ROUND THE GROWERS

Evening Star, Issue 21904, 15 December 1934, Page 29

ROUND THE GROWERS

. Contributed by Dunedin Horticultural ' Society.] The Otago rose show is now over, and in spite of the heat splendid quality was staged. In the open championship the two veterans, Bob Madden and Jim Downes, as usual, kept the judge thinking. resulting in a narrow win for the latter. The amateur championship cup will now be retained by Mrs Stenhouse, of Palmerston, she having won it three times—a splendid record among keen competition. If any beginner asked Mrs Stenhouso how to grow roses as she does, the reply would probably be: “ First buy a dairy farm.” There is no doubt that a plentiful supply of farmyard manure is a great factor towards success. Daffodil growers are having a busy time just now fighting the narcissus fly. One well-known exhibitor during the last two weeks has killed over fifty in his own garden. Growers who are not familiar with this post may inspect both flies and grubs at the Horticultural Society’s office, where specimens are on view. The absence of potato exhibits at the last show may be explained by the fact that the “ Leaf Roll ” and “ Leaf Curl ” disease is so prevalent ibis year. Amateurs who are thinking of saving some of their own potato seed this year should carefully inspect , their plants now. In disease plants the leaves become rolled or curled, then become brittle. This disease has been common about Dunedin for several years, and the writer thinks this disease is the reason for so many poor crops. Dig out all plants affected now, as if you leave them till they die down, you cannot tell the disease on the tubers. When the attack by the disease is slight the crop is generally not much affected. The tubers from even a slightly affected crop, if saved and used as seed, however, result in a progressive degeneration. Mr Shailer, one of the large North Island dahlia growers, is bringing his blooms down for' the national show in January per aeroplane, cutting fresh flowers in the morning, and staging them hero at night. He has grown enormous flowers, and when Lord Bledisloe visited his nursery last year he described some of the huge blooms as “ Horticultural monstrosities.” Sweet peas are coming to tho fore again in competition, and on a visit to one of Otago’s leading trophy winners this week he gave me a few tips in the culture of show blooms, which are herewith set' out The plants are now making rapid growth, and constant attention is necessary to keep the heads •straight. Straight heads mean straight stems. Some varieties have an annoying habit of going “blind ” —-i.e., the leading growth ceasing to grow, and a lateral becomes necessary to take its .place. Growers, therefore, should carefully examine' the heads of the plants before pulling out all the laterals. Mulching with decayed manure, grass clippings, etc., is much advocated as a deterrent to excessive evaporation, hut unless the correct materials are obtainable much damage may be done. Grass clippings are apt to lie too close to the surface, thus excluding air. Manure will usually nave the effect of attracting the roots to tho surface, and if the mulch is shifted by heavy winds the hot sun will play havoc with the roots. It has been the experience of this grower that constant hoeing to a depth of about 2in is a much safer plan, and is quite effective. Feeding should not be resorted to unless it is necessary. Well prepared ground is the secret of procuring first-class exhibition sweet peas, and excessive feeding has the effect of producing thick stems and floppy blooms. Size, of course, should be aimed at, but not at the expense of quality. Ah experiehced judge would have ho hesitation in awarding prizes to medium-sized spikes bearing wellplaced blooms with erect standards and nicely balanced wings to blooms which have nothing but size to recommend them-