GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14406, 13 July 1912, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES

(Bγ HORTUH:)

GENERAL 11EMARKS

Garden, work has been, delayed, mid will be for some time, .owjrig to the' heavy downpour of rain, which has made the soil quite sodden.*' AVhilo thr> ground is drying, up pruning fruit trees .vHonld bo completed, and. when thi> ■ days are dry and free from doinp, winter spraying should ,ha undertaken. On no account spray tho trees whilo tho bark is damp; to do so is-to reduce thq value of some of tho compositions, andslso to alter the character of Mini* with detrimental effect.. Seed-sowiuy in the way of Lobelia, Ten-week Stocks, ' Marguerite Carnations, Iceland Pop- " pies, and somo other summer-flowering . plants, may bo sown where a "greenhouse or franco is> possessed.' With'such, early sowing, keeping tho soil in a proper condition is necessary, especially in relation to moisture, for if. : the soil i* kept damp at this season, tho' seeds are liable to rot or loso their.vitality. . It is a much better plan to kcop $ht» humidity in the soil by covering- with a sheet of glass or shading with paper. This will keep tho soil in an equable condition, neither damp.nor dry. Seed, rowing -will 'not really start' for 'some timo yet," not until tho sun's rays are . strong enough to raise tho temperature in-the soil, ROYAL INTERNATIONAL HOUTIGULTURAL EXHIBITION. Tho "Gardeners' Chronicle , '< for Ist of June gives a, full account of th» J groat, show which opened on May 22nd ? and regained open till May.3oth." "It. ~ is' described as a wonderful demonstrii- j tiori of- tho progress of tho art of horticulture and an object-lesson in tho ad- ; vanco movement of this great science. \ The exhibits were magnificent, and at-, tractive to a degree, and displayed! a , V variety that.was simply marvellous.. * ; Pot plants were much in evidence, and % Orchids must have " represented many : thousands of pounds. "Flowering shrubs from all parts of tho w.orld were strongly exhibited. Ono very, fine collection from China attra6tcd much attention. A very fino collection of Neyr Zealand ■ plants was set up by Captain Dorinnr Smith,' of tho Scilly Isles, and mado an attractive exhibit. Included in * this . collection- -tfere some, new plants from ; tho Chatham Islands which this.gentle- '■ . man himself-.collected. • Insectivorous • plants mado an .important and attrao- ■' tivo group, and*wcro/set up in the form • of a mossy bankj with, a pool' of water ' at the foot, with ferns"ana grasses lierc . and there. Swoet-pcas made a remarkable display. aUko for their extent and. quality.;.this 'particularly considering the earlincss of the season. '-The flowers, however.',were all indoor grown. Alpines were well displayed, and as this class of plants is now very popular, it ' is not surprising that there were many new things on exhibition. A Japanese garden was ono of the features of the show. This garden ,was arranged on what was but a few .weeks previously a- playing-gronnd for tho children of tho district. Miss Carter, who arranged tho garden, received tho highest commendation for tho artistic arrangement, and King Georgo and Queoii Mary wcro particularly pleasecU'foth the whole Fruit was an important part of the * ■ Exhibition. Grapes and melons particularly made a magnificent show. Tho niost interesting portion of this display was tho fruit trees fgromi in tubs), laden with fruit, the&o forced into ripening by being ax own under glass. One *>xbibitor of thfso growing » trees took no loss than 20 lorries, and ' waggons to transport Ids display. Vegetables,also wero quit© up to, tln> sinndarc] of inch a show, and tW way the exhibits were set up. was an objectIcsson wortli copying" by our .local growers, althong-i in this respect they havo always given greater attention to setting up their exhibits than many of ' tho flower exhibitors. Altogether th«» £rrat international display mi:st liave been an inspiration to horticulturists, .' and more, for the report stated l that many gardeners, especially tho profes- i f»i<m:il. -:00k much interest in tno scion- v. tilic side of horticulture, and spent » mii':!i timo in tho section tlcvoted to \ science. . J Tho hospitality oxtfndwl to visitors " I from other lands was quite- a feature \ - of the eatiiprinjr. and this was on an erLnnsive scale, and ((iiite in accordance ' .with ths» wliolpjof tlie great undertal;ing.