In the GARDEN OLYMPIC PRESIDENT THE WEEK'S WORK PERENNIAL PLANTS CORRESPONDENCE NEW ZEALAND CLUB GARDENING TERMS ALL DAY IN DAMP CLOTHES.

Evening Post, Volume CXIV, Issue 38, 13 August 1932, Page 21

In the GARDEN

OLYMPIC PRESIDENT

THE WEEK'S WORK

PERENNIAL PLANTS

CORRESPONDENCE

NEW ZEALAND CLUB

GARDENING TERMS

ALL DAY IN DAMP CLOTHES.

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This column Is intended principally for gardeners with small plots, and the aim' is to make it as practical and useful as possible. Inquiries on any matter of gardening interest will be welcomed. The rule for correspondence Is that all communica- ««- E lll. •" accom> ia"i(x' °y the name and address of the writer, not for publication, but as a guarantee of good faith. This rule will be strictly adhered to.. This is your column—make use of it

PLOWEK GARDEN. The ground in most localities is . very -saturated and cola. Seed sowing in the open should lie postponed until conditions are more favourable. ■ ' When surplus water has drained away seedlings of hardy plants may be planted out. They should be wqll hardened off before" doing so. i Plant out gladioli conns and lilhims. Lilies require good rich soil, a position which is sheltered from prevailing winds, but where they ' \ get plenty of suu. Their roots, however, should be shaded: Plant out carnations. Avoid fresh manure. Work in bonedust before planting at the rate of 2oz to the square yard. Plant firmly. Finish the planting of roses and ornamental trees and shrubs. Eose pruning may be commenced in warm localities. Sow under cover seeds of half-hardy and hardy annuals. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Plant out autumn-sown onions on ground which has been well enriched. ■ • Plant also, cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, shallots, chives, tree- and potato onions, and rhubarb. As soon as the soil gets dry enough sow peas, turnips, carrots, parsnips, main -crop onions, spinach, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, red beet, radish, and parsley. For early plants sow .in boxes under glass—tomatoes and cucumbers. Early potatoes may be planted on ground which is well-drained, and which lies well to the sun. As potatoes are very easily damaged by frosts, planting should be postponed in districts liable to late frosts. Broad beans may bo sown. Allow 2 feet' between the rows and 4 inches between the beans. Sow lettuces broadcast in. beds of rich soil. Transplant when large enough.

METHOD OF-DIVIDING

Most of the perennial plants require to be lifted and divided periodically, otherwise they become overcrowded with. a consequent deterioration j f the blooms. Some kinds possess very dense fibrous roots, and unless divided now and then they exhaust the soil. Others have long, thorny-like roots which are more difficult to divide. Among these are the Heleniums, shasta daisies, etc. The only satisfactory method to employ is to lift' the whole clump with a strong garden fork, shake out as much soil as possible, and then, holding the clump firm with the large fork, to lever it apart with another or a hand fork. The illustration gives, a clear idea of the method to employ. There are some perennials, however, which are more difficult still to divide, as they have' a hard, woody centre which must be cut. Paeonios, pyrethrums, and spireas come under, this section. Great care must be taken with these subjects, as each piece to be replanted must have a fair share of roots attached, otherwise it may1 fail to grow. Shoots growing near the outside of the clump lifted, in nearly every case, are the. strongest while those near the centre are the weakest. For this reason'the centre parts should be discardled, and only the best of the outside , growths be replanted. | It is always wise, to recondition the borders before replanting by manuring ■ with well-decayed manure if possible, but failing this a liberal supply of decayed garden refuse ■ may be dug in, and a dressing of bonedustbo added to the surface soil.

It is not good policy to leave the plants lying out for any length of time whilo tho ground is being prepared.

The roots are liable to get dry and shrivelled under such circumstances. Heel them in. in some vacant plot till the border is ready,to receive them. Most plants, of; this class look best when grown in fairly bold groups. Tho height of the various kinds should bo taken into consideration when planting, as it is a pity to hide a low-grow-ing plant behind a tall one. ~ When it is well to remember that plants which are aot unduly crowded will grow, steadily, and are also more easily kept free- from weeds. Always be sure that the soil is well shaken in among tho roots and made quite firm.

• Delphiniums, lupins, and Helleborus tnay be increased by division, but none o± these should be divided unless it is really necessary to increase the stock. -Helleborus are among the most difficult of plants to transplant or divide, often refusing to bloom for several years after disturbance. Autumn is generally considered the best time to div-' ido perennial plants in this locality, but it may be dono quite successfully in the spring just when growth is starting. The illustration is from "Amateur Gardening."

AN EXPLANATION

. To a proper appreciation of the habits and requirements of the various occupants of the garden, it is necessary that the gardener should possess a full understanding of the different trams apphed to the various classes of plants. The most common of these terms are explained as briefly as possible below, find if the definitions aro thoroughly grasped by the reader at the outset, one of the initial difficulties of gardening will havo been overcome. Generally, plants, shrubs, etc., are classed an one or other of tho following sections:—Hardy, half-hardy, evergreen, perennial, annual, biennial, tender, herbaceous, and deciduous. What is implied by these several terms is as follows:—

Hardy.—Hardy plants or shrubs are «nch as survive all seasons out of doors. They may be cither annual or perennial, evergreen or deciduous. Half-hardy.—ln this section, also, the various classes mentioued under Hardy" may occur; but half-hardy plants must be understood to be those which need protection, either under glass or in some other form, during severe cold, rain, or frost; and must not be planted m the open air until all danger of the latter has passed. It should be clearly understood in [■.connection with these two classes that [-climate and locality must largely govicrn the classification. Plants which are- quito hardy in the Auckland dis-

trict, for instance, or in coastal positions, would not survive tho more severe conditions in the southern districts or at high altitudes, without protection during severe cold. Perennial.—Plants of a perennial nature may be found in most classes, 'except, of course, tho annual and biennial. They comprise the largo section of plants which survive and incroase from year to year. Tho ■ hardy perennials are the backbone of the flower garden; these are the plants which, though cut down by frost, appear anew each spring, usually with increased beauty. Biennial.—These are the plants which require to be sown one year to flower the next, after .which their usefulness is finished. Wallflowers and Canterl bury Bells come under this section. ' _ Tender—-All plants which require continual protection from the elements and frequently a hothouse of. some description at all seasons may be included in this section. Briefly they are the plants which cannot be grown outsideC Herbaceous.—Hardy perennials aro commonly referred to as hardy '' Herbaceous" perennials. ( Herbaceous, of course, signifies relation to herbs; but when combined with the term "Perennial," as instanced, it may be taken that such plants follow the habit of herbs, disappearing in winter to come into growth again in the spring. Evergreen.—These are those subjects which retain their leaves, or are constantly putting forth new ones, throughout the year. They are generally hardy, but there aro a number requiring greenhouse treatment.

Deciduous.—This embraces all subjects which lose their leaves at any season of the year. It is usually applied to trees and shrubs which remain for a season .with bare stems, such as most of the fruit trees, willows, etc.

IRIS TINGITANA AND GERBiiRA. "Inquirer."—lris Tingitana is one of the most difficult of the irises to flower. It is a native of Tangiers, where it grows on the edge of the desert. This indicates the necessity of greater warmth than can bo given here. Even in the Auckland district they are very uncertain. There really seems no accounting for their failure to flower, as it may frequently be observed that while they do well in one garden they fail to produce one bloom, in the garden next door in spite of identical treatment and conditions. The bulbs should be lifted each year, when the foliage dies down, ana thoroughly dried off. If they caa be laid on a, sheet of corrugated iron in the sun and allowed to remain until they start •to shoot the baking may help them to produce.blooms, but the bulbs will certainly be weakened. Gerberas may be lifted and divided as soon as the worst of the winter is over. When planting the roots should be spread out flat only an inch or so below the surface.

The annual report of, the New Zealand Club, to be submitted.to next.Monday's annual meeting, mentions that the guests entertained during the year were Dr. G. Z. Koo, fdr many years a member of the administrative department of the Chinese Eailway Service; Professors G. Buckmaster and W. Wright, examiners for the Royal College of Surgeons, London; MajorGeneral the Hon. Sir" Newton Moore, K.C.M.G., M.P. for Surrey, England; Dr. Rudolpf Kuraz, Consul-General for Australia and New Zealand for the Czechoslovakia Republic; Dr. A. G. B. Fisher, Professor of Economics, Dunedin; C. H. Fagge; Esq., vice-president of the Royal College o£ Surgeons, London; General Edward J. Higgins, commanding the Salvation Army; , and Commodore Fischer Burges-Watsoji, D.5.0., R.N., commanding the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. "It would be invidious," remarks the report, "to single out any one of the ! foregoing guests as having delivered an address of greater interest than any o£ the others. Each' address had its own particular message and interest, and ' the several subjects dealt with were handled with consummate skill. In recalling these happy gatherings members will readily agree that they were a liberal reward,for membership of the club."

During the year the £100 voted for the relief of sufferers in the 1' Hawkes Bay earthquake area was expended.

Every Sunday in Christchurch sees hundreds of young people off to the mountains on the Arthur's Pass excursion train. ,

Eeeently' two young boys made the trip and left tho train at Cass to do some ice-skating on a nearby pond. Their, idea of testing the ice was.to walk out some distance and see if it would stand their weight. Tho ice cracked, sagged, and ' both boys slipped into water well over their knees. Being hardy specimens, they neglected to make straight for shelter and to dry their clothes.

On their way home in the train, however, they began to realise the seriousness of what they had done, and became tho subjects of much sympathetic advice. Tho soundest advice was given by a middle-aged gentleman who said "go home, have a hot bath, get straight to bed, and take a good doso of Baxter's Lung Preserver." The morsil is that mothers never know when their boys and girls are going to come home in need of "Baxter's." Always keep a bottle of this reliable remedy handy. Equally effective for coughs, colds, asthma, and bronchial ailments.

COUNT DE BAILLET-LATOUR

As announced in '"The Post" recently. New Zealand is to have a visit next month from Count de Baillet-Latour, a, Belgian nobleman, and president of the International Olympic Committee. Although at tho present time the Council of the New Zealand Olympic and British Empire Games Association does not know whether Count de Baillet-Latour is coming on any special mission or whether he will be visiting New Zealand purely in the course of a world tour, preliminary steps have been taken by the New Zealand Council with a view to making any arrangements that might be necessary. A sub-committee, comprising Messrs. . H. Amos, H. McCormick, J. W. Heenan, and E. S. Innes, has been appointed to deal with the matter.

The Count is expected to arrive, in New Zealand on 12th' September, and it is understood that he will be in the Dominion until 3rd October.

At last night's meeting of the Olympic Games Council, Mr. Heenan suggested that an opportunity, should be given representatives of the different national sports bodies of meeting Count de BailletLatour and discussing matters' in relation to their particular branches of sport. Mr. Heenan also suggested' that full information should be given to the Count regarding the operations of the various associations.