MECONOPSIS BAILEYII.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 2, 3 January 1931, Page 6 (Supplement)

MECONOPSIS BAILEYII.

This beautiful poppywort, which many have tried to grow and flower, but with which few have succeeded, is one of those plants that need just a little extra attention to that afforded to the majority of plants. Meconopsis is one of that section of plants that requires a slight shade and yet it' does not need a shady position; perhaps it would be more correct to say, it needs the> rays of the sun tempered down. One of the best methods of growing this and many other plants of similar requirements is by building a shade house. Not the usual structure built of tea-tree, etc., that is nothing more or less than a temporary home for slugs, etc., but a skeleton structure with a roof of laths running lengthwise, not up and down, with the laths about an inch wide and an inch space between them. This will make a roof that will give a fair shade without being too dark. The sides should be covered with similar laths just down as far as is necessary to keep the outer plants in the shade. A house built with low eaves would hardly require any side curtain. The laths should be to temper the sun, not to shut out air or create draughts; therefore, do not use more than is necessary. All woodwork should be painted with creosote or some wood preservative, especially any parts that are touching the soil or below the ground level.- Above all, do not be led into th© way of planting climbers to cover the roof and make the structure artistic. The result will be that the laths will soon commence to decay, and as the roof will not carry such a weight of foliage, especially when wet, collapse is certain. As well train climbers over a glasshouse to'save shading. Climbers trained up the standards or along the rafters inside is a different matter, but even there, care must be taken that it is not overdone so as to be detrimental to the plants underneath. Meconopsis Baileyii, and many of the new primulas from China and Tibet, and probably if good drainage is secured and a gritty loose soil provided, it might be possible to flower that gem of the Southern Alps, Ranunculus Lyalli, the Mount Cook lily, should de well under these circumstances.