GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 30 December 1927, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

Delphinium Sulphureum. The well-known hybrid Delphiniums, as grown in our gardens, contain a large range of different tones of blues and purples, but it is not generally known that there is a yellow-flowered variety. Delphinium sulphureum Is a native of Syria, where the flowers aTe used extensively for dyeing silk. Once established it grows 'about four feet high. It needs a well-drained, sunny position, and is not quite as hardy as the ordinary hybrids, otherwise tt needs similar attention. Rose Suckers.

All rose trees, especially standards, should be examined carefully so that suekers may be discovered and re moved. When plants are grown from euttings suckers are net harmful, as they are of the same kind as the main bush, but the case is very different with budded rose trees. The latter consist of two parts, the lower being the common dog rose or other inferior kind, while the top part is" the good rose for which we grow the tree. It. often happens that the top variety is a weak grower, while the stock is al most very vigorous; in this cast- suck: era soon outgrow the good part, and the latter dies a lingering death. In many cases the, difference in foliage on the two parts is excellent evidence that suekers are present; for example, one of the common rootstocks has leaves with seven leaflets, while ordinary roses have five. It is some times necessary, however, to note the serrations at the edge, the spinea or hairs along the midrib, and the spines or thorns on the stem. Allowance must be made for the natural difference between young and old shoots |of the same variety of rose. In r«j moving suckers it is advisable to cut them as low as possible; either with secateurs or with the spade; the soil should be scraped away so that the work may be done thoroughly, in a persistent case the best way is to take the bush up in winter and trim it | properly on a bench.

Yucca Gloriosa. The several kinds of Yuca, or Adam's Needle, are useful evergreen plants, and are excellent decorative subjects when in flower, for the inflor escences often appear as upright panic les four to five feet long, clothed throughout the greater part of their length with large creamy white flow ers. Essentially sun-loving plants they require open positions, and do well on the higher points of the rock garden, or in specimen groups on the lawn, wihere their large heads of long straplike leaves impart an air of tropical

luxuriance to the landscape. A peculiarity of the leaves is found in the kmg, stiff, needle-like thorns, one of which terminates each leaf and gives rise to the common name. They are not fastidious as to soil. Propagation is easily effected by removing the suckers that are sent up, or by tli3 branches which are developed when the plant flowers. Cut off the branch tic up the leaves, and plant it firmly in some sandy soil, when it can be «haded for a time until it forms roots. No pruning is required, but remove the old flower spikes, also the dead leaves each spring. There are several varieties, including some varie gated forms, which are excellent plants for the rockery. Gardeners' Problems. Gardening is full of problems, and therein lies the perpetual and absorb ing interest, the irresistible appeal, to ,tfhose who would fnd little real satis- | faction in * a hobby which made no demand upon reasoning powers, or required little serious study.. Many of the problems which appear 'formidable to. the novice are solved by the nor mal progress of personal experience, whilst others, hjrve their solutions made easily accessible to those people who will read. Yet there are ,some puzzling questions which few wjfl venture to answer, and when answer is made, j e jen the greatest expert, there will be prompt contradiction or criticism, backed by more or less relevant evidence and cogent reasoning. Then there is that very real thing called "Beginner's luck," not confined to sports or pastimes such as shooting and fishing. This so called "luck." is clue generally to one of two things—either boundless enthusiasm, which leads us to work and re-work the soil, or else the possesion of a piece of ground which has rasted for years. Tf there were no such thing as this luck beginners would give up in despair, and the "old hands" would not fiml it necessary to try to keep ahead.,

Roses for Massing,

Though only a. few people have enough room to grow roses in masses of the one variety the subject is of interest to all who nptice th 6 displays in public gardens. Within the last fifteen, years massing of one variety has become much more popular, part ly because so many roses. suitable for this purpose have been brought out. The following varieties are excellent for massing.—Whites: Mrs. H. Stevens and Molly Sharnran Crawford; scarlet find gold, Queen Alexandra; yellows, Lady Hillingdon, Gorgeous, Golden Embjcm, Mrs. Wemyss Quin, Francis* Gaunt, Margaret Dickson IJamili. Among the pinks

are: Lady Mn.e, A. Chatenny, and ; the old. favourite Caroline Testout; two .other' iine shades of pink arc found in Lady 'Pirrie (perhaps the best of. all bedding roses) and. Mrs. Henry Morse. Other good bedders are: Betty Upriehard, Miss Wilmott, Sun star, Ophelia, Los Ange les, W. F. Drcer, Bed Letter Day K of K., Hawlmark Crimson and all the Irish group —Elegance, Harmony, etc. Mme. Edward Herriot, with its coml red shaded with yellow, is . another wonderful bedder, rivalling even the best. Finger and TUrumb Pruning. If any fruit tree is examined now it will be found that there are a number of young shoots coming in the centre particularly if the tree was cut back hard at the winter pruning. Most people let these shoots grow until winter, and then cut them out. This means, however, that the" shoots have been crowding the centre of the tree, preventing the passage of the sunlight to all parts, and also using up some of the strength of the tree. It is, therefore a much better thing to remove them while they can still be rubbed off, or pulled away with finger and thumb. On othex parfs of the tree, too, it is advisable to do some of this early pruning. At the ends of many of the leaders, for example, will be seen two or more shoots, where only one will be needed. : Another reason for checking this useless 1 growth is that every opportunity should be taken to let' the Bor deax and other spraying mixtures reach all parts of the interior.

Chrysanthemums. The majority of plants will now be in their permanent quarters, and should be growing. Tf possible the plants should be mulched with rottrr! manure, and lightly ,-fork in some if ■the soil be poor, but do not aim at growing tall plants with sappy stems, for such would fall victims to disease sooner than dwarfer ones with hard stems and feathery foliage. The soil in which they are grown must be made moderately firm for them, then the plants will the more likely yield neat flowers suitable for cutting Plants that are not making satisfac tory progress should receive a dose of white nitrate of soda'at the rate of lor. to three gallons of water, but bofore applying the nitrate in liquid form give the soil a thorough soaking of clear water. When once the plants begin to grow freely feed them at least once a week with liquid manure either from cow sheds or from tubs

in which manure has been toft to seals for a few "days. Early stopping

at forward shoots is to be recommended, for stopping does < undoubtedly delay the flowering .period, by several days, and so it is important that llowerbqaring shoots be obtained as soon as possible. Holiday Gardening.

Says one gardening book: "By the middle of December the well managed kitchen garden should be replete with vegetables of almost every ; variety and description, and* should be in the pink of condition. Not "a weed should be seen either in bods or walks. The laud amongst the various crops should be in a good state of cultivation, and all staking and thinning-out completed for a time. This will enable the operator to enjoy a little leisure in the holiday season and watch the resul* of his labours during the last two three months." Catch Crops. Generally speaking, "early-' vege tables are those which mature in a short space of time. When we, add to that statement this second one, that portions of the garden are now being set free after early crops readers will guess what we mean by 'catch* crops, lit is.simply this, that many crops can be raised in the garden after early ! potatoes, poas, cababges, and so on '■. have been taken out. By the sowing [ of "early" varieties now good crops of ! new vegetables can be had right on into winter* There is little nned to add' details to .this suggestion, so a brief list will serve. Direet sowings inclurte early peas, dwarf beans, carrots, onions for salad and pickling, lettuce, turnip, spinach, radish, turnip : rooted beet, silver beet, and even scarlet runners. Grown elsewhere —perhaps in a -nursery-bed or frame —the following may be planted:—-Leek, cucumber, marrow, cabbage, celery, tomt»toes. In most cases quickly-maturing kinds are best, though with our mild winter there is growth being made even until June and July. #