GARDENING NOTES.

Shannon News, 4 September 1928, Page 4

GARDENING NOTES.

Rose planting should be proceeded with. There is no time to lose if sue cess is to be achieved, for the roots are beginning to move and further delay means a waste of energy on the part of the plants. Liliums can stfrll bo planted, but the sooner they are in the ground ; majdng roots the better for the blooms. Propagato chrysanthemums from cuttings and offshoots. Scarlet and other lobelias should now i be broken up where it is desired to increase the stock. Place tho pieces in light, sandy soil in boxes. The dormant tubers of begonias may be'started inte growth by half burying them in boxes of sand and leaf mould. Pentstemons sown ■at the present time bloom freely during summer and autumn. Pruning can be done now. One of the main point* to observe is to cut away all old, worn-out wood. Prune back to plump buds. Sow seeds of hardy annuals and sweet-peas. * She Vegetable Garden. / ' Potatoes can now t>e planted in most , gardens. Well worked soil is necessary for a good <-rop. In very wet soils ilay the seed potatoes on the top of the ground and after (adding some good potato manure hoe the soil over them. Seeds of almost all vegetables rnay be sown providing the soil is light and: ■ well drained. Where the soil is inclined to be heavy, it is better to wait a few weeks longer. Brussel sprouts are a crop which should be sown early, most failures being due to too late sowing. They need a long season of growth and a good rich soil. Plant artichokes. This crop is good ■ to put in any damp, out of the w.av ! corner. It is hardy and will survive where other vegetables fail. Plant the tubers four inches deep and a foot apart. Violets. Violets may be planted at any time now when the ground is in a fit condition. The character, of the soil is not po important a? is sometimes thought,, for violets will thrive in any soil, provided it is well drained and deeply dug and has any deficiencies made up with manure.

Lime is highly beneficial and should not be omitted—about three ounces jto the square yard may be used of ordinary lime. Unburnt may be used in larger quantities. Dead leaves and leaf mould may also be used liberally, and we have only to remember the descriptions of the woodlands and hedge rows in English villages, where the violets bloom in millions, to know that in these places they are.-fed annually by the fallen leaves.

.Wood ashes will supply potash and help to improve the mechanical conditions of the soil, while farm yard manure will greatly improve the quality of the flowers.

In planting make a hole with the trowel so that the roots, are not jammed together. Press the soil firmly about each plant, and if a dry period should happen to set in afterwards, give a good soaking-with water. Almost any piece will grow in spring, but the best plants will naturally be, those which have been prepared from runners the previous summer.

Plant all strong growing varieties, sucli as Princess of Wales and KitehencT, a,foot apart,' and if growing in quantity for market purposes leave eighteen inches between the rows. For the latter purpose the hoe must be kept constantly going if success is to be looked for. Weeds mu3t, not be tolerated, nor should the ground be allowed to get hard or caked. The larger the blooms, the higher their market value. \ As summer advances numerous laterals will arise from the crowns and must be removed. It will be necessary to go over the plants several times for this purpose.

> What Rotation Means. A question often asked by amateurs is "What do you mean\by rotation of crops!" Strictly speaking, the word "rotation" means "going round in a

circle" as regards cropping the land. A. survey of crops enables us to divide > them- into three divisions. Firstly we have the root crops of which potatoes and mangolds are the chief, but this group also includes beetroot, carrots, parsnips, etc. Secondly come the leguminous crops, these being peas and beans of all kinds'. Thirdly come cab-' bage and surface crops of all kinds, including greens, lettuce, etc. If the ground is heavily manured the first year for the pea tribe, it is not necessary to manure it for the second crop, which should contain such things as onions, carrots, parsnips, potatoes, etc. Before putting in this second crop, deeply dig and dress the plot with lime. '.*The third year it is again manured and cropped with greens and surface vegetables. It is not advisable to grow potatoes on a plot one year and'parsnips the next without giving it any manure, but if the ground was rather heavily manured for early potatoes, greens can be planted there without doing anything further in the way of manuring,, and then, with* good cultivation, two crops may be taken off tho land in one year with a single manuring. , Onions. Autumn-sown onions may-be transplanted at the first opportunity when, tho soil is sufficiently dry to be workable. If the ground was dug in the early winter, level it without any further digging, and rake it perfectly smooth. Onions like a firm soil. Twelve inches is sufficient between the rows unless very large exhibition bulbs aro required. Work in some good potash manure. Wood ashes are also of great benefit. If growing for exhibition, bear in mind that onions can do with unlimited -supplies <d manure, which may be ap-.

plied in liquid form, or hoed in, during the growing season. Escallonia Langleyansls. The above is an admirable shrub for a sunny spot in the shrubbery on woodland garden, or for the centre of a flower border, where something on a large scale is desired. It is among summer-flowering-shrubs what berberis stenophylla is among those of spring, for it has all the vigour of the hybrid and possesses great arching, slender branches which rise eight feet or more to sweep over with the utmost elegance, and which are wreathed from base to tip with racemes of blossom in a bright, rosy-carmine shade. E. Langleycnsis is, moreover, a good deal hardier than most of the better kinds of shrubs, and may be planted with confidence in any decent soil. The Culture of Cacti. Cactus growing seems all the rage among amatcuT gardeners who possess a small green-house or conservatory, for apart from being an interesting hobby, one can deck such places with flowers equal in beauty to any to be found in the realm pf plants and of a kind rarely seen. Many are also sweetly scented. But, then, again, some of the most repugnant flowers, which smell horribly and have the appearance of putrid flesh, are borne by cactus plants. Size is in great variety, ranging from miniature plants no larger than a gooseberry to flowers of gigantic dimensions measuring a yard aeross, while some of the plants attain an enormous size, growing up to 60 feet in height. , Soil for cacti should be composed of fibrous loam and coarse aand, mixing two parts of the former with one of the latter. A little leaf mould and crushed brick may be added while at least one-third of the pot should ; be filled with broken up pots before placing any soil in. Good drainage is essential. .During the summer the cactus should be given a little water almost daily; during winter very little water is necessary. Moss and green slime appearing on the outside of a pot show that the drainage is defective, and this should be remedied at once or the roots Will rot away. If water is allowed to drip on the leaves much the same effect is produced, parts of the leaves decaying, but given plenty of sunshine and good drainage the culture of cacti is simple. Nymphaeas (Water-lilies)

For those who have a low lying, swampy portion in their garden which they would like to turn into a water garden, this is a good time to carry out the operation. • By hollowing out the site and banking tho earth around, nice-sized ponds may be made where once only a ditch with just a trickle of water existed through the summer, but which is quite' sufficient for the purpose in view.

If the soil is not heavy, clay, obtain some and ram a few inches over the bottom and the sides to the height required to hold the right depth of water. A water-tight pond will result which will be quite Mtfe oven in a period of drought. There are such lovely water-lilies to be obtained that the addition of a few places provided for their culture adds much interest to the garden. The water should at all times cover the crowns of the plants, but deep water is not necessary. Spring.

Just now as we begin to notice tho days lengthening, not only to the flowers, but to the foliage of plants and shrubs comes a kind of blush of health. As the birds, so our plants soon herald the approach of spring, and the days of August and September should find us prepared for important changes. Spring, in the garden, means to go on, carry on, and those who tarry are left behind. Moreover, these are months of surprises. The weather may suddenly be hot, or we may have temporary spells of winter when it is difficult to realise that spring is with us. More than any "other time of the year spring means work. If we let young plants stand still for the want of thinning or planting out it is goodbye to getting the best results from them. ) Our summer and autumn displays depend on the amount of energy and planning which is put into them, and every opportunity should be taken when the soil is workable to push on with our planting operations. \ Verbenas for the Flower Garden.'

The verbena has many qualities vvhich make it a good plant for the front rank of a bor-ler. It overs the soil completely, and surges out over the turf, gravel, or stonework, breaking up the hard and fust line that the gardener so desires sometimes to conceal. It is also a first rate, bedding plant, especially for those with limited time to spare in the garden.

The verbena can be had in almost all shades of colour, from the most brilliant scarlet to pink and pure white, also from delicate shades of lavender to the richest purples. Like tho ice-plants, it is also valuable for covering up unsightly tree stumps, or anything else that may offend the eye, and it is a great stand-by for window boxes, as it never fails fo bloom freely during the hottest weather. It is advisable to prune the plants back after the flowering period, as this helps to give them a bushy ap pearance as, well as improving the size of the individual flower spikes. The verbena is easily struck from cuttings during the spring months and may also be easily raised from .seed.

The Purple Plum (Prunr.s) Like most flowering trees, the varieties of pTunus vary in their date of blooming. In some gardens they are flowering freely at the present time, while in others only buds are to be seen. Again, in some soils the colour of the leaves and flowers is more intense. Most lovers of flowers arc familiar with the beauty and charm of a well flowered' pruaus piasardi, wifth its

graceful aspect and handsome leave*;] which mako their appearance after the first flowers have fallen and render the i' tree interesting and attractive the; whole summer and autumn. Some varieties have white flowers, others are palest pink, while yet again some have semi-double blooms, and the large, claret-coloured fruits . which adorn some are very ornamental. A newer variety has double, rose-coloured flowers and purple leaves, and is a worthy occupant of the best of gardens. These trees may still be planted, but should be pruned well back. Nothing is more attractive for the background of groups of cannas than a few trees of purple prunus. _ t