GARDEN NOTES.

Shannon News, 16 April 1929, Page 4

GARDEN NOTES.

Routine Work in Flower Garden. Lift gladioli bulbs for even though the foliage has not yet ripened off the bulbs may safely bo lifted and heeled in close together in a bed of sifted ashes. Treated thus they mature quite as well as when left in the ground and extra space is available for spring (lowers.

Order roses early. It is always advantageous to receive the plants from the nursery as early as possible and thus be in a position to get them planted whenever suitable conditions ag regards soil and weather come along. Although rose trees can be planted during the months of winter and spring a Into autumn planting has much to recommend it.

Cinerarias required for winter blooming indoors should be potted up now. Keep a watch on the foliage for-insect pest 3. Feed the chrysanthemums with'liquid manure for large blooms. Exhibition blooms should be protected from'rough weather as soon as the buds shorv signs of colour.

Dahlias continue to bloom freely and by keeping all dead blooms plucked the plants will continue. flowering until frosts set in.

Continue sowings and plantings of hardy annuals and perennials. Propagating: This must now be finished as soon as possible. Violas, pansies, aubretias, etc., will root readily if inserted while the autumn showers are here. The spil is at the present time a little too dry > to do away with tho necessity of watering them. But this operation is worth while in order to get the cuttings ropted before winter sCt3 in. Bright edgings are one of the features of the spring garden. Continue planting bulbs, and corns of anemone and ranunculi.

Plant irises. Vegetable Garden. It is a good plan to dig or trench vacant ground and where possible a liberal dressing of manure should bo given. Where the soil is not needed until spring the ground should be left in a rough condition. Give a good dressing of lime to heavy soils. A thorough hoeing will be beneficial to the winter greens, and weeds will be held in check. If the ground is poor and the plants arc not looking as well as they might, give a small handful of blood and bone manure to each plant, work in lightly, slightly moulding the plants at the same time. Early sown beetroots can bo lifted and stored in sand or sifted ashes. Ca refill handling is essential aud the tops are best screwed off with the hands to prevent over-bleeding. Keep asparagus beds thoroughly weeded. Well ripened crowns are essential to get the most from this popular vegetable and these cannot be had if the bed is smothered in weeds.

Push on with all the autumn sowings of-vegetables before the ground gets cold.

Fruit Garden.

%n Raspberries: This crop is now finished and it is advisable to cut away all old canes and such of the young ones as are too weak to carry fruit or where too crowded together. This treatment admits light and air to the canes that .are to carry the crop next year and will greatly aid in the maturing of these. „ . , Strawberries: Scatter a faarly generous supply of well rotted manure on the beds lightly digging it in. Use artificial if no other is available. The beds then commence the winter in a faivlv trim condition; Order all fruit trees early and plant in the late autumn where possible. Holes for trees should be prepared several feet across and enriched where the soil is poor. Aubergines (Egg Plants). Fruit is now ripening on these ornamental plants. There are several varieties and the fruits assume various shapes. In addition to tlieir value for decorative purposes the plants are useful to make various dishes. They are used on the Continent for soups and are often stuffed and cooked, making a nice addition to the menu during late autumn months. The New York purple is the kind montlv grown as it has the largest fruits which are of fair quality. They are ( useful cut into sections and fried. Tlic dark fruited kinds have violet-coloured foliage which is most ornamental. The round aubergine is pretty and much like the egg-shaped sort as regards quality. It is very prolific. Like tomatoes and capsicums, egg plants require a certain amount of heat to raise them from seed and the plants should never suffer from lack of moisture. They .also make very ornamental pot plants.

Mignon Dahlias. Among, the best of things in the borders at the present time are the mignon dahlias When better known those will prove a popular addition to general bedding schemes. The mignon dahlias are noted for their intensity of colour and they also possess many other good points. In the first place no tying is necessary as the plants are only 18 inches in height and are of a bushy, strong habit of growth. The flowers are produced freely on stiff stems well above the foliage, beautiful single blooms which are splendid for cutting. . . The mignon dahlias are rich. m shades of scarlet, crimsons, and bright yellow's, orange, and orange scarlets. Colour in the Garden. Masses of cosmoas are now claiming attention in the garden, their graceful habit of growth, accompanied by numerous branching sprays of daisy-like flowers - rendering them favourites wherever grow-n Spikes of delphinium are adding blue notes of colouring; belladonna lilies, and ncrines charm ■ the eye with their showy-and handsome spikes of bloom; clumps of the latest flowering michaelmas daisies provide a -dainty setting; and lovely 'snowy blooniß are to be seen on-the white

autumn crocuses, accompanied by their lush-like foliage. A bright, sunny glow reveals the presence of the yellow crocus with foliage more similar to a dainty type of nerine. Zinnias and asters continue to. brighten the garden and a charming study in brown, bronze, and coppery shadings is to be seen in the various types of French marigolds. African marigolds with huge, round heads of orange and yellow brighten the lengthy border?, with tall growing sunflowers in the background. Clumps of dwarf polyantha roses are among the delights of the garden with their continuous sprays of salmon, crimson, scarlet, and a delightful shade of a blending of salmon and reddish copper. Wonderfully striking are the masses of gorgeous modern dahlias, their handsome heads of bloom commanding admiration and their rich colourings leaving nothing to be desired. In the violet borders stray blooms are making their appearance, but alas for these few shy blooms, they are not valued in the same way as "-are the violets of springtime. Over walls and pergolas many climbers show a wealth of bloom. Bignonias with handsome sprays of orange, and reddish tints, eobea scandens with handsome foliage and large bell-shaped flowers of green, changing to violet, the dainty white sprays of the moth plant and mina lobarta with buds of vivid red. These will change to orange and yellow as daily the flower sprays expand. Many types of passion fruit are adding beauty to the garden scene, some with flat, starry blooms, others quaintly pendant with fruit in all stages of development. The beautiful green of their foliage is pleasing and restful while the rich colours of the climbing nasturtiums are always welcome in tho garden scene. Around ponds and streamlets the feathery spikes of the pampas grass are fast opening out their charms. Tints of pinkish colouring arc visible in partly opened spikes, changing vrith age to a beautiful silvery cream The deeper coloured rose shaded type appears to be a little later in blooming. Graceful grasses and bamboos also add interest to the pond and stream setting and hero and there a . water lily bloom with its handsome [ outspread leaves floating on the surface of the water. Foliage Plants. Whore there are groups of flowering, shrubs abutting on lawn or drive, there are apt to be spaces between and in front that require furnishing. Small , plants, and any that have the rather weak habit of many of the annuals, hove 'a somewhat inadequate look, and the spaces appear to demand some growths of more important aspect. Noi’dmannia cordifolia, otherwise known as *borago orientalis, is early in bloom, but the flower is not of much importance. It is followed by handsome foliage that remains good all the summer. The leaves are a full, deep green, with a harsh texture that seems to be uninviting to insects, for the mass of foliage remains uninjured. It forms a pleasant ground work for the bloom of viburnum plicatum above it. Another desirable plant for shrub edges is acanthus sponosus which is the best of the family for garden use. Its sharply cut, handsome, glossy foliage shows up to perfection when grown near holly and other evergreens. During November and December this fine plant throws up the great spikes of its hooded, purplish-tinted bloom, of majestic and monumental aspect. The acanthus family are especially suitable for clothing any rough or rugged places in outlaying parts of the garden where the groat fleshy "'roots can be thrust deep down and remain undisturbed. In their native places in Southern Europe they are usually seen in cool, rocky places, and though they stand well in the open, they .arc yet grateful for a little shade, for in times of drought, unless they can be thoroughly watered, the great leaves are apt to wilt. Where grey foliaged plants are desired, the giant leaved thistle is admirable. With its long, deeply embricated leaves it associates well as ground work for shrubs with silvery tinted foliage and is one of the hardiest of plants to grow. . Its blooms resemble those of the globe artichoke, but are somewhat smaller and arc produced more freely. In such places, too, clumps of bclla donna lilies show to advantage. Given a setting of near by grey The pink blooms of these attract ive autumn flowers show to great advantage. A dry situation does not appear to affect their blooming in any wav. Fallen Leaves. With the almost total absence of farm-yard manure in many gardens today "leaf mould is of inestimable value and forms the bulky substance for digging into heavy soils to provide aeration and if freshly slaked lime or bone-meal is added to it before digging in, the soil is vastly improved and enriched. Tt is, therefore, important that all leaves from drives, lawns, and bare spaces should be collected into some out of the way corner, digging them up and leave them to decay tor at least six months'. A little lime added to the layers hastens decomposition. On no account should leaves be collected from the shrubbery as hero they are of groat value, adding yearly nourishment to the soil. If their untidy appearance be objected to they may be lightly dug under. Leaves from oak trees are especially valuable for a variety of puiposes. .