THE GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 303, 23 December 1898, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

(BY HORTUS.)

[Hortus is willing to answer any queries Correspondents must give their real names and addresses, though not for publication.] _. CALENDER OF OPERATIONS—DECEMBER 23. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Variegated Foliage.—H.G.—Variegation upon plant leaves is best perfected and maintained under sunshine, hence your maintenance of the plant at the back of the room away from the window is inimical to it. Variegated market plants frequently have green leaves placed amongst them to fill the pots .up better. The latter increase in growth at the expense of the former, and in time these dual drawbacks -would be very detrimental to variegation. We advise small shifts into fresh soil and more light. Window Boxes (R.C.).—Window box flowers will have been at their gayest during the past few weeks. Owing to the past hot sunshine, they are likely, however, to show a falling off as regards, the volumes of bloom. Assiduous care in watering them and picking off all shabby decaying blooms, with their seeding propensities, will have maintained them trim and presentable nevertheless, even though they occupy a full south or sunny aspect, and hence are likely to suffer more than such as are placed on east, west, or other kindred aspects. I have often wondered that more of the residents in Auckland do not go in for growing plants in boxes in the windows. There is no climate in the world in which this class of gardening would succeed better.