GARDEN NOTES

Press, Volume L, Issue 14916, 14 March 1914, Page 8

GARDEN NOTES

(By Hortcs.)

GENERAL REMARKS

-With the advent of colder nights there is a decided stoppage of growth in the moro tender plants, and also in many of the deciduous shrubs. Sucii plants have received notice to stay their growth for tho season, and will go quietly to rest. Fruit on tho trees will also manifest the staying of the Bap flow in turning either a yellow, brown or red, these colours denoting tlie ripening process and the changing of the acids to sugar.

The present time may be described as the starting point for the coming season's work. In tho flower garden interest in tho past season's work is waning, and gardeners have not plotted out their work for tho days to come. In tho fruit garden tie gathering of tho fruit is the most important work. Among the vegetables not much seed sowing is being done, nor much planting. From now on, however, schemes will bo arranged for autumn and .winter work, especially in relation to bulb-planting, setting out rose beds, making new orchards, or adding to- those already made, laying down lawns and generally speaking, taking in the whole, gamut of garden work. It is in the autumn that the best work is dono in this direction.

Flower shows for tho season aro almost over One flower has yet to have its yearly levee, viz., tho chrysanthemum. This is to take place during the end of April and the beginning of May. It must bo stated with regret that this plant is not so much grown for show purposes as it has been in the past. This is no doubt explained by the fact that the public are not enraptured by tho monster blooms as in days gone hy. Its popularity might bo increased again if more support wore given to growing and exhibiting this flower with well-developed trusses rather than a superabundance of monster blooms. Large blooms have their ? ?°5J fr ~f° have tne ,ess in siz <S nnd it the decorative chrysanthemum were helped and used chrysanthemum shows would be more interesting ard m? A c , bea . ut rfnL It must be admitted that the craze for large blooms Jf ß^ 8 m *¥ disca rding of many th Sadden decorative chry-

HYDRANGEAS. These flowering; shrubs are not grown as much as they should be. It is doubtful if there is any garden p*nt which develops such noble heads of bloom as the hydrangea. It is particularly valuable in that it makes its display at this season when there are so lew other flowering shrubs in Moom. l>urmg this month the writer of these notes has seen several very fine displays of this plant, some specimens being covered from top to base with magnificent trusses of bloom. In some other parts of the world the hydrangea is sometimes grown as a garden fence, and as such is impressive, the hanoV some foliage furnished at the endSj of the branches with heads of bloom making a distinctive and striking object. When grown, thus, the fence should be inside the garden, dividing the flower garden from the vegetable portion. This plant delights in plenty of rich food, and, during the growing eeason, an abundance of water. An important, point is to prime moderately hard, and by so doing strong shoots will grow up, upon which massive and: fine coloured flowers will develop. The Hortensia section contains those which are best known, and include the following shades of colour: white, delicate pimk, bright pink, mauve, and; bluo. This last shade is often developed in some of the pink varieties by addmg iron filings to the soil, which apparently a chemical, action in the plant, and in consequence blue flowers appear. Coal cinders in the soU are said to affect them similarly. A beautiful hydrangea called H. Panioulata Siandiflora, should be more freely grown hy those who claim to garden on up-to-date lines. Although not a novolty. it is not well known, and there aro but comparatively few specimens of this delightful garden shrub to be seen about! It grows up to sft and 6ft in height, and at this season bears massive pyramidal-shaped heads of creamy white flowers. These creamy white flowers, however, become suffused with pink after a little time. This change of colour does not detract from its beauty. Unless this variety is well treated with plenty of manure, both, below and ahoy© the roots, it is liable to become stunted 1 , and in consequence, is discounted in value. Another iimportant point is that it should be cut hard back in winter. Unless this is done poor heads of bloom will result. AUTUMN FLOWERING BUI/BS. Without somo of the autumn flowering bulbs no garden can claim to be properly furnished. Some of the best of our decorative plants are among their number. The Belladonna lilies, include in_g red, pink, and "white shades, are not only highly decorat-jive in the garden, but are among the best for cut flower work. For house decoration they are most effective, and for bouqtret work they lend themselves to those who prefer strong effects. Some object to this plant's nakedness in tho flowering season, and wonder why Nature withholds the foliage during the flowering season. The explanation is that with this plant, as with many others, the energies of the plant are often distributed, in that the activity of the foliage and the flowering does not take place at the same time. During th© early summer the foliage of the plant is active, building up for the autumn flowering. After the ripening of tho foliage the flower stalks soon make their appearance, and for a long season keep tho garden bright. The Oolchicums family, sometimes called the Autumn Crocus, although, strictly speaking, not a Crocus, aro valuable either as border plants or for rockery decorations. When grown as a rockery plant, it may be associated with such plants a« Spergula. The best variety 16 C. Sneciosum. a very handsome variety, with large wellformed blooms on long footstalks. There is a new white variety of the Speciosuro which is spoken very highly of by the Home journals. One or two New Zealand amateurs have been fortunate in importing it, and later it will be seen and .adjudicated upon. Another of the best of the Colchicums is C. Byzantiniuin. This is a very free bloomer, and a very bricht colour. The Acis Autumnale, or Ladies' Snowflake, is perhaps the daintiest of all the flowering bulbs. The flowers are miniature and dainty, not giving a groat display, but certainly worth growing. A rockery is the best nlaco to plant it, and here would be a decided acquisition. The Sternbergia Lutea. stated to be tho lily of the field of Scripture, is another good autumnflowering bulb. For the next few weeks it will be in full bloom. The blooms resemble a Crocus, and are a deep golden yellow. It is sometimes called a Crocu&,

but is not so, as it belongs to the samo ordor as th* Amaryllis. Another Crocuslike flower, the Zephranthes Candida, is also invaluable as a gardfti and rockery plant. It belongs to the A>i:*:\vi!is family. All of those are autumn-flow-ering, but do best in a tree sandy loam, and a well-drained soil. The Belladona Lilies bave no objection to a heavy loam if the drainage is good, but whero the water lies in the winter it silks and protests. Mr J. B. Armstrong, ot St. Albans, has a very fane patch of this flower growing against the side of his house, -where"the' sun strikes all day. The soil is strong, but- the site is warm, and here tho Belladonna has found conditions to its liking.