GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8914, 3 October 1894, Page 2

GARDEN NOTES.

"Weekly Press."

To many the dawn of memory in childhood is associated with some plant, flower, or shrub, and by many the same means are employed as a tribute to the memory of departed friends. Though the subject may be, is, in fact, one of sentiment, it is one that age cannot wither nor custom stale, though Time has wrought changes more compatible with modern ideas. The older system In which the melancholy Cypress and sombre Yew monopolised the tree or shrub planting of ancient graveyards, is one iv which custom ordained that these grounds should bear a lugubrious aspect, ome examples In the expression of modern thought have attained the other extreme. In an extensive West of England cemetery the brilliant effect of a mass of beds at the principal entrance, filled with the most florid of summer bedders, savoured to mc of a garishness not in keeping with its fund ions. The glaring effect was probably heightened by. surrounding bareness. Trees and shrubs would have done much to tone down the barbaric splendour of colour. There is a beauty in the fitness of things to their purpose, be that purpose what it may. ItidUciiiniuate planting by relatives In public cemeteries needs but a passing thought. If we do not at all times admire the means employed, there are reasons why they should be respected. Nor Is this a matter, of any magnitude. Bach plot is small; alas! so small—6ft ot earth, no more. Apart from this phase of tbe question there appears to mc some room for improvement, more perhaps a matter for the con trolling powers than for individual movement. It is that those suggestive mounds might be abolished and a simple rectangular formation of the graves take their place. This by a level surface would give facilities for planting and keeping which tbe prevailing system does nor. A raised verge of grass neatly trimmed is a simple and effective border, but doubtless in our rauch-reeorted-to public cemeteries something more durable and requiring less attention would be preferable. This might be done with metal frames of a few. inches in depth; pins or feet at each corner for Inserting in the soil would give-stability and prevent shifting.. I am aware of the difficulties besetting the invasion of along established custom, also of the delicacy of doing so in this case, yet the suggestion may commend itself in being conducive to that order and decorum so necessary to maintain; by its simplicity and? inexpensivehess, and being within the reach of many who cannot afford the more costly bordering of cut stone. /Evergreens, now largely used, form, as they should do, the staple planting on the larger scale, but a judicious blending of those refined colours found in many of our deciduous flowering and foliage shrubs might, I think, be more generally emEloyed, though these can only obtain their est effect where forethought has liberally provided room in the designing and laying out the ground. For the planting on the lesser scale, -viz., the graves, we nave an infinite variety from which a selection of the most appropriate can be made, but all cannot make that selection. What*boon it would be to many could they obtain practical aid and advice on the spot, also be supplied at a nominal cost with suitable plants from a reserve garden attached to a large cemetery. This plan would prevent those incongruities often noticeable. . My bean ideal of what God's acre should be is the Convent cemetery of the Loretto Abbey, Rathfarnham, Co. T)ubltn. I could discourse at some length on the rather extensive, well stocked: fruit and vegetable gardens, each quarter framed In borders of hardy flowers, but this is outside the pressnt subject. The private cemetery is a garden within the garden. It appeared to be walled in, yet a profusion of Ivy and creepers in pendent luxuriance gracefully outlined the whole. With the exception of a massive Celtic cross to the memory of the foundress, one saw* but few reminders of the destroying angel's presence. Lowplaced metal memorials entwined with white Roses, now blooming prof usely, Inconspicuously, marked each resting place. A continuous border' of hardy flowers under the creeper-clad walls were of every conceivable shade of white. As seen here, tbat sameness one might expect from the use Of white flowering plants only, did not obtain. With the trees, shrubs, and flowers Nature is allowed to have just so much of her own way as shows to her best advantage. Order without undne restraint gave the happiest effect. To mc tbere was a beauty and appropriateness not before observed in cemetery gardening. To Sister Evangelists, the lady who conducted v«, there was a deeper meaning attached to many of these floral tributes—they bore the touch of vanished hands, that had years ago brought many of the roots to this garden in a garden.— Journal of Horticulture.

The best time for repotting Ferns is after they have started into growth. It is sometimes recommended that tbey should be potted while dormant, but It Is better towait un-il they have made some new growth. They . may not all require larger pots, some may be reduced and potted back into smaller pots, but In all cases it will be better to give them some fresh soil. Those- that are much pot-bound should have tbe lower portion and the'crocks cut away and the roots loosened out with a pointed stick. Most-Terns require putting down a little deeper each time they are potted. This particularly applies to the Pterises, Asplentumv &&, which produce new roots from the crown of the plants as they advance in growth. If not potted down deep enough for these roots to take hold of the 'soil the' plants soon die 6ft. OverpottiDg, combined with tec much water Is the frequent cause of .allure in Fern culture. The slender growing sorts should} have plenty of drainage. . Those with spreading rhizomes do not root so deeply, and as they require more surface room, than those with a tufted eandex. shallow pots ■ or pans may be used In S reference to pots. It Is better to eep the. soil up well ? above , tha rim-* of the pots. Large plants In most cases do not need .potting more of ten than every second year. When large plants of the creeping Davulllas begin, to; be bare or crowded with old rhizon.es the plants should be broken up and repott-d,

They lose a few froiul«, but soon and grow all the better afterwards. f_l_f% plants may be potted every B«ce„di2Ks cutting away a few of the old rhf»m«_!_F s as to work a little fresh soil a&onJSr .- them, and they soon start into growttM again and crow vigorously. These p_S * do not n-?fd deep tool room, and shallow pans are infinitely be'ter tl_r'-.""' pots. If pieces are planted in basketslfti over, the ihizomei will soou creen _n round and prove more effective Htmp»_ ( i 4 from the roof than when placed on _T stage-?. It Is often the ca*e that moren*»t is used in Fern comport than !» i,i_?* nary. Many Ferns tfrow equally £§. in good loam, leaf-mould, nnd S nnd rnf_„ wlihbrnkt'tt sundstoneorsnrthrk-k, jy " of the Maidenhair Ferns do Well |'„ _it-_l ; ilbrous loam, with the addition Ct a llttt well-rotted inanuie and sufficient shlJ! sand to ker-p tho soil open. It i s with spreading rhizomes which seetn_t I succeed better in a peaty compost. J__!? iof tho Aspleniutn* will be found to A bettt-r with some peat in the compost and , tor those which root.on the surface iori Sphngnuui is beiu'ticial. S rung growlo. Adi&utums will bear the reduction of th,r roots without much Injury, where thi must be done to keep them ik-althy in » same size puts. The more delicate th* variety the greater should he the care It reducing them. All Ferns that it is „««„ tsary to increase in size should he luto latge pots without disturbing thai. roots. At the present *ea-.on such FernJ as can bo iucreased hy division can b» safely propagated by division. The bay plants for dividing are those which havi not stood long iv the pots. Young plants with three or four crowns may be divideo and will start away much better thttr when old stunted plants are broken _p. j„ dividing the plants it is much better tt j break them than to use a knife. Care I should bo takmi to prevent the plants K6t ting withered during the opera* ion. Evertthing should be prepared beforehand,arm) if putted aud put into a close frame, tha plants will start away freely andseoah* established. The spring is also the best time for sow ing the spores of Ferns, as the puirtah.ve then.all the reason before them toget wejl established before the wiuter anlvs, Many methods of so.viog Fern -nores sr« recommended—several of which hsy' already appeared lv those columns, _'*_,_,- may, however, be sown on any good loami soil,, which should either be baked ot watered with boiling water before bt>!_» used. The pots m«y lie filled to wl-ii* about an inch of the top and then Hurfieed over with a little very flu'-ly sifted compos with whtch niiiy be mix d some charcoal and sand. The spores should he sown. <& evenly as 00->sihle nnd not too thickly. It; is advisable to collect fresh sport**; though it is generally supposed that Fun fporu will keep for an indefinite pt-riot, fresh spores are much more reliable. The uiir. face of the puts should not ho watered -'' but the pots may bo stood in saueerv ■ which should be filled up occasionally, but not kept always fall. Cover the pots v*U_ ' glass nnd place them in any shady posltiou j and the spores will soou germinate.

It Is not a good pract'ce to rat c Tomato plants intended for the open air at thi same time as those wanted for house culture. Kept in small pots till the stem* are very herd and the plants generalli starved they are a long time in recovariog late crops resulting accordingly. ' Jerusalem Artichokes.—Although these cad be and often are grown for several years in succession on the same plotot ground, they succeed better and tho - tubers are of superior quality when » change of site is given. In any cats then should be some system of culture adopted. - Allowing the plants to come up how sad where they like is a slovenly proceeding, Give them the benefit of freely manured, deeply dug soil, and plant 12in apart, Gin j deep, in rows3ft asunder, taking care nor to break the strongest sprout when covet ing with soil.— Journal of Horlicxdiwe, Frit illaria aurea is one of the earliest and t ertainly one ot tbe gems of it? family. I» is dwarf, but most attractive, and «ai;«bl»----for a choice nook orcoroer—forpKterenca in good soil on Grass, so that its ft<wn_ may not bo soiled. Not more than Gin iv height, the flower bends over nearly ttttlij ground, but shows up well, being rfca yellow with dark brownish spots usd large. 'l no following arrangement obtained tha first prize at a leading English snow a lev weeks ago :—The cautre was a large Palm. and around this grouped in moss •_. rustic cork were Liliums, Caladlums, and Ixora sallcifolla, the orange colour of tbe latter showing well with the foliage of thr Caladlums and white Liliums. At th« base was a mass of green Adlan funis, ftota which rose Odontoglostums, Oneidittmi, and other Orchids. At each corner a smsli mound was similarly arranged, lesser om being placed at Intervals throughout t_ group. Tbe whole was cleverly and tastefully put together, and reflected credit lib the exhibitor and his assistants. Suppoi ts for Carnation- .—Have any erf your readers ever tried bell-wire st_*lw pushed into the stakes for these and other flowers? Pierce holes in the stakes -tefef** hand, for the staples, or II preferred oas hole for lead or other soft wire; push * piece of wire through tbe hole, th-m around the stem, and a twi*t secure* it. Phormium Hookeri.-This plastba* recently flowered for the first tin.uat-uw. It has dark green flaccid leaves mlsst and nearly 3in wide, and compound gpl-en of yellowish green flowers, the tslles] spikes being 6ft high. There is a rasrkM difierence between this aud P. rent*, Ins New* Zealand Flax, both in. ?ol?s§„__™ flowers. Sir Joseph Hooker, whsndetwib' Ing P. Hooker! from a plant now-wedls ff garden in Cornwall seven y«ar* sgo, a.?* It was first sent to hlra by Mr R. taa&Bi « Tasmania, who found Jr in 1861 oa the Waitangi River In New Zealand; wjiSMlit grew pendulous from almost P«l»W«»__j rocks in great abundance. - Ift* «*? plants are ftrown in the ternpsraehottte, but Mr Watson says, in Aba «"™*«_f: Forest, he has seen examples m the o»2, air in Cbrhwall> and for severs! years thm plants flourished in'a sheltered corner Osl of doors at Kew. Variegated Kales are net so uwfw £» the hardier kinds, neither* can Wj compared to the curled vn rletles M regards flavour, nor ere they •°& they are valuable for gafaisbloa T» best colours are secured In p<»* *_»♦ **_J the ground is at all rich the growth toiW :: sncenlent and the variogatlon not dW laA Dwarf plants are more, curled, and wo* fore more useful for garnishing. '-_::