GARDENING NOTES.

Shannon News, 17 February 1928, Page 4

GARDENING NOTES.

Routine Work. : Welcome showers have done a little towards reviving the garden although u great deal more moisture is needed to benefit the parched soil. Pansies and violas have had a bad run this summer and on light-soils especially are looking, very miserable. It will " help tliem considerably if all the old straggly growths are cut off and the ' plants encouraged to make new growths rrom the base. Where soil is in a suitable condition tht present is a good time to sow seeds of gladiolus, ficesias, tulips, and irises. Border Carnations. The layering of these must now be CFrried out' with all speed, as the earlier this work is finished the better rooted will be the young'plants. Cuttings secured now, inserted in pots or boxes of very sandy compost, will usually root quite well, and although they seldom make such fine plants as &ro to bo secured from "layers," shey are very useful for spring planting. Push on with all bulb planting. litilising -,he surplus stock for natural ising in grass, around trees, or at the base of hedges. Autumn' Propagating. This important work will shortly require attention, and as all garden work is behind, owing to the excessive spel) of dry weather, preparations should* now be made so that the actual hand ling of ';he various cuttings may bo canied out easily and rapidly. Tlavb frames, boies. and pots all clean and repaired, and a large, batch of .soil • mixed; also have material for drainage at hand. ' ! Young and newly . planted hedges should be topped to encourage the thicker growth. Remove dead flowers regularly from ) roses, shrubs, and herbaceous plants \ in order to assist growth and encourage later blooms. Dahlias. These have had a trying time through lack of moisture. In some cases they have run up, with very few 'side growths. These could with advantage be cut back to encourage the plants in making fresh growths. They will then bloom freely during late autumn. The Vegetable Garden. Tomatoes and cucumbers are setting their fruit freely and need to be kept well supplied with moisture. A weekly dose of liquid manure will also . help them wonderfully. Marrows and pumpkins are making rapid growth. Pinch the ends of run-

nors, when sufficiently long, t .and side growths will rapidly develop, more fruit resulting. This also applies to cucumbers. Make a final sowing of French beans and dwarf peas. , Keep all ground well hoed. Transplant any variety of the cabbage family, and proparo soil for the fcutimui sowings of lettuce, turnip, carrot, etc. The Myosotis or Forget-me-not-Family This year's novelties include a new double blue, type described as produe ing a cloud of gracefully poised, pale blue flowers, and which does not. scrd. It is easily propagated by breaking up the roots and is perfectly hardy, li should be a decided acquisition for bordering and carpet bedding pur poses. There is also a double whitt form to be had, six inches in height, seedless and very free blooming. Ways of Growing Foliage Shrubs.

Though gardeners do not all agree with a method some people use in the growing of shrubs for the sake of their foliage only, there is yet an advantage to be gained sometimes by deviating to this from the ordinary course of treatment.

In gardens where tall trees are not suitable owing to lack of space, etc., the plan of growing such shrubs as prunus pinsardi and accr ncgundo in a dwarf state us to be recommended. The method adopted is to cut these back annually just before growth commences and as- many strong shoots as possible are encouraged by ,the removal of any winch show signs of weakness. The foliage produced by these growths is much finer than that on av ordinary bush or tree and the pleasing contrast of the silver and green of* the accr with the copper of the prunus is very effective when the plants are grouped in close proximity to each other.

There is another great advantage in growing foliage in this manner, for it is always in great demand for was in conjunction with all cut flower work. Grown in this way, it is easier to handle, of better quality, and -there is more of it available.

The copper beech may also be treat-ed-in like fashion while paulowni-a impcrialis is another tree with line foliage. The feathery growth of the tamarix is useful, but this shrub does much better if kept hard pruned. Moreover, it is possible to grow really well such things as liliums, and gladioli among sluubs which are kept in a pruned state, and where space is limited this is a great advantage. Liliums require a cool root run and and are not so likely to rot during the

winter months Avhen placed in such surroundings as "described. The addition of a top-dressing of leaf mould and rotted manure annually will give them all the nourishment they require, while a little sand where the soil i» very heavy will also prove beneficial. Plant-Exhaustion.

This is a wide subject and there is one phase of it that directly bears upon work in the garden at the "pre sent time. I allude to the rapidity with which many plants are running to seed. Tin perfecting of a crop of seed means exhaustion to the plant, and how .to prevent this should be tlubusiness of the cultivator in all cases where the health of the plant is of more consequence than the seed. The season has been favourable for the fertilisation of flowers, and therefore a larger display than usual of seed vessels may be seen, but where no seed is required it is necessary to go over the plants and cut off all dead flowers.

Owing to the weakened condition oi many subjects through the want ot sufficient root moisture, this removal of the seed vessels will be a great relief. For example, some, gardeners make two sowings of -sweet peas for an early snd late supply, yet one sowing only would bo ample if made in good soil, and would yield flowers all through h.', season if all the decaying blooms are picked off. Many other things will prove equally as satisfactory if dealt with in the same way, It is especially necessary to keep poppies from seeding as a few pods of seed allowed to ripen soon exhaust the plant. The earliest flowers on the large growing sunflowers should be removed in order to throw strength into the side branches which the plants usually make.