JUST DROP DEAD

Shannon News, 25 October 1927, Page 4

JUST DROP DEAD

MORTALITY AMONGST LAMBS

"There has been an unusual mortality amongst lambs in the North this year," said Captain Rushworth, at the executive meeting of the Auckland provincial branch of the New Zealand Farmers' Union. Sheep farmers in the North considered it was a germ which was causing havoc, h'e said, desipte the Agricultural Department's assertion that the mortality was caused by evcessive nutrition. Mr A. A. Ross gave his 'experiences, stating that fat lambs a month old were more affected than others. It was strange that It was only the best lambs that died. One minute they would be gambolling about the paddock and the next they simply dropped dead. It was a common illness, not only in the North, but in other parts. Mr Ross expressed the opinion that it was high time the Department of Agriculture got down to definite facts and endeavoured to do something to stop this enormous loss which occurred every year.

Captain Colbeck thought that the Department should b'e immediately communicated with and a thorough investigation demanded. It was decided to adopt this course, it being remarked that the tims for theorising had yassed,

During the past week weather conditions have been kind to the gardener, the light showers doing much to soften the hard lumps in the surface soil. By a little hoeing and raking at the present time, the ground may very quickly be got in readiness for the planting out of all annuals, chrysanthemums and other plants. Colour in the Garden.

Each day is adding more beauty to the garden. Deciduous shrubs are unfolding their fresh green leaves with which soft tints mingle, the brown shades of the copper birch, the beautiful maples, and the various varieties of the prunus family standing out in bold relief.

Our favourite, lilac, with its delicate perfume, is one of the joys of the October garden, while near by, trees of the Australian mint with quantities of small purple flowers, blend admirably. The earliest of the tamarisks are clothed with their pretty sprays of pink. buds. A corner of the shrubbery devoted to trees of the deep pink flowering cherry, the early tamarix, and one or two of the bright maples with a frontage or a near by bed of stately pink and mauve shaded Darwin tulips, forms a perfect picture. Another beautiful blending subject 's the montana rubens clematis.

Masses of buds and partly opened blooms cover the members of the viburnum family. The old wellknown snowball is full of quaint green tinted pendant balls, while those trees which are noted for lovely autumn berries give promise of an admirable display, judging by the quantity of bloom which at present adorns them. The flowering cherries azaleas, rhododendrons, crab apples, and Aveigelias (flowering apples), are all making a glorious display. Climbing roses are once again covering walls, and pergolas, with fresh foliage, an odd flower already adding a bright note here and there. The rose borders are gay with ranunculus, tulips, anemones, Iceland poppies and many of the autumn planted annuals, while the bold groups of scarlet Oriental poppies and red geums are among the most arresting sights in the garden. Seasonable Routine Work.

Where desired, seeds of hardy subjects may now be safely sown in the open ground. Asters, marigolds, and zinnias will now germinate freely. Sow seeds of all half hardy annuals, and gradually fill up the bare spaces in the borders with gay summer and autumn flowers. Divide clumps of helenium, and golden rod, where the plants have a crowded appearance. The heleniums make a beautiful background for groups of French marigolds and galliardias, the long blooming qualities of these three entitling them to a place in every garden, The soil conditions are ideal for the planting of chrysanthemums and gladiolus and this work should be proceeded with. For those who love wallflowers, a packet of seed sown now will furnish plenty of strong, sturdy plants for late autumn. These are best placed in a plot in the vegetable garden, a sowing of Iceland poppies also being recommended to take the place of the early annuals when their bloom shows signs of going off. Th well-known calendula marigolds are useful for the same purpose, as they have been much improved in recent years, and are among the best of gay bloomers for exposed positions. When planted in sunny sheltered nooks they will bloom throughout the winter.

No time should be lost in the planting of violets as the weather is suitable and they should get well rooted before a dry spell sets in. Where edgings of primrose? are desired it is a good plan to undertake the work now, while the colours are distinguishable. Also plant edgings of lobelia, pansies, violas and aubrietia. The Vegetable Garden.

The growth of such things as lettuce, early potatoes, peas, and cabbage has been most marked during the last week. With ideal soil conditions all small seeds such as carrots, leeks, parsnips, beetroot, etc., should be sown, a further sowing of lettuce and other salad plants also being made. Sow peas and beans for rotation crops also runner beans. Where the space allows prepare the beds and establish all varieties of the pumpkin family. The smallest of gardens can usually find room for a cucumber bed, the short prickly, long prickly, and the apple cucumbers being among the best for general family use, Plant tomatoes, cabbages, etc. The Field Garden. A generous supply of root crops is a most valuable asset during the winter months, mangolds, artichokes, and carrots being among the most useful. Other vacant plots could advantageously be sown with oats and western wolths grass. This crop may be cut for hay later on where it is not needed for green feeding. Field peas should not be overlooked and horse beans ar e excellent for fattening purposes during the winter. Also plant the main crop of potatoes. The Blue Ageratums.

The ageratum la not so" generally known as some annuals, but it Is a subject, when once grown, will al-

ways be grown. Among blue flowers it is one of the best, both regarding colour and general bedding and bordering effect. The name "ageratum" means "very young" and refers to the plant's ever-blooming habits. It will remain fresh and perfect for a month out-doors, and considerably longer within. Another commending asset is, that it flowers frpm early summer until frost, the plants having bushy growth, neat and erect. The flowers are formed in bunches, each blossom being composed of a compact mass of fine, thread-like petals. The leafage is not very pronounced, the plant, when fully developed, appearing to be a mass of blue, of a delightful shade with some fairly broad, green leaves visible at the base. The ageratums are among the most useful for all florists' work. There is also a white variety iru.-cultivation. Rhododendrons. These garden favourites have largely benefited by recent showers, as they require quantities of water during the flowering season. The earliest bloomers are practically done, but many otJher varieties are just commencing to show colour. Several of the dwarf, large-flowered, Himalayan varieties will soon be at their best and where space permits for a grouping of any one kind, the effect is extremely beautiful, perhaps tire finest ' sight of all being obtained with a grouping of "pink pearl." This popular rhododendron, with its huge trusses of bloom terminating almost every shoot, is a delightful subject, its colour, too being of that beautiful pink shade which appeals to everyone. One fault this fine plant possesses, and that is its tendency to floppy, straggling growth when permitted to take its own natural course; but the wise grower, who wishes to maintain good-shaped bushes and sturdy growth, attends to th e pruning of the bushes immediately the flowers are over, shortening back thir, weakly shoots, and, where necessary, topping exuberant ones in order to force growth from the lower branches. The cut back branches will be found to break freely, and even develope flower trusses for next seasons display. . This is also a good time to increase stock by layering, barking each

branch on the lower or under side, and securing in sandy soil by placing heavy stones upon them, or by pegging. Any other member of the rhododendron family which acquires a straggly habit of growth should be dealt with in a similar way, and one would be surprised at the bushy plant it will ultimately become. Straggly azalea specimens will also benefit by the pruning process, and will develop fresh growths with larger blooms. Culture. In gardens where the soil is inclined to be stiff and needs occasional dressings of lime, the rhododendron and azalea should be given a plot to themselves, as they are lime haters and will not thrive well where this is added to the soil. The beautiful kalmia has this same tendency, and could with advantage be placed in the same plot. Rhododendrons revel in a mixture of turfy loam and leaf mould, a dressing of well rotted cow manure also being beneficial, but any manure of an artificial nature is best left alone. The rhododendron plot should be provided with some fairly tall growing trees in the background to keep off.rough winds and at the same time provide provide partial shade. Azaleas have a pretty, effect when grouped near a weepingcherry or similar subject.

Beauty in Wall Coverings.

It has become quite a common practice to cover garden walls with creeping and climbing plants, turning them into objects of great beauty. As so many plants are grown in pots for this purpose, there is scarcely any difficulty in securing them at whatever season desired, providing the ground is mad'e ready and the plants are. turned carefully out of the pots. Clematises alone are extremely beautiful and may be relied upon to bloom provided they are well grown under right conditions. They will clothe a wall with beauty for weeks together, especially if one choooses such varieties as the Prince of Wales (purple), Victoria (deep reddish-mauve), Lilacina (grey lilac), Edoud Andre (red), and Jackmauii (violet-purple). Then the small flowered montana white and montana rubens (a pretty pink) are very desirable, while our native white may. be safely transplanted from its bush haunts. Clematises love a sunny situation with a soil liberally manured and a rather cool root run. This may be obtained by dotting a few wall shrubs at intervals. These will also serve for the clematises' rambling tendencies. The yellow jasmine is good ,for this purpose and has tire advantage of furnishing sprays of lovely yellow flowers during the winter. Several of the viburnum family are also good as they are ornamental for the greater part of the year. As foliage coverings, ampelopsis veitchii (Virginian creepers) and its allies have still a large following. They are of quick growth, and need no nailing up, but must be kept withn bounds. They makvj a splendid

background for a lengthy borde r of flowers. Roses. Nothing- is more conducive to the welfare of the rose than the frequent hoeing of the surface between the plants. From now on, should the soil become dry, a good soaking of clear water will greatly help the bushes, while an occasional dose of liquid manure will strengthen them. Many of the teas, and hybrid teas produce far too many flower buds. It will therefore improve the quality of the blooms if disbudding be carried out. It is best to spray the plants weekly with a good insecticide to prevent the appearance of green fly, and mildew.