GARDENING NOTES.

Shannon News, 28 February 1928, Page 4

GARDENING NOTES.

• Seasonable Routine Work. Chrysanthemums: So far these have stood the dry weather well, even in cases where no water has been given. However, where tine blooms are required, a weekly soaking is or much benefit. In most cases the plants arc not yet Showing buds beyond the first crown bud which should be removed. The end of February is always considered sufficiently early foi the buds to appear. Remove side growths in proportion to require s monts. If a few extra large blooms are wanted, three growths will bcample to leave, allowing one bloom for each leader. On the other hano where a larger number of blooms b preferred, all side growths may b» left, merely removing those which ap pear to crowd the plants. Limit, tin blooms to one on each shoot. These will be quite nice sized blooms ami very useful as decorative indoor cu' flowers.

The chrysanthemum is heir to thre very insidious diseases in summer which, if not treated in time, com plete'.y spoil the plant. Fungus at tacks the underside'of the lower leave and assumes the form of rusty roum rings, which increase and spread unti the foliage drops off as though scorch ed by fire. Bust is another diseas similar in character to “Fungus,” but is chiefly caused through overcrowd ing the plants, whereas the formes disease will appear in the best regn latad gardens Mildew is the thiro disease, but is only troublesome dur ing a wet spell. Occasionally durim a very dry spell red spider will ap pear. The presence of this is indi catod by a brick red colour on the undersides of the leaves. There an several efficient remedies on the mar krt to combat these diseases, whici. are easily kept under control if spray ing is commenced in the early stages Dahlias. Those wonderfully decorative sub jeets must so far be regarded a.> failures this season, as very few gardeners are able to supply then with the moisture that is so very necessary to their well being. A little vater is not. sufficient for the dahlia which needs a “bucket full” at a season such as the present. However hoeing sand then mulching lias helped many plants along, together with the removal of all faded blooms. Disbud all show varieties, though nothins. must be expected from these in tin way of extra largo blooms unless th< plants 'are well supplied with watm and liquid manure. f Disbud michaclmas daisies to im prove blooming. Propagate various kinds of ,summer bedding plants by taking cuttings. Complete pruning of hedges. ; Bud more roses, and take more rose cuttings Propagate violas for winter edgings Hoc' shrubbery and other borders very frequently. Overhaul colour borders, noting flowers with clashing colours and de tide how to re-arrange them. Procure any sweet-pen seed needed for- next month's sowing. It pays to sow the best.

Consider any forthcoming garde* alterations, and make plans fully now to save time later. Plant, belladonna lilies and members of the amaryllis family. Vegetable Garden. Gather fruits on all outdoor torna to plants before fully ripe, finishing the ripening in a warm room or closed box. Keep runner beans well picked; il even a few pods are allowed to riper the effect upon production is serious Cut all vegetable marrow’s be fori the skins get too hard. The quicker they are cut the better the yield, Cut all cucumbers before the point of the fruit turn yellow, and stor those not required in a dark plac with their ends in water. Sow turnips from now on for winter use; the yellow flesh varieties hnvexceptionally long keeping qualities. Continue to put out late broccoli, giving the plants plenty o’ water until "established. Sow winter spinach any time, sc lecting the prickly seeded,for heav> soil. 1 Roughly dig all unused ground reurh for autumn gardening 'which is flu most profitable of all gardening. Pro cure plenty of drainage material in readiness for this. Cultivation of Sweet Peas. With our mild climate it is not necessary to sow the autumn seed in pot« or boxes, unless for some reason the *ite iidended for them is not in readiness. Otherwise they will prove quite successful if sown in their per manent quarters, thinning out the seedlings ns they grow. Pew plants give a better return foi labour expended than does the sweet pea. The next season should com 1 mencc early in March, and special preparations must be immediately got on with where the object is to provide a supply of high class spikes for indoor deeorniion, With exhibiting as a pos sblc side line.

Owing to the prolonged spell of dry weather tho soil will take longer in working down to the required fineness The position chosen should be an opei one with shelter from rough winds The ground should be trenched thro spits deep. Break the bottom spit up ,s well as possible, mixing in some

turfy .fibrous'material-if any is to hand. Any rotted manure may be mixed with the next spit, also wood ashes,''and a little basic slag. If plenty of manure is available mix it is w ; th ihe lower spit also. Allow the trench to settle before sowing the seed. It is easier to prepare a wide stretch of ground, enough for say Three rows of peas than to prepare one long row. Ample room must be pro vided to walk between each row’ to attend to the various plants. When the ceedlings iare a few inches high give the surface a good dressing ol lime. During winter abd spring fork in a little bonemeal as soil conditions permit. For decorating borders, circles of sweet peas are very effective, and in the late autumn, when many spaces are bare, the thinnings from 1 the prepared trenches may be utilised for this purpose. The folowing varicb ies provide a good range of colour, although there arc many newer sorts which are very attractive. Constance Hinton (-white), royal Scot (cerise scarlet), Mrs. Arnold Hitchcock (pale, creamy pink), Gladys and Austin Frederick (good lavenders), warrior (maroon), Doris (cerise), charity (crimson), matchless (cream), royal purple, royal sovereign (orange), Geof'ge Shawycr (orange-pink), The last two ore delightful colours bui require shading to get them to per fcction. Anemones. ; How gardeners love these beautiful spring flowers. Some readers may think it early to discuss their merits now, but like the narcissi family, they flourish all the better if planted early, and bettc-r still, they bloom earlici Nothing seems so vivid in .colouring after long wintry days as the goy anemones, and with the very much im proved liter strains, they wax more and more attractive as the years go bv.

Many growers fail with these charming plants but when once the growing of them is understood the\ are. not at all difficult to cultivate The best soil is a medium loam, neith • er too heavy nor too light. Tim should be enriched with well rotten cow manure for liglil-soils, and stabhmanure for heavy soils. A little ar tificial manure may also be used. Although the anemone loves semi shade, a spot which gets the morning hours of sunshine is the best. They are in tolerant of wet soil which, for want of good drainage, is inclined to soui and disease soon appears when anemones ij,re grown under such' conditions. The flower stalks of anemones are much longer and therefore more valuable for all cut flower work when grown in partial shade. Anemones do no like soil that is too spongy in nature and cow manure, or anything of a heavier nature, should he added to help bind it. On the other hand, heavy clay land should be well dug adding a little sand, leaf mould am. decayed manure. The first planting may be made at any time now, ano the plants will commence growth as soon as the autumn showers peoefTiV' sufficiently. For a succession of bloom they may be planted at monthly in tervals throughout the whiter am;, spring. The St. Brigid strain, with their large double flowers, are great favourites as also arc the large cup shaped improved singles. These embrace a very wide range in colouring. The reds and scarlets are always prim* favourites. In childhood’s days the writer well remembers the fascination of a clump of anemones in a neigh bowing garden, and the wonderful moments tinged with the desire o.i possession spent in contemplating what appeared -to be delicate scarlet cups with black satin crowns smothered round with black nobby pins. Many gardeners leave the corns in th( ground year after year? but when the flowers appear to be getting, smaller aeh year, it is time they were lifted broken up, and given more space, with a general reconditioning of the plot. ’ Great, favourites are the single and double scarlet fulgon anemones. These are so dainty, poised on long win stems, that, when once seen they nx never forgotten. A suitable spot in tin rock garden is the best for those, athey often get lost sight of in open borders. They were originally found on the slopes of the Pyrenees and wore called the scarlet starry wildfloweis. They seem to need protection from ground winds., and a sunny spot in rite ro’ek garden whore the rooks at ford this protection seems to suit then, admirably. The St. Bavo strain is akin to these with several new col ourings, and they have the same dainty long-stemmed flowers.