GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 31 December 1928, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

Botttlno Work.

The few Weeks left to itis before Ckridtms'should be matte good uSc of in the garden, A. display of late t autumn flowers is appreciated to the full, es-/ pecially if a hot spell has been experienced previously. Many favourites take on an added lease of life with the advent of autumn showers, and among these the dahlias figure prominently. Their somewhat drooped and flagged appearance becomes transformed into fresh beauty. Zinnias, French marigolds, antirrhinums, and in fact most annuals, freshen and bloom until frost. \ Early spring subjects whose flowers are becoming small should be discarded from the bordeis and their places refilled with such things as bonfire salvias, zinnias, asters, petunias, celosias, and other suitable plants which may be available. It is far better to secure a good display for the late autumn than' to hang- on to the early plants until it is too late to replace them with others. All plants should be kept -watered until they are well rooted; also they should be planted very firmly, and if tender looking, sheltered for a few days with pieces of twig, etc. Everything in the garden 'will bloom for a longer period if all spent blooms are kept plucked. Remove seed heads from the rhododendrons and other choice flowering subjects. Tie and bud carnations for better blooms. ‘ Continue planting dahlias and chrysanthemums. Cut the latter back if they are too tall. Those intended to produce large blooms should receive special.attent.on in the way of hoeing and in keeping alb side growths down , after the three main leaders have been selected. Make a sowing of sweet peas for autumn blooms; first soaking the seed for quick germination. Vegetable Garden.

\V\thin the next few weeks there is a giWt deal of important work to be attended to in the kitchen garden. Supplies of vegetables for the winter months depend mainly on the Work done now. If planting out large plants of savoy cabbage or winter cauliflowers and bijocolli, it will be found they often come to maturity rather too early. Tp make sure of having plenti-ful-supplies, sow seed now. The plants will be ready to set out in January and if they are kept watered until it is seen that they are well rooted, supplies Will be available at a time when vegetables are most wanted. Celery is another vegetable which pays for late planting. A few plants are useful planted now for early use, but personally I give preference to eii autumn planting. These plants must have unlimited supplies of mois-

ture if they are to do well, and if planted on a will drained plot they get. the benefit of the autumn shdwers • -and the winter rains. In early spring there is a supply of beautiful crisp roots without the labour of continuous ' watering. Vegetables are none too . plentiful at that time and the celerv is most acceptable. , An early ami late planting of leeks is always advisable. The early sown ones bolt,to seed if kept over until Spring. Marrows," pumpkins, etc., take up too much valuable space in the small vegetable garden, but if ttmre is a fence or a-rubbish heap, they may be trained to run over it, and may also be grown on arches, pergolas, etc., with good effect. Keep up a supply f of green peas, French beans, and all salad plants. Plant largely of tomatoes. These lqvc a good loa n with a dash of old lime and wood ashes. If the loam is on -the poor side work in some old manure; h little soot being also beneficial. Lime and «oot h;i3 a tendency to keep the plants healthy and free from disease. Training:. There is no better Way than the single or double cordon* system, Where stakes are used the one single long stein is usually all that is allowed to grow, but when growing) on wires two or even three leaders are left to develop fruit. AU side shoots must be rubbed from the leaders as soon as they form. When the fruit has set well, the plants may be fed occasionally with liquid manure. If no help in this way can be given, hoe the plants woli and plate n ut strawy litter around the plants in order to conserve as much moisture as possible. ! ** A sowing o£ both long and turnip - rooted beet is to be recommended, if not already attended to. Continue Planting Potatoes. Field crops of mangolds, Carrots, peas, etc. should be got in as early as possible. Space should be provided for a solving of a good marrow; fat variety of ‘ pea for winter use in the kitchen.

Tennis and the. Garden. The rise of lawn -tennis from the comparative obscurity of some 15 year:; ago to the position it occupies to-day as one of the most popular of games, popular not only with the leisured classes, but with every grade of so-_ cicty, is without doubt due in large measure to the hard court which makes play possible on most days of the year instead of only during the few weeks of. summer. The water logged aspect of grass lawns after heavy downpours has demonstrated to all lovers of the game the utility of the all-weather hard court -which makes play possible all the year round,* Hard courts arc

made of vanous substances, but those of concrete are gaining in popularity, as they are not affected by rain, frost, or heat, and do not become dusty or affected in any way by the shoes of the players. They also dry quickly after ,a* shower. Up-to-date contractors have solved the problem of changing thg rather glaring effect of concrete by ~ , „ mixing jpaij|pme eoldtiring material. It

•is JioW possible to li&ye courts in dull red shades or in pleasing green tones. A court in green, harmonising with the ( surrounding shades in nature's green will find mqre favour with the lover of the garden, whose delight is in the sweep of green lawn that sur rounds his home, and who may conceivably hesitate to substitute for this cool looking and restful carpet the arid looking patch existing solely for the delight of lawn tennis patrons. Shaded in green the effect is not nearly so noticeable and is far more restful to the eyes of the players. More accurate game can be played when a surface is even and dependable, without being slippery. . Chrysanthemums for Market.

The great demand in most countries for good market types of chrysanthemums has induced many hybridists to strive for popular colourings and ho.iucv of form in these most useful of flowers. The long keeping quality of chrysanthemum blooms will always be a factor to count in market circles. Late flowering varieties are specially welcomed as with a little shelter, many blooms are available -when flowers are particularly scarce. . A large number of new chrysanthemums were submitted to the floral committee of the National Chrysanthemum Society held in London during the month of October, among which the following received first class certificates, a recognition valued highly: Miss Eva Hudd, one of the most striking, and very suitable for market was described as a brilliant crimson, (enhanced by a rich golden reverse, flowers being from five to six inches across of attractive form. The florets are of medium bread Hi and good substance.

Another fine market soft was named Strcphim, a good pink shade! With narrower petals which build a bloom Of good drooping form some six inches across.

Corisande won much attention with its blooms c*f bright old gold. Florets ol medium width, slightly twisted at the ends build a bloom some five inches across.

Flame was another variety suitable for market. The colour was golden bronze with rather narrow florets.

Beacon was described as a splendid flower for market or any decorative use. The colour -was its chief attraction, described as a glowing chestnut red of Japanese form, the flower being some 4J inches across. 4odward Page and Freya were two good exhibition types, the former white and the latter a pale silvery pink-'witlf cream centre. : Daily Sketch, F. P. Steward, and Iris.' Cross, were another trio up to exhibition standard, the first-named being' rose with silvery pink reflex, the second a lovely crimson-purple shade, and the last a beautiful chaste white bloom with narrow florets, and a drooping habit reminiscent of the .Japanese type. Roses that Flourish.

On viewing the rose borders an insight is obtained as to those varieties which appear to flourish well under •ill conditions. The following twelve sorts seem to be absolutely dependable: Hugh Dickson, Mrs. Wcmyss Quin, Mine, Butterfly, Ophelia, Shot Silk, Betty UprichaTd. .Mrs. 0. W. Edwards, Maud Cummings, Mrs. Henry Bowles, Miss YVilmott, Francis Gaunt, and Mims. Joseph Hill. A good range in colourings is also possessed by the above. For border and garden 'display a vigorous growing type of rose gives lasting satisfaction. Polygonum Equisetiforme. A very pretty and interesting plant, is poly'gonum equisetiforme which hails from the Mediterranean regions. The •plant bears a most elegant and rdiued appearance. Its evergreen, wire-ilke growths are absolutely devoid of leaves, which shoot up to a height of from two to three feet, and although scarcely more than one-eighth of an inch in thieknos« stand quite erect. During the autumn months the plants are prettily furnished from ground to tip with tiny white- flowers. Picture a stout cluster of rushes flowering all up their stems and you get some idea of this quaint and very interesting plant. It is a splendid subject for sunny rock borders an*d for association with other flowers.

' The "Water Garden, jf Since the re-introduction of hardy herbaceous plants into the garden great attention has been given to water l.lios, and where in former day - there were but -few varieties, we now have 50, if not, more, all of which an useful'. The strong growing sorts like a spacious piece of water but many beautiful varieties may be grown on small surface. An easy and effective water garden may be made by using suitable barrels sawn in half. If theshave contained oil they need to be well burnt out, as oil i 3 deadly to all vegetation. A few barrels sunk close to o-cthcr and the intervening spaces planted with moisture loving subjects will form an interesting water garden. The lilies -bloom well in small receptacles as the water becomes very warm. To make the ground surrounding the tubs more natural it should bo undulated with some pieces of rook here and there and a few hardy ferns wnicli will grow in the open, added. It the cultivation of water lilies be the main object a sheltered spot should not bo chosen, as water lilies love sunshine for at least half of the day.