HORTICULTURAL NOTES. THE WEATHER, AND FRUIT PROSPECTS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2490, 4 December 1901, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES. THE WEATHER, AND FRUIT PROSPECTS.

For some months past the weather has been anything but favourable to gardening- , pursuit 5 -. Continual winds have letarded ye- ' getation, and therefore both fruit and flowers are in a backward condition. However, a few hours' rain has lately fallen, and calmer weather prevails, shj that things will now have a char.cc of making up for lost . time. In some places the fruit trees have suffered severely, but in sheltered spots there is an abundant crop of apples and pears. Other fruits are Jiot so largely grown ( about here, plums and apricots coming after apples and pears in quantity, these hay- ; ing a, fairly good crop. .Small fruits are looking well, b>;£ the birds have already be- , gun stripping tha currants, although they I are quite green. The only remedy is to net the bushes if it is desired to obtain the fruit.

ABUTILON VITIFOLIUM.

A specimen of this beautiful flowering shrub is now in full bloom in our public gardens. The foliage is large and vine-shaped, and the flowers are borne in great profusion in. large clusters, the colour being a pale lilac. This specimen is about" 6ft high, and was a seedling which I brought from a friend in Christchurch, and planted in t-he gardens three years ago. All the Abutilons are showy and useful shrubs, generally grown in the greenhouse, but in sheltered localities they do very well planted in the open during- summer, when they flowei profusely. The subject of thi<* note is the hardiest of all, and will stand the severest frost. It was originally introduced into Great Britain from Chili in 1837, so has been a long time in cultivation.

RHODODENDRONS.

There is a fine jshow of these magnificent flowering shrubs at present in the grounds .of Mr James Holmes, Awamop. About six I weeks ago a few of the earliest commenced to bloom, and since that time a continuous show has been maintained by the many varieties here cultivated. Several of the J specimens are over 6ft in height, and as ~much through, and flowering with a grandeur ( unsurpassed by any other hardy shrub. I j have often been told that rhododendrons would not thrive in this district owing to the presence of lime in the poil, but those at Awamoa are as healthy a lot as any about Dunedin. I intended an article wholly on rhodendrons ; but "I. M. I" in a late issue ! of the Witness forestalled me with an in1 teresting article, which I read with pleasure.

SUMMER SHOW.

The Dunedin Horticultural Society's Show j is advertised to be held on the 18th of this j month, and it is to be hoped that , favourable weather may be experienced to bring things ; forward in time. The society offer liberal prizes, something- over £30 being offered for rose* alone, so that should induce growers to come forward and assist the society, as*, they deserve every encouragement for tUeiy ' efforts tc make the society a flourishing institution. JAMES GEBBIE. Awamoa, Oamaru. i