GARDENING CLUB

Evening Star, Issue 20313, 23 October 1929, Page 6

GARDENING CLUB

ALPINE PLANTS Mr W. Payne was the lecturer at the fortnightly meeting of the Dunedin Gardening Club, held in the lectmo room of the Y.M.C.A. last evening, ‘ Alpine and Rock Plants and Their Culture ’ being his subject. Mr F. H. Jlollingwortn presided over an attendance of about fifty members. For many years (said Mr Payne) mountain vegetation was reputed to be impossible of acclimatisation, but to-day almost every species in Europe had been brought into cultivation over the whole of the temperate zone. The culture of alpines had won popularity that grew from day to day, and there was scarcely a country outside the tropics into which the llora of tht snow line had not been introduced. The number of persons who had taken up the cultivation of alpines was not surprising, continued the speaker, when one considered how fascinating a recreation it was. The first tiling to observe when building a rockery was the way in which to place the rocks—as near to a natural formation as possible. The next was to secure thorough drainage, which point was one of vital importance. It was frequently for the want of drainage that alpines died off. in the winter particularly, on heavy soils. He explained fully how in their natural state alpines flourished, and put forward many instructive facts about the caring for certain plants in order to obtain the most successful results. There was a great difference between alpine climate and the conditions to be found in the lowlands. Mr Payne went on to describe certain characteristics peculiar to mountain vegetation that must strike the observant person A shortened stem, a dwarf and restrained growth, with (lowers larger in comparison, were to bo -found in the naturally-growing plant, while die lowlands presented largo plants, the flowers of .which as a rule were smaller than the leaves. At great heights a downy covering on the plants became peculiarly insistent, as though a woollen coat were needed to wrap the cells against the cold of the night. The plants in the Ji>li altitudes were all perennial, as owing to the short season annuals could not exist; they failed to ripen their seed. Finally, the alpine plants varied according not only to the soil in which they grew, but to situation, aspect, and altitude. The alpine or rock garden was full of variety—sun for one plant, shade for another; some required lime, others disr liked it, and if not gu-en those requirements they would not thrive; so one could understand that, although tho growing of alpines was fascinating, the successful cultivation presented difficulties On the motion of Mr James Nelson the lecturer was accorded a vote of thanks, and when replying Mr Payne extended an invitation to all present to visit his gardens. A bright display of new season’s flowers exhibited by the following members was on view:—Mrs Brownly (Sawyers Bay) and Messrs J. Fleming, J. MTntyro, and Peter Nelson (Mornington). Tho collection included tulips, roses, narcissi, anemones, blue gentian, embothria cocoinum, and auriculas.