THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 19274, 12 June 1926, Page 23

THE GARDEN

'WORK FOS THE WEEK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN

ANSWERS “ Raspberry.”—lt will depend upon how strong and how many canes your raspberries have at each clump. From six to twelve is a good number of canes to leave. In trio lattor case twelve is the extreme limit, and only when the clumps are large and the growth strong. As a rule, six to eight is a good number to leave. Tie their heads together after 1 all the surplus growth has been removed, and clip off 6in or so of tho points just above tho tie. Should the situation be a windy or exposed one, bend half the clump over and tie it to the half of the next and so on; this is arching. I shall be touching upon pruning raspberries shortly. H.C. WILD FLOWER PRESERVATION Strong efforts to preserve tho wild flowers of the British Columbia const will be made by an organisation formed at Victoria for that purpose. Flower lovers and citizens are joining this society in the realisation that protective measures are _ vitally needed to prevent the depletion of many kinds of wild flowers. The organisation will seek to educate the public in tho proper method of picking wild flowers, so as to do them little injury and to prevent the destruction of flowering trees and shrubs. THE GARDENER FRIEND The gardener looks up as we approach. “Good morning 1” he says and smiles. And such a smile! Wise, gentle, sincere, confiding; in it is expressed his attitude toward the world at large. It is a world of which he believes and expects tho best. Is not his own special worjd of fruitful seed, sturdy root, and spreading branch, responsive, dependable, and companionable? “It gives you back just what you put into it," remarks our gentle philosopher as he breaks and smoothes the rich loam for planting. He means, of course, that the seed, tho shrub, and the earth produce according to one’s honest effort in their behalf; but we reflect that his statement applies equally as well to every enterprise, every worth-while adventure. "The smell of the soil and the sod is good to the nostrils these days, and the jonquil borders are fine and gay,” he says, baring his head to the fresh breezes. We watch his long, slender fingers, colored with the brown earth, minister to the tender plants of his garden and feel the blegsedness and peace of his devotion. Has the bustling city beyond his borders anything to barter for the brush of a dow-wot lilac bloom against his cheek? Has it anything to offer in exchange for the petal drift of apple blossoms at his feet or for tho intimate companionship of tho robin and oriolo and bluebird and mocker? What choir can equal his and what temple of wealth and learning and art can reveal such great and wise and bewildering activity of beauty and sweetness ?

ly are tempted to neglect their Bfifea at this season until more favoriole conditions arrive with spring. I iced hardly say neglect now will nave to be paid for later. Thinking out now plans and designs for next season, and digging and trenching beds and borders should be carried on now. Herbaceous borders should be renovated, overgrown plants should be divided up, and new designs made or thought out. Rotation should also ho considered, for flowering plants require a change of soil quite as much as vegetables and other plants. Not only is this beneficial to the plants, but it gives a great amount of pleasure in watching developments during tho next season. All dead _ stalks, stems, and flowers that have ripened off or been cut down by frosts should be cleared away, and the roots of dahlias and gladiolus lifted and stored in some shed for the winter. Tho ground should be worked up in readiness for next season’s planting Shrubs of all kinds may bo planted now, taking care to arrange each kind according to the height and habit of growth. Bulbous and tuberous-rooted plants should be got in as speedily as possible. Clip hedges and prune or cut out dead wood or unshapely branches from flowering trees and shrubs. Collect and store all leaves. None of these should be' wasted, ns they are valuable for making loaf mould, an article almost essential for a perfect mixture for potting soil. Remove leaves from lawns and give a final mowing and rolling to the lawns for the season, as very little more growth will be made from now. Loaves and long grass accumulations lying about a lawn during the winter months are injurious as well as unsightly to any good lawn. Clip grass verges and hoe and rake gravel walks. THE FRUIT GARDEN PRUNING (CONTINUED). Very often young fruit trees are spoilt'the first season through not being pruned sufficiently. It is impossible for a young tree newly planted to grow into a decently-shaped tree—indeed, it cannot make growth as_ it should if it is not pruned back fairly hard at the beginning] therefore for the sake of those beginners _ planting young trees I propose starting from two-year-olds as received from tho nurse rv.

Assuming, then, the head of the apple tree is already formed with three nr four strong shoots, the pruning must be hard in the year of planting—trathor more so then if one-year-olds had been planted the previous year. Those two-venr-old trees from the nursery must he pruned back to about four or five eyes and always to an outside eye. Should there be any thin, weak shoots in addition, cut these back to one eye or remove them altogether. In cases of straggly growers, such as the Hawthornden apple, prune to an inside eye to induce the tree to grow upward. Most kinds have an upright habit, and consequently should be pruned to an outside eye to cause the branches to grow outward. The angle they form depends largely upon the variety, and one must he guided accordingly. Stout or strong-growing kinds should not be pruned so hard back as weak growers, and the pruning of each individual tree must be according to the strength of each shoot or branch to maintain an evenly balanced tree. Many young trees will send np one or two strong shoots quite out of proportion to the remaining shoots. To prune all these shoots at an even length would be to aggravate the trouble where weak growth occurs, and it is desirous to get up some strong shoots to fill up a weak space, they must be cut hard back to one or two eyes. Leave the strong shoots to about 6in to I2in as the case may h?. The weaker the growth the harder the pruning- To the continued stability of the tree it is necessary to prune the main arms back fairly hard at the secondor _ winter season’s, pruning. By this time, if the tree has done well, fruit spurs will be forming. The third, and for several seasons following, the pruning should not be nearly so hard, unless the growth is weak. From onward numerous laterals will bo forming after each pruning, all _ such shoots as form from the inner branches and cross others should be cut right back, and those that form and grow outward as devsired should be shortened back to one or two eyes. Other young laterals of about 6iu may he left. These will soon form fruit and check rank or excessive growth. The growth of the pear is much stronger than the apple, particularly in the young stage, and if left to its own resources it will have a tendency to grow upright or into a conical shape. Up to recent years this cone, or natural shape, was usually adopted, except with wall or fancy shapes. But that which finds favor now with most large growers is the inverted cone—that is, instead of one main trunk with branches shooting .outward, it is one forming maty branches of an equal size and shape, each pointing outward in a similar manner. To obtain this shape it is necessary that the stem should he set very low. The mam anus arising from the main stem should ne cut hard hack at the first winter pruning, and each branch cut hard back to an outside eye, with a long piece ot wood above the eye. This tends to throw the growth outward. Ihe second arms at the following year’s priming should also be cut hard back, and at each following pruning, though not bo hard, but in a like manner. The object is to continue the onward course of these main arms. With the cone system—or what you may call the standard or natural-shaped tree—alter the second pruning, which is done foi the purpose of forming a good strong framework, the pruning of pears should be much lighter. When the trees have attained a fair size and good shape, eery little pruning will be required, tor the longer hard pruning takes place the longer will the trees he m coming into fruit condition. The Plum.—Unlike the apple or pear, the majority of stone fruits will not stand continuous hard pruning, the plum, in the first year after planting, ns with other fruits, should be hard pruned to cause it to send out strong young growth low down. _ After this thin out where crowding is likely to take place. Study form and regularity of growth, but never on any account should thick growth be pruned as hard 'lack as you would thin. The main object is to get an even growth. This fs impossible if the thick growth is cut as hard hack as thin growth. Strong growth should have 12in to ■.Bin, where weak growth may be cut hack to only 2in or 3in. Discretion nust be used. In all cases the thicker the wood the less pruning they must have, and the thinner the harder the pruning.

How we love this gentle friend, the gardener I It is ho that has taught us much of his keen discernment of the manifold loveliness of his own world. We, too, know something of how the sunset looks as it spreads its rose and gold cloak above his green trellised arbors; we know tho exquisite grace of the emerald, rosebud e’er it opens to perfect flowering. Wo know how dawn calls tho garden to morning praise, and how it responds on tiptoe with lifted head and great rejoicing. We know the tinkling, silver voices of the little rains amid the garden folk; wo know, too, the wind’s cradle song at twilight when it hushes the fragrant green world to rest. Many are the secrets we hold Together, state secrets—such as whore those shv, beautiful guests of the orchard, the flickers, are nesting, and what name tho multicolored masses tf velvet leaf will spell when they Cave reached their fullness in the coleus bed. Ours is a cherished friendship with this quiet man. Indeed, it demands of our own hearts the best that is in them, for the petty and unworthy seem not to be able to abide in his presence.—' Christian Science Monitor.’ LIGHT FOR DAFFODILS The Institution of Electrical Engineers was told tho other day how vegetables could bo grown much more successfully with tho help of electric light (says the ‘ Children’s Newspaper’). Transplanted seedlings usually droop, and sometimes die; in any case, they take at least a week before they get a firm hold of the new ground. But by giving them enough fight after transplanting they will develop nearly a week’s growth in the first night, and will then be ready for market three or four weeks earlier than usual. The new discovery is that far more light should be given to tho young plants than has ever been tried before. Young daffodils, if exposed to intense light, will flower in four dajs, and narcissi in seven. HEW PLANTS NATURALISATION PROBLEMS Though hero and there a wild plant may bo so local and so rare as to be unfairly called a weed, Nature makes weeds of most plant species in tho countries where she places them: and no doubt wisely, for otherwise they would succumb in tho fight for existence (writes a correspondent in the London ‘Times’). It is as well, however, that few wild plants abuse the gardener’s hospitality by becoming weeds when brought into gardens, otherwise gardening would be less interesting than it is, and the cultivation of plants almost a lost art. At some time of his life every plant, ancient or modern, will be new to every gardener, setting him a problem in cultivation often easy, sometimes difficult, and though some plants take to almost any garden, others fail if they are not handled with sympathy and skill- Some men and women have an inborn “flair” for the cultivation of plants; others become efficient cultivators by experience and practice, and for them a look through a sheaf of old; nurserymen’s bills is usually proof! enough that neither can be had for the I asking. In the case of plants which j are new to everyone (and there is, happily, no lack of them in these days' of plant-hunting expeditions to distant! continents) there is a continual de-j mand for information about the conditions under which they grow, in order that, as far as possible, these conditiona may be reproduced in gardens. But with most new plants, and all that grow at high altitudes, this is waste of time, because in our climate—seldom stable for a week in the year—the reproduction of anything

Oirtedfcotoß. » tueD-totowa garter, wffl b® glad tojmswsr questions, which must ba njoctaad not later than Tuesday of each week. j «mi be baadod U» *0 th® o{£(S befcTO 2 PO£L OH Friday.

approaching the habitat is impossible. Even if there were only one unattainable natural condition, its absence might so completely alter the circumstances as. to cause failure; in practice there is always more than one.

There are'some natural conditions which must be respected; such, for instance, as the dislike some plants have for lime, and a knowledge of such peculiarities is essential. Yet that Knowledge is not so easily spread, or we should not see thousands of bulbs of those fine Japanese lilies L. auratum and speciosimi annually sent to their death in limy soil, which is poison to them. But generally the attempted emulation of natural conditions in plant cultivation is a snare; that should be patent to gardeners when they see how some plants which grow naturally in the face of the sun in countries where the sun has a power unknown to us will not tolerate such exposure here, but haye to be grown in semishade. The value of tho north (south side in New Zealand) side of a wall is not always appreciated by younger gardeners, and many so-called sun plants which usually fail on the sunny side will flourish on tho other. Ourisia coccinoa is ' an example, Omphalodes Lucillioo another, and Shortia a third. Those who have no wood need not be debarred tho many beautiful woodland plants, for they, too, will settle down under a north wall. Where the needs of plants aro not already known gardoners may bank on Nature’s happy way of adapting plants to novel surroundings and make, those intelligent experiments which add so much to the interest of gardens. In the initial stages of now plants this may be a drain on the purse, but pioneers cannot cultivate now plants tor nothing. NATIONAL ROSE SOCIETY SOME NEW VARIETIES The National Rose Society held its spring show at the Royal Horticultural Society’s Hall in London last month. The results will be interesting to Dunedin renders. Firstly, new roses wore mentioned; secondly, most of the exhibitors are famous growers; thirdly, it gives an idea of tho roses that are in popular favor at tho moment. Several now roses were shown and two were awarded gold medals — namely, Lady Margaret Stewart, which has a rich apricot centre, deepening to copper color at the base, and Dame Edith Helen, which is remarkable for its beautiful form; both of these were exhibited by tho same firm, Messrs Alexander Dickson and Sons, Limited, of Nowtownards.

Tho most effective displays wore those staged in tho nurserymen's section, class 2, and consisting of groups of cut roses on staging against the wall. The best exhibit was that of Mr Elisha Hicks, of Twyford. At the back were the stands of such examples as Dorothy Dix, Coral Cluster, Paul's Scarlet Climber, and Edith Caveli, with the bright yellow Austrian Copper and Harrisonii as a central feature. In the foreground were two excellent stands of Marechal Niel, and the best of the exhibit was made up of splendid vases of fine quality blooms of a largo number of standard varieties, notable among which were Lady Hillingdon and Mrs H. Stevens. Mr George Prince had a similarly arranged group, Goldfinch being prominent among tho varieties in the background. He had some especially good vases of Souvenir de Claudius Pernet, Betty Uprichard, and Pax. Messrs Bon. Cant and Sons, Colchester, had three stands of Paul’s Scarlet Climber in tho background, flanked by stands of Fortune’s Yellow, and in tho foreground the central feature was a largo basket of Mrs Beatty, surrounded by vases of the shapely coppery-scarlet Padre.

In class 1, for a. circular group of roses placed on the floor, tire first prize went to Messrs Chaplin Brothers, of Waltham Cross. Tho centre of the exhibit was composed of ramblers in pots, while round the sides were bold vases of bedding varieties, including Golden Emblem, Ophelia, and Mme Butterfly, separated at intervals by splendid pot plants of Paul’s Scarlet Climber. The second prize in this class was won by Messrs W. Easlca and Sons, Limited, of Leigh-on-Sea, whoso exhibit had a central cone of their new hybrid Wichuriana var. Thelma. _ This is a beautiful blnsh-coloied variety not yet in commerce. Tho first prizo in class 3, for six pillar roses in pots, was won by Messrs Chaplin Brothers, who had Chatillon, Dorothy Perkins, The Beacon, White Dorothy, Blush Rambler, and Coronation. In Class 4 the first prize wont to Mr J. H. Pemberton, of Havcring-atte-Bower, who had, among other varieties, Eblouissank, Edith Caveli, and Ellon Poulsen, and the second prizo to Messrs "William Cutbush and Son, Limited, of Barnet, who made a central feature of tho dwarf polyantha vaiiety Orange King. In class 6, for twelve blooms of any variety, tho first prize wont to Mr A. T. Goodwin, of Maidstone, who showed Marechal Niel, oilier prize-winning varieties being Rev. J. Page-Roberts and Clovelly. Mr Goodwin also took first place in the class for two baskets of cut roses, where ho showed Marechal Niel and Frau Karl Druschki. Mr Hicks took second place with Mine Butterfly and Mrs H. Stevens. In class 9, for one basket of cut roses, Mr Goodwin again carried the day with his Marechal Niel. In class 18, for six blooms of any one variety, all tho exhibitors (amateurs) showed Mrs Foloy-Hobbs, and there is no doubt that this fine exhibition rose is hard to beat for such a purpose. Mr Holland, with a basket of Mrs Foley-Hobbs, took first prize in class 21 (cut roses). In the class for a basket of cut roses, open only to growers of fewer than thirty plants of pot roses, Mrs Courtney Page and Mrs N. F. Charlton were awarded equal first. The former showed Lady Svlvia, a deep peach-pink variety, whieli is being introduced by Mr George. Prince, ' but which is not yet in commerce, while Mrs Charlton .showed Richmond. Tho same two ladies took the first and second prizes for a decoration of cut roses for the dinner table. ■ Mrs Courtlier Page made a delightful display with some fine blooms of Roselandia, together with a little maple and rose foliage and a few fronds of maidenhair. Mrs Charlton used Mine Butterfly.