GARDENING IN ENGLAND.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 243, 14 October 1931, Page 9

GARDENING IN ENGLAND.

CHANGES IN PRACTICE. ANNUALS LESS IN FAVOUR. WONDERFUL NEW SHRUBS. Changes in gardening, practice in England were described by Mr. E. F. Stead, of Christchurch, who returned recently after an absence of some months. "I saw some of the finest gardens in England, and it was at once apparent to me that the character of gardening m England has totally, changed since .'in* war," said Mr. Stead. "Before the war the majority of gardeners.: planted out annuals; to-day they give theirattenvoa almost entirely to flowering shrubs, trees and perennials. Annuals .will always have a place in the gardens, but now they are used in very few cases to form the major display. . "During the last 40 years English enthusiasts have sent many expeditions £6,a1l the temperate countries in the world, and to the hjgh altitudes in the tropical lands, in search of flowers and shrubs that will thrive in England. Tiie last was controlled by a man named Coomber, who. explored Tasmania in i 930. • •' ""■;.'..;■.'■ ; "There is no doubt that the changes that have occurred in England will be reflected in New Zealand. One. of the main reasons is that the'.first frosts of the season spoil the year's work with annuals, whereas shrubs are not affected., I saw many shrubs in England '■-.that would do very well, here, and they■ have never yet been introduced. For instance there is the crinodendron hooker i, which has a flower like a Chinese, lantern, growing to a height of 15ft, and. presenting a wonderful blaze of colour. It would revel in the-climate of'New-Zet-land, particularly in Christchurch'.' And there are many; others which 1 , should be in every Christchurch garden.". ' : ' Giant Magnolia. One of the finest flowers he saw in Englan- 1 was the magnolia sargentiana, which grew to a height of 15ft. It bore 12 or 14 blooms, each over a foot in diameter. The colour was a mauve-pink, and the flowers were carried, on theends of the deciduous branches.■ It male a stir in floral circles, in England Lhis year. Mr. Stead has brought out some of the seedi cf this plant, but he is ntf, certain whether -they -will *be

for the reason that magnolia seeds are notoriously hard to travel. This plant bloomed in captivity in England for the first time this year, and it took 23 years to flower from the seed. 'i'ne plants in Mr. Stead's possession are grafted, and he anticipates that it will be about ten years before they will flower. „ Magnificent Rhododendrons. "I went Home mainly to see the rhododendrons, and they were magnificent," said Mr. Stead. "The hybrids are improving, and the spe'cies recently imported from China and elsewhere are now big enough to show their true character as garden plants. The blooms' were magnificent, and there was nothing to choose between them. The rhododendron show was the most spectacular i tfiLig I have ever- seen, some of the ,trade exhibits having plans 10ft high, -with flowers 12 and 14 inches across." .. Mr. Stead added tliat rock gardens were increasing in popularity in England, particularly in the 'smaller sections.