GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 223, 8 June 1918, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

(By "Kowlini.")

SOME FLOWERING TREES. Chinionanthua fnisrans,.- commonly known as tlio allspice tree, is the .winter flowering troe of China and Japan, and should bo moro popular with us than U is. Hero in New' Zealand it is pnrfectly hardy, and its fragrant yellow flowers arc borne in profusion all through the winter. One great, charm, of this flowerine tree ie that it flowers freely when still only a tiny plant. From tho tiny plant it develops into a, shrub-like bush, which irocc nil increasing in size until there emerges tho full-grown spreading tree. It .is beautiful in cvory stage of its growth, and U suitable even for small gardens. Anything that flowers froely in winter is worth cultivating, but chimonanthuß fra grans is in addition beautiful, hardy, and i fragrant. The soil most suited to it is ! a rich sandy peat, but it will grow well iu any well-worked garden soil. Paulownia Imperials. Paulownia ■is a noble tree, grown, in colder countries, for its handsome foliage, but in our mild climate trees flower well ! once'they reach a certain age. The flow-' ers are deep violet in colour and_ are borne in large terminal panicles. Wlier? heavy trorts are. experienced the young ; tree needs some protection for the first • two years, but any trouble spent. iu cs- i tablishing fo beautiful a subject is trouble well spent. Wattle. v Towards the end of the winter the wiittlcß are lovely, for each tree becomes one huge mass of soft-looking, yellow, scented blossom. Baileyana, Cootamuudra wattle, is one of the most beautiful. Another. variety—acacia armata grandiQora, j the golden prickly acacia—is splendid for . crowing near tho road where cattle are i likely to eat tho trees or shrubs, for the j foliage is aB prickly as gorse. Wattle is j line for massing on hillsidos, or on the outskirts of shelter belts of -ftr trees, and i it. is charming at tho hack o£ a sltubbery.. Laburnum. This is a charming Bpring flowering tree. It is suitable for large or sniall gardens, ! and will grow in any position..or anysoil. Tho tree is too well known to need . any description, but its graceful beauty I and its accommodating natiiro .should recommend .it to all., 1 Crataegus. ■ ■ Then there are the thorns. Who does not know - and. love the ■common - white 'hawthorn? In- spring trees and hedges of it are a Biiowy .mass of fragrant blossom, and iu autumn and early winter the hare, stalks, are' covered with a load <;f dark red berries. But the scarlet' thorn (Crataegus oxyacantha) is a . great sight -wheni in full bloom, for every branch, to the very tip, becomes literally covered with scarlet flowers, turning the tree into a glowing mass of glorious colour. Other varieties have double, white or' double pink flowers. All' of the varieties look well when grown naturally, sis specimen trees on a lawn or in a shrubbery, for then wo can appreciate their wonderful beauty. It is most cheering oii a bleak winter day to see the bare brown stems aglow with warm red berries, and what joy it is in spring to watch the pale green leaf-buds swelling and the tight little hunches of flower-buds expanding, till at last the tree is'-clotlied-in fragrant white or red' blossoms ■ and' leaves -of tho most delicate shade of green. Tho common hawthorn, too, makes a boautiful and most serviceable hedge. ICowhai. Kowhai is one of the most beautiful of our native flowering trees. The habit of the tree is graceful, and the foliage is light, graceful, arid of a delightful shade of green. These attributes alone would entitle it to a prominent place in any Bhrubbery or garden, but when, early iu spring, it is 'covered with a wealth of . golden yellow pendulous (lowers it stands out a gem among flowering trees. I have seen it growing on, bare clay hillsides, clinging to tho rocky faces of wind-swept sea cliffs, springing from crevicos in dry rocky gorges, and growing sedately along tho river edge in tho rich silt of countless lloods-and everywhere it was healthy, happy, and beautiful. Pohutukawa. For seaside gardens this is a tree alrnOßt without an equal, for it deftc3 the fiercest onslaught of salt spray, and is, throughout the summer niouthß, a vivid glowing mass of scarlet bloom. Farther inland it is more difficult to grow, for frost cuts the tender ■ growth. But with care it can ho established, nnd with ago it seems to feel the frost less. Amelanchier Canadensis. •This is another tree that is very beauti-.-furin spring, for then it is covered with masses of snow-white flowers. Later, in tho autumn, the foliage becomes beautifully coloured. Amelanchier, or tho suowy mespilus, as it is sometimes called, is said to bo most eflective when it is surrounded by low-growing shrubs with pale green foliage, for then it spreads _to branches above the shrubs, and the white flowers in spring aud the brightly-coloured leaves in autumn are thrown into vivid relief by the pa'lo green of tho undergrowth. Clethra Arhorea. Olothra arborea, often called the lily of the valley tree, is a tall-growing, handsome tree. The flowci'B are whito, and the tree, when in bloom, looks as if it is covered with innumerable sprays of lily of the valley. To g{t tho best results tho soil should bo deeply dug, and should have a little peat added to it. > Almond. Tho almond (Amygdalus) is one of tho glories of the early spring garden, for tho whole tree becomes covered with dainty pink flowers. As a specimen treo for a .lawn it is. exquisite, for it flowei'B at a time when the grass is vividly green, and when the daffodils are in bloom. With the blue sky overhead, aud the green grass studded with golden daffodils boneath, the dainty flower-laden tree makes a picture that even the most indifferent must enjoy. ' ; Planting Flowering Trees. Before planting flowering trees the soil should bo well prepared. A clay subsoil should be well broken lip to ensure good drainage. When planting, ft liolo two or three feet in width should bo dug, and if the soil is very poor it should be taken away, ■ and replaced by fresh good soil. See that the roots have plenty of apace in tho hole, and if necessary arrange a littlo mound of earth for tho tree to rest on, allowing the roots to go down its sides. Cover the roots firmly with {very fine soil, adding a little at a time and ramming it well iu, especially round the sides of the hole. : A abort strong stake should be provided, and, where strong winds- prevail, -some", protection in the form of a brush.breakwlnd. For tho first year or two the. soil round-the trees should be kept well cultivated. Pruning consists in cutting out branches that are growing towards-the centre, or that are i-orossing others, and,in.. removing all dead wood'. , As a rule' ihe' lowor branohes of flowering-trees are entirely removed.

'VEGETABLES.

The preparing of the bed and the planting of shallots is-one of our most pressing duties ill the garden during the present month. It is usual to plant ofi'-scta or littlo bulbs, and these should ha procured now as soon as possible, The bed for-shallots undergoes much tho game preparation on that for onions, Trench tho ground,'.working into- :th'o ■ .bottom spit plenty ,of. decayed rubbish. Mix it thoroughly'with the soil. Jteturn tho top soil and mix.: with it some' wood or rubbish lire ashes, and- ;i dressing of bonedust (about, 4 to 6oz. to the square yard). Blacken the' siirfaco soil with soot if you have it. More planting the off-sets, make the soil very linn by, trampling all over it This must, of course, be done only > when the soil is in good working condition. To trample over, wot heavy Boil would bo the greatest mistake. Old gardeners have a rulo, that shallots should i)D planted oil the' shortest, and liarvested on the longest day. It is a fairly sato rulo to go by, provided the soil is in good condition for planting. As soon as tho bed is rcudy mark oil drills twelvo inches apart, anil have tho off-sets six inches apart in.the rows, riimply press each off-set into the ground till the bulb is about half-buried/ Keep the bed free from weeds, and hoe between the rows frequently. Whenever soot is ..obtainable, blacken the soil between tho rows with it, afterwards hoeing it in. UOUTINK' WOIIK. Set seed potatoes of an early variety up on end in shallow boxes to sprout. i'laut, whero necessary, fresh plantß of rhubarb. Keep plants; of the wintcr-bear-ing variety growing freely by regular feeding, and constant cultivation. Cover stools of tho summer-bearing variety with a mulch of decoyed manure. Gather aud store fallen leaves of deciduOtiß trees.. Store garden rubbish in heaps for rotting down. Attend to the early staking of peas andbeans. Hoe between the rows of growing crops - at every opportunity. Garden Notes next week will contain sca--1 sonable notes about: Trees and Blirubß , with ornamental berries, routiuo work, and vegetables.