Routine Work.

The spring’cleaning of the garden is still much delayed owing to heavy shOAvers. With an absence of drying winds the ground retains too much moisture to make rapid headway, and the impatient gardener has yet to wait aAvhile to commence work in earnest with, the many jobs clamouring or immediate' attention.

The plants that are already out cannot get along without the almost daily nightly visit ivith the- lantern end lime, and delphiniums need careful watching. * In the herbaceous border a little work may be got on with; bare spaces may be filled with miehaelmas daisies, golden rod is starting to shoot and could be divided also heleniums, and phloxes, the latter are thrOAVing up nice sturdy shoots. Geunis could be transplanted, also oriental poppies, those Avould not bloom so AA’ell as Avlien niOA'ed earlier. Divide cannas.

Plant out all chrysanthemum cuttings and prepare beds in readiness for dahlias and chrysanthemums, this is work that can sometimes be got on Avith AA'hen the beds and borders are too Avet to ho e and Aveed. Sow seeds of all hardy annuals. Others of a half hardy nature may lie soAvn under glass, or left for a feAV Aveeks later. Turf for Boxes ami Pots. Where turf has been stacked in the early autumn it will be quite suitable for using at the bottom of seed boxes or for pot plants. The great merit of this material consists in its containing a greater, amount of plant sustenance in a given space than any other soil. This is accounted for by the fact that the fibrous mattoi which it contains furnishes all that is essential to plant life, and as it is the nature of this fibrous matter to decompose slOAvly its sustaining properties longer than the most elaborate mixture of different sorts of soils, and this is not all.

The material does not run together into such a compact mass us an ordinary mixture of loam does after it has been some time in the floAver pot The fibrous character of the material in question keeps it open, Avhich prevents the accumulation of an excessive amount of moisture about the roots of plants potted in it. The material is therefore, kept in a sweet and healthy condition for the roots over a longer time than when sc\ r eral soils of a different character are mixed together. For strawberries groAvn in pots or barrels one cannot wish for a better soil as it promotes a good growth without any tendency to OA'cr-luxur-iance. Cucumbers and tomatoes also do well in it, for these it need not be so much rotted as for pot plants and it is surprising the number of cucumbers or tomatoes that can be produced from plants that, have some nin e inches of thickness of turves for the roots to feed on. The value of this material is not realised by many amateur gardeners and it is within the reach of most of us. The turf of course should be aDvays taken from medium pasture land and not from clayey or sandy locations. In the Vegetable Garden.

The early plants slioav signs of suffering from too much moisture, this, and the slugs, have left many gaps in our toavs of plants which should be made good. The thinnings from the autumn sown onions are now large enough to handle these are*

all the better for a shift they have not the same tendency to bolt to seed as when left where they Avere sown. All tli e ground will have been cleared of winter cabbage, caulifloAvei etc., this should be manured and got mto readiness for the summer crops. Much depends on th e Aveather as to what may be sown or planted, bfit ev, ry fa vourable opportunity should be taken instant ad\*antage of. Sow seeds of cucumber, tomato, and any \of the pumpkin family ’if a glass fram e or warm sunny nook is available sheltered from heavy rain. These are best soavii in small pots or bird nests as they suffer too much of a chock if transplanted in the usual way. Weed and • top dress the rhubarb bed. Sonia gardeners have hi t upon the plan to sowing a few trench beans in boxes to pro Aide an extra early dish of this favourite vegetable. Some Alpine Wants of Special Interest.

With the ever increasing popularity of the rock garden it may be of interest to mention a few which possess outstanding merits. Given well drained soil and reasonable care the following, which in. dude some of the most beautiful alpine plants in cultivation, will be found to thrive in most gardens. Of these the aethionemas comprise many precious kinds of dwarf, shrubby, and generally grey-blue leaved plants. Over 20 sorts arc in cultivation, most of them haying pink or red tinted flowers. A pul-c-hellum grows nine inches high, Avith grey leaves and lovely soft pink flOAvers which are produced so freely that the foliage is practically hidden. All this family are lovers of sunshine and, given tills, aa'Ul flourish even in heaA r y soils. Arenaria montana ! s one of the best alpine plants knoAA’n. Plant it near the ledge of rocks OA'er which its folds of large snowy while flowers may fall and i! will attract the attention of everyone, so handsome, is the effect of its trailing masses, of bloom.

The cmnpamila family are all very good, and the gentians, arc among the most beautiful of alpin 0 l heir flOAvers are like lovely blue trumpets. This plant lov<j3 to roam in heavy loamy soil, and enjoys moisture.

Tropaeolum polyphyllum is a glorious plant for the cool part of the garden Avhere its long snake like growth of a glorious blue shade may crawl and fall over the ledges to display their beautiful yeIIOAV flowers.

The purple grouudwell is another desirable subji ct. It would have a limo free soil and a partially shaded spot. A bank or slope covered thickly with the dark green trailing masses is a satisfying picture at any time, but when the whole mass burs's into bloom its appeal becomes iriesistible, the drainage for this plant should be rapid and a situation chosen free from rough Onosma echioides is a hairy leav i plant of distinct charm, forming a dense tuft of leaves and bearing in summer drooping clusters of tubular, yellow, almond scented flowers. Tight gritty soil and planted sideways in the elevated crannns of the rocks and on the ledges of walls are the conditions which fill the requirements of this often called gold n drop. Another plant which is good for falling down the face of a hot wall or rock is alyssum spinosum roseitm. forming a spiny silvery mass of pleasing growth. A well drained situation is essential to its successful cultivation. When choosing plants for the took gulden is necessary to go siewly as much experience is needed which only conies gradually, The soil requirements for each plant must be fully understood and that particular pocket filled with the necessary mixture. It is surprising how little soil some rock plants need.

In one particular instance some species of the dianthus family wore growing l rampantly on what had once been a lily pond which had been ridiculously perched upon a bank This had been filled in with bricks stones, and any rubble available with grit and soil near the surface. Herein iies the failure of many with heavy clay soils in groAving any of the carnation or dianthus family successfully.