Welsh Newspapers

Search 15 million Welsh newspaper articles

Hide Articles List

26 articles on this Page

. MITRAL JOTTINGS. r^v

News
Cite
Share

MITRAL JOTTINGS. r^v ^LE HINTS AND INFORMA- TION. HARDY ANNUALS. great expense in either rearing %^°la ne in iargo quantities of geraniums, 93*H £ rrias> verbenas, begonias, and other v~0wering plants to furnish their and delightful results are Iup 4 t^le ever and all impor- Vi of expense proves a great I °* 10 many indulging in such plants 5jeat they would like. To all such of tu nev>er mind, but go in largely for ^be beat, brightest, and sweetest t*any of these are really fur more tbe exPcnsive bedding plants, a better and more varied show, Sw fragrant, which all like, and irttle. Half-a-crown or five shillings am Secare many geraniums, Ac., but would get a nice variety of aTlfi be sufficient to Btock the U 6 of cottage or villa gardens. The >k °' A-pril i« a good tim<> to introduce h ^ost °f them are very small and aVJk6 a surface or soil, but give v^ance and manure wad dig the °re a^TPting to sow. They Will rr^somely for this, and. do not expect wjcfchowt it. Whole bordec*B and beds may be filled with them, or they may be sown in patches amongst hardy herbaceous plants, shrubs, and other things. In the latter cases always manure and dig the spot where the eeed will be put before sowing. The larger seeds may be put in drills about lin. deep, but the small ones may be sown on the surface and covered over lightly. If the soil is stiff, use a sanely material to cover the seed with. Do not sow thick, as annuals, as a rule, come up sickly if overcrowded. Few of them succeed in a shady spot. All like sunshine, and most of them a-re capable of making a display in both town and country garden. Owners of the former need not be afraid to introduce them. Of varieties there are very many, and the following are especially popular: —Sweet Alyfimn, Calliopsis, Candytuft, Glarkia, Corn- flower, Godetia, Larkspur, Lupins, Love-lies- bleeding, Mignonette, Nasturtiums, Nemophi- las, Poppies, Sunflowers, Sweet Peas, Sweet Sultane, Tropseolums, Zinnias, and Virginian Stocks. APPLE LANE'S PRINCE ALBERT. A correspondent who owns laarge orchards in Herefordshire sends me some nice samples of this apple, and asserts that it is one of the surest bearing kinds in the country. The fruits are large, roundish, slightly conicle, very firm in the flesh, and of a pale, yellow colour. It is better adapted for cooking than dessert, but it ia, undoubtedly, a most useful fruit, and. although it is termed a March apllJe, its Dest qualities are still efficient in April. INCREASING THE ASPARAGUS SUPPLY. A desire to do this is possessed by everyone who has had any experience of this delicious vegetable on the table. It is one of the good things of the garden of which there ia never enough, and I am sure many will be glad to add to their plantations. At one time asparagus was thought to be difficult to culti- vate. It was hardly attempted outside large gardens under professional hands, and a great 1 deal of superfluous fuss was ma<de about it there; but culture improves a.nd becomes better known, and now all who grow aspara- gus know that it is no more difficult to culti- vate it successfully than a bed of strawberries or onions. Neither is it necessary to go to any great expense in introducing it. Roots can readily be bought at a few shillings per 100, and now is the beet time to begin new, or increase old plantations. Do not make beds. They occupy too much epaee. Plant row after row on the level and they will do quite as well. Heavy soil is unsuitable for aspara- gus. Light loam, or, better still, sandy material, is the best. If there is none of this in the garden it would pay to introduce a few cartloads of sand to mix and dig in with the asparagus soil. Sea sand is very suitable, but road scrap pings or river sand will do. A dressing of half. decayed manure and a good sprinkling of salt should be given, then dig tie whole in deeply. If there are roots in the garden two years' old from seed, dig the surplus up and plant them. If not, there are plenty for sale. Two-year-old roots are a. good age to plant. If they are received by train 1J.3 sure they are not allowed to dry up. This is a great check to many of them, and is respon- sible for many failures which Alight he averted. In planting put them in rows eigh- teen inches apart, with one foot between each root. At this distance there will be a full crop on the ground, and more will be secured from it than if they were in beds with wide pathways between. Ta.ke the hole for ea-ch root out with a spade, make it wide enough to let the roots in all, spread out and not doubled; make the holes four inches deep, and before the roots are covered over place a couple of handfuls of sand round each. Level the ground up, and for the first year a row of some vegetable, such as lettuce, spinach, radish, Ae., may be grown between each row of asparagus; but do not crowd other crops amongst the asparagus, and let it have every chance. Do not delay planting at once, as the rooto will be checked if not transplanted till the growth a.re one or two inches high. ASPARAGUS ROOTS FROM SEEDS. This is much the cheapest way of getting a stock of roots, but they do not bear use- able heads for three years, and this is a good while to wait. It is a way that will not suit those who want a supply soon, but some roots may be planted to secure this and seed sown as well to produce roots for future planting. The groumd for the seed should be well dressed with manure and sand. Dig it deeply and sow the seed in rows eighteen inches apart. It may be put rows eighteen inches apart. It may be put at a depth of two inches, and cover the seed with sand before putting the soil on. With the rows eighteen inches apart the roots will be in a permanent position, and when one or two years old they can be lifted and or two years old they can be lifted and planted elsewhere, leaving one at every foot to form the crop. If the soil is well pre- pared previous to sowing -^ese seedling roots are the quickest to yield a.nd the most satis- factory, as they are never checked by trans- planting. Those who use many asparagus roots for forcing every winter should sow a quantity of seed every spring to keep up a good supply of roots. CLEMATIS INBIVISA LOBATA. At present this clematis is delighting all who have it as a greenhouse climber. It is truly charming. It is one of free and grace- ful growth, with long, slender shoots that are most attractively clothed with pinkish white flowers in innumerable quantities. Each flower is about the size of a half-erown. single and of the best clematis type. When not in bloom the leaves always furnish. agreeably the positions they occupy, and it is, altogether, a plant of the utmost merit. It may be grown in a box, tub, large pot, or planted in a bed or border. It likes a half-loam, half-peat eoil, with a good deal of sand and not much manure. Small plants introduced now would make a fine impression this time next year. EAltLY RUNNER BEANS. Those who desire to have runner beans early for show or other purposes shouM plant a number in pots now and raise them under glass. If three or four seeds are put into three-inch pots in good soil and placed in a frame or greenhouse, enough plants will be produced to plant a good row., and beans will be forthcoming by the end of June or early in July. They do not take much space or attention to get them up, and they are very useful, ae it is difficult getting the plants in the open till May or later. Dwarf varieties may also be raised under glass with the object of planting them out later. LIMB WATER FOR FRUIT TREES. All fruits that form stones require time to perfect them. These are plums, cherries, peaches, nectarines, apricots, Ac. Where lime is deficient in the soH. many of the stones never swell and many of the fruit faU off before they are any size. This is disappointing. I know of a garden containing some fine cherry trees, but the owmer was dis- appointed year after year in their not, hearing any fruit. It all fell off prematurely. On my advice he eoaiod the | roots with lime water before the flowers opened, and ever since lie has had excellent crops. Now, lime water is one of his regular annual applications. If there is lime in the eoil water is not eo neoeesary, but as it is easily given and such a beneficial liquid I am in favour of giving all stone fruit trees a good soaking of it a.t this time. Let the lame Boak for a few days in a. cask; then stir it op, and give enough to penetrate to all the roots. BEST POSITION FOR REARUiG- CHICKENS. The young chickens stooald always have the beet positions available. This facilitates their rearing surprisingly, while, if not well situated, their progress ie slow a.nd results disappointing. It is always a very bad plan to attempt to rear chickens amongst the old fowls. When they are confined to yards there is little choice of position, but erven then, the chicks should always be divided off and the cleanest and driest ground given to them. Being able to feed them by themeelvee, too, is a great advantage. Rearing on grass is the easiest and beet of all; and when this is not available, let the surface be of fine ashes. In wet weather these dry fast, they are sweet and free from filth, which is a great matter. The ashes may be put higher in the middle of the run than at the sidee. In fact, there may be quite a small mound in the centre. If the wind can blow through the plac-s unrestrictedly put a screen up on the windy side, but on no account shade any part from the sunshine till that is wanted. For the more fortunate poultry keepers who have grass runs or fields there will be no difficulty in selecting good places. The very best of all is the sunny side of a hedge bank. It is quite extraordinary how chiokens thrive in such a spot. They grow very faet and suffer very little. The coops are sometimes put trader trees. There could hardly be a worse place as the draughts there are very trying. I would; rather have them out in a open field than in such a spot, but wherever there ia any rough- ness that gives shelter and harbours grubs and infects put them near. as they will be in their element there. Avoid exposed heights. and try* and avoid rearing them on the same place as was employed last year. Fresh ground is a most welcome facility. PROTECTING TIrE J>OOD OP SMALL CHICKENS. The young obicfeens are generally fed with more choice and expensive food than the oM fowls, bat when the obicfeens are retired amongst the large ones, it is a very dUfieolt matter to do justice to them in the way of food. The old ones will insist in ea.ting up the greater part of it. and they take the best first, which is all against the rear- ing of the young ones. If space will not admit of the chicks being reared by themselves, the chicks food should be protected in such a way that the lajrge ones cajanot reach it. A email wood frame, two or three feet square, may be made, aad covered with three-inch meabed wire netting. Put the f ood laeade or ua4«r tbm. Tha nhinta -l will get through to it, but the large fowls will not reaich it. A frame on which small stipe of wood are nailed two or three inches apart will answer the same purpose, and if sparrows eat much of the food, which they often do, cover the frame with lin. netting, and make a hole or two at the sides to admit the chicks. THE SWEET TOBACCO PLANT. This is a perpetual favourite of mine. It is the Necotiana amnis. which may be grown as a border flower in summer or kept in the greenhouse or window. It has leaves like the ordinary tobacco, but throws up spikes 2ft. high or more, and these develop many tube white flowere, which emit a most delicious fiagrance more like lily of the valley than tobacco. The scent is very penetrating, and most agreeable. One or two plants will perfume a whole house, and if planted out of doors the surrounding atmosphere is delight- ful, especially in the evening. I have had plants sometimes live through the winter, and go on the following year. I have also had young self-sown plants come up where the old ones had seeded in the autumn, but j it is best and surest to sow a pinch of seed I now in a 6in. pot, and raise some plants in any genial atmosphere, and pot them or plant them out when they can be handled. It is most accommodating in its require- ments. VEGETABLES FOR NEXT WINTER. In the pressure of spring cropping it is very important that the vegetable plants for next winter's supply be not forgotten. These in- clude all kinds of broccoli, kale, savoys, and such like. Plants of all may be bought in some localities, but it is much better, cheaper, and more convenient when everyone rears their own plants, and this can readily be done. Now is the time to sow the seed. Let the extent of this be according to require- ments. Half an ounce of seed or a pateh of plants a yard square will be enough for most demands. They may be raised in any odd corner where the soil is good and the position unshaded. Sow the seed thinly broadcast, and coyer over to a depth of half an inch. Birds are very fond of such seeds, and if not protected with nets they should be frequently ducted with lime or soot. It is also a good plan to roll the seeds in red lead before sow- ing. Broccoli is a most important winter veget- able. It covers a, period extending from October till May. A few varieties will do this. They may be vetches, self-protecting; snows, winter white; backhouses, winter white; Cattle's Eclipse, Lea.mington, and Late Queen, dwarf green coloured, is a fine savoy, and enrley kale is always reliable in times of or after severe weather. In EmaR gardens and for large families, the latter is a most pro- ductive vegetable, and a good bateh of it should be grown. CROCUS IN THE GRASS. The finest display of these I have seen this spring were close to Buckingham Palace. The lawn was on a slope, which showed the flowers off to advantage. They were not growing in lines, rings, or formally, but in a styie free from design, which added greatly to théir fascination. The colours were mixed. purple, yellow, white, Ac. They covered the turf thinly with a mass of colour, and were intensely attractive, so much so that no display of flowers I saw in London in the same week was regarded as so delightful. They had been planted with a lavish hand, and this is the way to secure cuffect. The Same bulbs had given a display for four successive yeara, a-nci looked as if they would continue for as many more. One or two correspondents complain this week that their crocus in the grass always depreciates and eoon die off. This must be where the lawns are very flat a id damp, or probably partially shaded, when the bulbs could not mature. But they last much longer on sloping banks and in sandy soil, and I have no doubt in heavy moisture retaining soils many berths have rotted since this time last year. CANNAS FOR FLOWER BEDS. Years ago the Canna plants wete treated as hot-house subjects, but of late it has been found that they succeed quite well in the open in summer, and many now grow them in the flower beds. They afe stately subjects, with ornaiftental foliage, ea.oh leaf being from four to five inches wide. and three feet or so in height. They have a graceful tropieal-like aspect, and in sotce of the London parks and large private gardens they figure conspicuously in the subtropical arrangements of vegetation, but they are equally Effective in small gardens, and merit cultivation everywhere. Apart from the beauty of their foliage, the blossoms they produce are very rich in colours. Indeed, for these alone they are wall worth growing. The plants have a, tube-like root, and now is the time when they should be potted. Use a rich sandy soil; put one bulb into a foor-inch pot. Plaoe them in greenhouse or frame, and let them grow there till the end of May, when they should be planted in the flower beds. CYTIBU8 ROCEMOSUS. This plant is often known Ms the Genista. It has ahaøhy habit of groWth, neat foliage, and produces a fine show of yellow flowers in the early spring. It is an excellent green- house plant, and succeeds in the window. It is sold ia all nurseries, and often in the streets. The latter is always a recommenda- tion to any plant, and is a. sure indication of its being a popular swbject of more than average merit. The plants are usually crowded with flowers, which stand prominent, and emit a. refreshing fragrance. They remain several weéIs in bloom with care. I have known them to be six weeks in full bloom. This was when they were kept uniformly moist at the root, and in a cool, dry, even temperature, such as some rooms afford. When they go out of flower a quantity of seed pods often form. These are a hindrance to the further progress of the plants, and as soon as the flowers wither, cut them all off., Put the plant in a moist, growing atmosphere, give plenty of water, and new growth will come abundantly. When this has developed the plants may be kept in a cool frame. THE ROSEMARY. This is a plant which has been an occupant of gardens beyond all recollection, and it is still a favourite subject with those who take delight in old-fashioned plants and flowers Its habit a.nd colour of foliage and blossoms are all pleasing, and the fragrance of the leaves is liked by all. It will grow in town or country gardens, and is a great success in positions near the sea, where it invariably develops and retains all its best features. 1:. may be associated with hardy perennials in herbaceous borders or with shrubs on and about the lawns. A somewhat sandy soil suits it best. Just now is a very good time to propagate it from cuttings. If some of the best shoots are cut off, made into cuttings, and inserted in sandy soil in any snug nook roots will soon form, and the plants will be ready to transplant next spring. Where the branches rest on the soil layering is another easy way of rooting tbsm. A correspondent asks if the rosemary would be a success as a hedge. It would in time, but it is rather slow in growth, where a rapid hedge is desired.

TEACHING OF FORESTRY.

EASTERTIDE IN SOUTH WALES.

UNSEEMLY OOOCBBENCS.

LLAFTBISANT.

ABEKTTLLERY.

!TREHARRIS.

LLANDYSSUL.

LLANTWIT FARDRE.

ABERGAVENNY. <

MORRISTON.

SINGING FESTIVALS.

TON.

PONTARDULAIS.

NEATH.

BURRY PORT.

BARRY.

TREORKY.

PENTRE.

TONYPANDY.

AGRICULTURE IN WALES.

[No title]

"VERY MAN HIS OWN GARDENER.

CADOXTON-BARRY.

BUILTH WELLS.

PEMBROKE DOCK.