GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13739, 21 May 1910, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES.

(By Hortcb.) In the flower garden clearing up, digging, and planting will now 'be general.' Those who havo not lifted their dahlias may do so if thc foliage has been frosted back some timo ago, but where tho foliage is still growing and full, of'sap they must not be lifted till quite midwinter. Dahlias after lifting should be allowed to dry for a few days -before storing, and where kept for the winter should Iks dry and free from the effect of frost. Herbticeous plants of all . kinds may still be transplanted with safety and success before the wet and frosty weather arrives." So fax this been a splendid season for transplanting and dividing herbaceous plants, andi those which wero removed) early havo now got a grip.of tho ground' and aro plumping their flower and growth buds for next seasons activity. Although the season for planting _pring flowering bulbs is past, anemones and ranunculus . may bo sot out for another month yet; both of theso may Ik* planted over a. long range of season, and by so doing a long succession of bloom.will result.. As stated previously, lioth of theso lil__ a nice free, loamy soil, where drainage is assured. A good dressing of decayed leaves or old pasture soil mixed in the bed: or border is just what thoy,like. Climbing plants, such as honeysuckle, jasmines, and vigorous overgrown climbing plants which havo overgrown themselves, should he pruned hard baokat this season. Tliis will allow tho frosts and wet to clean the stems nnd branches from tho insect pests wiijch make' a winter resort of such < plants. • This'-cutting .back will - also-' mean a freshening and renewing of the,plants, lasting for a long period. By cutting back et this season growth buds will swell at the base of the plants ami make growth early, whereas if-this work is left till spring the growth .byds aitl the top of the branches only will broato - into growth. ' •""',' PLANTS WITH DECORATIVE. BERRIES. Plants bearing'berries .suitable-Tor both garden and homo decoration aro popular at this season. . They provide colour,, which is a lacking quality- just, now. Hollies, perhaps, axe'the very best to grow for this purpose, but;only thoso who have gardens of,tho larger', order caii afford room for this vigorous', growing shrub.' The mountain ash'or rowan tree, berries borno in' clueteiß at the ends of tho branchesi aro' highl.v d.ooratiyo. and when loaded "with fnnt aro a striking object. Tho cotoncasters are- very useful, small-growing shrubs, which mako a bright display in the winter months. Somo are t upright in and bear the berries right up the" stems, which may be cut for decorative work. Other* aro prostrate in character, and because of tliis are useful only for garden decoration,. Solanum capsicastram is ab the present time full of bright orange • red berries, .which make a'snow in tne. garden. For house decoration this plant is largely grown in some places. Arbutus unodo, or Irish strawberry tree, is rather a large-growing shrub for a small garden, but whero .the borders are roomy this .plant deserves a good position-. The fruit is highly decorative when the plant is allowed .to grow freely, as under such treatment the fruit Jiangs at the ends'of 'the brandies in great quantities. Where this plant is cramped in growth th« 3 fruit is often.hidden among the stunt- r od branches, mid its beauty i.. hiddenin consequence. Thero is a very fino shrub of this arbutus in tho grounds of" .tie" Jubilee Home, Woolston. Benthamia fragifera. .another strawberry tree, is also worth growing where plenty of room is available. It, too, requires right treatment to show itself. In the Sanatorium grounds- at ' Rotorua there aro a number of largo plants of the Bcnthamia. wliich at this season are a mass of large brightcoloured fruit. If branches of fruit are cut just before they are quite "rip© . they will keep in water for a long time, and because of this quality'it should be planted by those who require floral house decorations. Some of tho hawthorns bear bcrriis which are high, ly decorative, particularly Crataegus Carricri, tho berries of which, arc as large as a cherry. Another called Crataegus Pyraoerclja, an 'evergreen variety, is woll known for it_= goldonooloured berries. Crataegus Crennlata fa novelty) is .perhaps the brightest berried variety of tbi-> family. There is n fence ■ .>i this *>l.nit growing in Aylir.or .street. Spreydcm,. which' has ■ boon covered with bright red berries } all tho autumn, ami lias been t_he tb- | ject of much. interest and admiration.. | Tlio best plant wo have soon of this j shrub is growing iv the Hobart Botanic | Gardens. It is some eight to tori- feofc in height, and. is covered from base to top every year with berries. Euoiiymus Europeuss (spindle berry), mentioned in hist week's column, is another ■ highly decorative berried plant. Borbori. Vulgaris (the "-cai-let-berried vario'.y. 's n -~>ry beautiful thing whe_a well Lorried. In the Nolson.provincthe hedges ar«. -largely composed .of this' plant, in-l at th in season aro.a sight worth f.<-o!v.-.r. the tenets being loaded v. •'."> bright, srarlft Lorries. Some cf tl-/_ oiJicr iierboils a.-.i boar hemes of decorauve v.-_U'.._. Tlio' Comus family, popular!' l .' kiwuvi. ;...; tho dogwood, are '..•i-i•%■-■•...-'..riu .; -..ini!.-\ but not of the bria-'.;!, '-rd*—. for th*-- -berries of thi. l._.._i.y. uhic. 1 -. jjro.v in bunches at tho ends of i.lk- branches, are white, in colour. Tlio.*.-, however, aro valuable for . decorative, work. Tho Synphorocarpus Raconiosi. or :• n<iwberry, another ■vviute*' coloiir-l berry, is abo worth growing for its s,orri."i. These aio of the purest .white, and may be successfully tised iv floral work -where white is demanded.