GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LXI, Issue 13411, 1 May 1909, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES.

(By Hortts.)

The season for transplanting trees of all kinds is now upon us, and for tho next fivo months the nurserymen will • be very busy filling orders. Owing to the favourable growing season nursery stock is in splendid condition for sending out, and the supplies held exceed those of all previous years. Planting promises to be very extensive, especially of those lines which aro of the practical order, viz., fruit trees and shelter trees, tho latter in particular, a-> settlers aro now making it part of their business to make plantations, which will provide shelter for their stock in the lambing season. Planting trees as break-winds is now extensively done, and is proving a splendid investment to those who live out on tho Plains. Where tho necessary planting has been done, and where shelter ia now growing up, many of tho farmers and settlers are giving more attention to the beautifying of their homesteads, in tho way of lawns, shrubberies and flower beds. The result of such adornment lias given a new. ■ interest to many homes, and it is' refreshing to stato that tho sentiment in favour of gardening is spreading all through the country. This increasing interest in gardening is reflected in tho demand for really first-class nursery.stuff of all kinds, more particularly in the- deciduous tree and- flowering shrub line, and , in roses of all sorts. In tho days df "Auld Lang Syne" tho ■ early settlers had but a very limited choice of plants, anel those of the more vigorous growing . character, suited to the more primitive conditions which then existed. With tho advancing conditions in other lines horticulture too has made progress, and now there is a growing demand for tlie very -best of Ihe newly introduced plants. All English nurseryman- who is taking«a holiday in the Dominion at the present time, has been much struck with the advanced state of horticulture in. New Zealand, and expresses surprise ai the fact that the novelties off wed in the Old World lost year are being freely distributed by the nurserymen of the , Dominion this season. Not only so. but he is intensely interested in the large collections of plants which, are held! by quite a nupiber of tho enthusiastic horticulturists. Nurserymen state that the ordinary lines for which there was a strong hare now become a glut where freely propagated, md; the call is now for plants, shrubs and! trees : of all kinds of the highest merit. The. contention of the planter is 'that * ' quality tree dues.not take up any more room than a oomrao'n one, and that the slightly increased; price for the good kind is much, the better investment. * Tho prosperity in the country has had a marked influence in /the demand! for all Idndsof gooci the plant ' line,; and there- are ajny- number : <rf places in gardening has •become the fridjpnigest -interest in ' the home life of theiieitler. Th> -'" try flower allows often: evidenoe the pro. ' gross that has been made> in horticuT- ■ . ture in/the splendid exhibits which are set up by those who follow gard-ening ~