THE FLOWER GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 23864, 19 April 1941, Page 4

THE FLOWER GARDEN

Many of the summer annuals are now over, and although it has been dry _ in some districts, many of the old favourites have given a great display, especially whero tbo sites were well prepared in the early spring by working in plenty of well-de-cayed manure, etc. It is wise at this juncture to note what varieties of plants have been a success under the conditions which have prevailed this past season. In Dunedin and district it is most noticeable that owing to climatic and other conditions some varieties of plants are never a success It has been noticed not only at this season of the year, but for some time past various bedding plants have been far from a success. The colouring has been a failure. There is one outstanding exception, and that is in Broadway. Here can be seen a display which is a credit to those who are in charge of the city’s garden plots. Several of these beds contain what have been recommended in those notes on several occasions—namely, fibrous-rooted begonias. These delightful flowering plants have here been used as a ground work for the lovely garden decorative dahlias, Bishop of Llandolf, and others. These lovely begonias, with their crimson spikes of dainty flowers and dark-veined foliage, make an ideal picture. Not only can these begonias be had in crimson colours, but in pinks as well. A variety named Urabell hos splendid compact growth, with beautiful deep pink flowers, the same colour as those of Baroness de Rothschild, a sport from the old Gloire de Lorraine winter-flowering begonias, which unfortunately we do not see in this part of the world. It may have been noticed that some of tho fibrous begonias and tuberous-flowering begonias planted in the borders in the Octagon were a complete failure, and have been removed. These begonias can be raised very easily from seed and will flower the same season, or they can be worked from cuttings or divisions. The last is the* best method, as often if tho seed is not obtained from reliable sources they do not keep their true colours.

There is no doubt that these begonias will prove popular as a bedding plant, ns there are no other flowers that stand out so prominently at this season of the vear. F.S.P.