GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 1 November 1927, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

DONT'S Don't leave faded flowers on Pansles or Violas for a day. Seed pods form very quickly, and the energy of the plant becomes diverted in the wrong direction, resulting in a loss of flowers. . '<. ]jont cut the lawns too bare at this season. Provided the machine cuts properly, the grass looks as well if left rather long,' and it suffers less ■ in dry weather. Don't fail to shade Celery for some days after planting, and always keep the toolh moist. This plant cannot stand a check to growth.

Don't allow the flower spikes ot Gladioli to develop far before sup porting them as they are easily broken by the wind. A light cane or stake placed to each bulb is the best method.

FLOWERS IST SPRING SEASONAL ATTRACTIONS. At this season of the year our gardens and grounds present a most, charming and refreshing The rich vendure of the gi;ass and the varied tints of foliage that clothe and adorn the trees, / shrubs, and other members of the vegetable kingdom, contrast with the wealth of ' bloom that is to be seen on every side. Hedge rows are in full vigour of growth. Some, too, are a profusion of blossoms. Climbing roses are the gayest ornaments of the.. garden, surpassing all other flowers in beauty, fragrance and abundance of flcwers. ' House-fronts, fences, pergolas and hedge rows, bedecked with the now well-known and immensely popular variety of Souvenir de Madame Leonle Viennot, also Cloth of Gold and other strong growers, are special objects for admiration. In addition to the climbing varieties many other representatives of- the rose family will be at their best during the next few weeks. Notwithstanding the many changes that have taken piace in ornamental horticulture, the rose ..still retains the proud position that it has occupied from time immemorial. Instead of its popularity decreasing, present-day developments add more fame to this ever-popular genus.

FREESIAS This is the time to jow frcesias If they are to be raised from seed. Whe« raised from seed they % grow right through the summer and will often bloom as early as end of May, or the beginning of June, if the soil is suitable. 'The beds should not be allowed to get dry. If the plants become stunted during the summer, they may ripen off without flowering. They may be sown either in beds or rows. They should be thinned out as soon as large enough to give each plant plenty of room. If they are crowded, the flowers will be small and weedy. CHRYSANTHE*IUMS. COMBATING BLACK APHIS. The planting of the most approved varieties for the production of show 1 blooms for garden decoration and for cutting must be pushed ahead. Select good sturdy dwarf plants and- press the soil firmly around the roots. Black aphis often attacks the tips of the young shoots. On the first appearance of the injurious insects spray with a solution of black leaf 40,. to which a little soap has been added to make it more adhesive. "work in the greenhouse During this month all work shoujd be well forward, and permanent plants started into active growth. F<rns are throwing up their new fronds. Adiantums (maiden hair) are liable to have the new fronds eaten out by slugs before developing unless care is taken to rid the house of these pests. Tubers of Marantas, Caladiums, Achimenes and other

-. -plajits which have laid dormant / throughout the winter, and Gloxinias ):-■ and tuberous-rooted Begonias reserv : '% • ed for using later, should be started '/' ; at once if not already done. Shake '.■■•'■ the old bulbs and tubers out of the P' pots and /epot in small ones, using 0*: a compost ,of loam, leaf mould and £■• sand, with a little powdered charcoal il.: added- Give water very sparingly !'■•'- until the tubers start into growth *K;'Tie an<* regulate climbing plants as f<.'''.: required, Repot Coleus as they ad- \ \'. vance in growth, using a very free fi; . soU. Calceolarias are now coming -V into bloom; they require considerable at this stage, as they are subject to attacks of the green fly. I;:';-/ Fumigate the house to kill aphides on il> these - and other plants. PelargonK'-~ iums.are.now beginning to flower, V7.--and will be a feature in the floral §?> display. Schizanthus and Fuchsias |*;Vare in full bloom. Gloxinias when f 1 :. In their young stages of growth must %). ]■ be treated carefully; do not water flyover the fcliage. Remove Primulas jjNfethat have completed /their flowering |S|~frora. the house -Xo a shady place out- | r Sf this will give room for young coming on. Hanging baskei mk\. r .........

filled with ferns suspended from the rafters or roof greatly add to the | attractons of the houses. Give manure water occasionally to all fastgrowing plants. Azaleas when in full flower.' are splendid decorative plants and these growing in pots plunged outside should be transferred to the house. The large flowered single and double or dwarf compact habit are especially adapted for pot culture. KITCHEN GARDEN. The main crop of potatoes should be planted now. Cabbage and cauliflower should be planted. Lettuce should be planted p.n& more seed sown for later transplanting. Peas should be sown at regular intervals. Jf the soil is very dry, soak the peas for six o,r eight hours before sowing. I Carrots and parsnips may still be ; sown. Beetroot also may be sown. Leeks and also swedes may be sown for later transplanting. Cucumbers should be sown. Pumpkins and marrows should be sown and 'planted if plants are available. Both preserving- and rock melons should be planted. Rhubarb sown now should do very well. Asparagus plants may be raised from seed quite easily. ' This is the best time to sow them. Radishes should be sown at reguI lar intervals. . All vegetable seed sown in rows in which th'.'.y are to stay* until fullgrown should be thinned .out-to their proper distances a s soon as they are large enough to be handled. Tomatoes should be planted. This is the recognised time for planting out the main crop.

MAIN CROP [ CARROTS. Although seeds of Carrots may be sown any time from early September until the end of February, with good results, those who wish the root to be of average size should allow a long - season of growth. All of the longrooted or Intermediate type should be : sown by the end of November or early in December. Ground which was Avell prepared oy deep digging and manuring last year, and such as Celery, Onions, Peas, etc., were grown, with a good forking over now and a liberal dressing of bone-meal or soot should give the grower good roots. '.Where/ the ground is on the "light" side a moderate treading will be beneficial, but where this is. inclined to be pasty, land turned up a few weeks ago may be sown on without further preparation. Carrots ,-are usually sown much too thickly; the aim should be to secure a good bed without a lot of unnecessary thinning out. For this reason, instead of sowing direct from the pack-, et, add to the seed two or three times its bulk of dry soil- or sand. The seed needs'only a light covering As soon as the young plants can be seen coming through the soil use. the hoe between the rows. A few Clays' neglect at this stage of growth may have disastrous effect, for weeds grow much faster than Carrots, One of the best aids to good growth and colour of the roots is good soot, and where this can be had sufficient should be stored to give the bed a dressing once a fortnight from the time the plants are a few inches high till the end of the growing season.

ARTICHOKES. During the last fortnight artichokes have been sending up new shoots, reminding- us that' it is again planting time. A't' the outset it is well to il'fciarm criticism by admitting that, artichokes arc often regarded a;> weeds, owing to the case with whip! small pieces of tuber grow. Indeed some people are said to use tht. peelings as seed or sets! It should be noted here that at this time of the year every tuber of artichokes .is sending up its shoots, thus betraying its presence. A spade, moderate eye-sight, and a steady hand, and hey presto! The artichoke is permanently removed, just as permanently as an offending molar! In this damp climate it is difficult to grow potatoes because of blight, but artichokes grow readily and suffer from nothing but a little leaf-rust. Moreover, the plants ai-f.' heavy croppers, exceeding potatoes in this respect, Owing to their tall and luxuriant growth they should he placed at the end of the garden. They are usually planted like potatoes, but with a greater distance between the rows.

WISTARIA. Last week the various kinds of wistaria were at their best, making people wonder why these beautiful climbers are not. more generally grown. Though they look well when grown on a trellis or along a verandah, they look still better when left to scramble in and out among trees. Wistaria reaching a height of more than thirlty feet, and draped from top to bottom in graceful festoons of spurple, is a sight to remember. The

old species introduced to Europe as far back as 1846 is still a favourite, especially for growing among trees, as mentioned above. Besides th* usual form with single lavender flowers, thwre arc a double-flowered lavender and a single white kind. For growing on verandahs and trellises where over luxuriant growth is an evil, it is betfer to choose one of the other species, especially the W. bracybotrys (short-bunched); this is a wonderfully free-flowering species. There is a vigorous species, W. multijuga, with long bunches of racemes of flowers. The writer has had the white form of this species bearing racemes twenty-one inches long, but sonic of the catalogues go a little further, and say that two feet is often reached. In New Zealand it is rare to see any seed pods ripen, so that wistaria would not be recognised here by one of its names-—the Chinese Kidrifey Bean Flower. It if-" extremely difficult to grow from cut tings; the only way that gives a reasonable chance is to make cuttings of the strong, strap-like roots or of young shoots just when they are getting firm. The latter kind of cutting should be put under a frame, in sandy soil. Fortunately the plant ! s easily propagated from layers; all that is necessary is to lay one of the long growths flat on the ground and cover it at intervals wth a spadeful or two of soil. In this way one runner may within twelve months root at half a dozen places, and form just so many plants. With very little trouble it is possible to groAV at least one species—W. brachybotrys—in bush forir,, but the writer does not believe that W. sinensis, can easily be grown in that way. TO KHUP OFF SLUGS. If you desire to protect some special plants, put on your thickest gardening gloves and cut some sprays of gorse. Peg them down round any plant you wish to preserve. No slug will cross the prickles.