Garden Notes.

Rodney and Otamatea Times, Waitemata and Kaipara Gazette, 7 August 1912, Page 5

Garden Notes.

Most people love a garden, that is n: real garden, a place where uWsis grow and birds nest and sing, that requires some regular attention on our part that will respond to our every thought and feeling", a sacred place, a place our very own., Not the elaborately laid out park, or Botanical gardens, there are luxuries denied us, but they are still some compensation to those compelled to live in towns and cities. No.

But just the old fashioned country garden where the old fashioned flowr ere, the narcissus and daffodils, the pansy, mignonette and forget-me-not seem to have things very much their own way, and the rose will offer you its tribute of beauty and fragrance nearly the whole year round, the little gate almost buried in the hedgej gives on the old stone and brick pathway, bordered with box edgeing and leading to the cottage door, divides the little plot in two, the flowers are dotted about all along near the path and little rows of onions, carrofs, beet, lettucej cabbage etc., run at right angles to the dividing fence; covered in summer time with a mixture of sweet peas, tomatoes, and scarlet runners. There is a little rustic nook in one corner covered with ivy and honey suckle, sacred to the memory of many hours of joy and sorrow, and beside the porch where the.owner sits at her knitting and, over which the purple wisteria hangs its graceful flowers, a bonny briar bush. It is all rather a mixture. It is brought about this way you see, the owner loves her garden and fills up all empty spaces as they occur, with anything she can get, but the general effect of it all is, to help to make home " Sweet Home."

I fancy I hear some reader saying. Its all very well, " But" etc., etc. Yes, it is just these " Buts " we would like to deal with. If you have trouble in any" way with your garden, just write and let us know just what the difficulty is, and we will help you to the best of our ability. We will assume it is a new piece of ground, and very stiff to work, perhaps mostly clay. To the uninitiated, (and"it is for these especially these notes are intended) to would seem almost impossible to bring this class of hand to the condition of good garden soil. It can be done, just a little more work and patience at first, that's all, don't attempt too much at once. First break up or trench the ground to a depth of at least one foot, the deeper the better, leave for a week or two, then work down the rake after rain, but not while sticky. Sow a mixture of oats and peas, (any peas will do) fairly thick, with any phosphatic or Jnatural manure available, when the peas are in bloom, the whole mass must be cut and allowed to rot oh top of ground, add to this any green vegetable refusep.c.ocurable or the whole may be dug in at once, and the operation repeated, without manure with any green crop suitable for sowing at that time of year. This process will enrich the ground cheaper and more effectively than any other method Try this, not only on clay soil, but any other class of soil, except peaty, which is not so satisfactory, and the results will surprise you. Shelter, you must have from rough cold winds, provide1 this where necessary, any of the many hedge plants may be planted now. The variety simply a matter ot choice. If the exchequor won't stand the shock, beg some cuttings of Elceagnus Japonica, they root readily, make a good shelter, but are slow at first. If space will allow, while your permanent shelter is growing, sow a belt of Black Wattle. Acacia decurrens, 6d per ounoe, sow in October, first soak seed in hot water, two days. For a make<shift,lace ti-tree through a wire fence, only have a shelter.

Any of the hardy annuals may be sown now. Pick out wallflowers and any other flower seedling, self-sown, and keep the hoe busy on bright warm days, If you are in the township this week end, look in the Times office window. Old Ebony; Some education in ferro concrete is wanted over Sydney way. An Auckland contractor, who is also a member of the Auckland Harbour" Board, has just related how he saw only last month, wharf extension proceeding. They were casing the timber with concrete. Perhaps the engineer in charge will report that concrete work is expensive, and is liable to crack. Moxliam Aveuue, Kilbirne. The Grand Pharmacy, 3 Willis Street, Enclosed is Is 7d in stamps for which post a bottle of NAZOL. This is quite the finest thing I've found for curing Influenza. My son was very bad -with the complaint recently, as had a good grip on him—but one night's treatment effected a complete cure. I had also a very bad cold coming on, which a few doses of NAZQL quite disposed of. I thank you for recommending the* cure to, me. Yours' truly, E,' Keay Bbowx. 12