GARDENING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 19386, 21 October 1926, Page 16

GARDENING CLUB

RHODODENDRONS Tlio Gardening Club met on Tuesday evening, Mr Hollingworth presiding. Rhododendrons was set down as the subject for the evening, and it brought forth a very fi.no exhibit of those beautiful flowers. It would be quite safe to Bay that never before in Dunedin has such a varied and up-to-date collection of out blooms of rhododendrons been staged in Dunedin. Amongst the collection were to bo seen Gill’s Triumph, Marquis of Midlothian, Acklandi, Thomson!, and many other rare varieties. The chief exhibitors were Mr S. Solomon (Mr Walker, gardener) and Mr D. Tannock, of the Botanic Gardens. Mr Tannock was the lecturer for the meeting, and he dealt very fully with the cultivation and the propagation of rhododendrons. Ho drew attention to the vast number of new varieties that was being put on the market at Home, principally new introductions from the Himalayas and China. They were quite hardy, and the damp climate of Dunedin was very suitable for their cultivation. They required good drainage and good soil, with plenty of leaf mould or its equivalent. Peat was not necessary—in fact, New Zealand peat was not suitable. Being surface-root-ing plants, they benefited by mulch of some good soil, or by manure—cow manure for preference. They required shelter from the cold winds. They could be transplanted at almost any time of the year. Propagation was carried out by grafting, layering, and by seed grafting. The last named was the general practice in Great Britain and on the Continent. In Now Zealand layering was adopted to a great extent. The pollination of the flowers -was explained very fully and clearly, and Mr Tannock urged members to grow and raise now varieties, and said that he was of the opinion that the rhododendrons had a great future before them. After answering a number of questions, the lecturer was accorded a very hearty vote of thanks for his able and instructive address. There were also exhibited chrysanthemums by Mr L. Fraser, pansies and violas by Mr W. W. Holmes, native flowers, consisting of Veronica Biggerii, Clemsia _ Hookcri, Sopohora tetraptera grandiflora (Kowhia Chili), by Mr J. W. M'lntyre.