GARDENING NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 11 July 1930, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES

(By “Waratah.")

DESTROYING SCALE INSECTS. Various scale insects are, prevalent upon many of our best trees and •shrubs, and besides causing much damage to the plants give them an unsightly appearance by the black smut on the foliage. Laurels, camellias and oleanders are those principally affected among the European shrubs and l pilriri, karakas and pittospornm in the native shrubs, but most shrubs are liable to be attacked. The best remedy to use is “Red Oil,' 1 one part to twenty-five parts of water. When the black smut is very bad two or three sprayings at intervals of a week or ten days may he necessary. The spraying should bo done as soon as possible, whilst the plants are more or less dormant. BO RON I AS.

These are natives of Australia, and are. very, popular. The most pb-pular-is borouia megastigliia, winch - has Brownish foliage and- diocolate-mloured flowers, which are sweetly scented. The other varieties are hi tea, with greeiiishyellow -flowers slightly scented. Eilatior, with rosy-carmine flowers in profusion, and pinnata. deep-rose flowers. There is a new variety known as serrulata (Sydney rock rose) with deep rosecoloured flowers. .Elation will grow to a height of five feet under favourable condition ; the other varieties'grow'to a height of from two to three feet. The borouia! needs perfect ! drainage and a. firm .soil, and, must never be allowed to. get dry at the roots in the summer. The plants are usually soldi “balled"’ with scrim or sacking tied round them. Do not remove the covering material when planting, but it is advisable to soak the hall in water for an hour or so in case it- may be dry. A ■position in full sun is essential. Make the soil very firm round the roots, the top. of the ball qf soil should be lialf-an-hu-h below the surface of the ground.

When the plants have finished' flowering they should be cut hack to flic base ■of the flowering branches., that is about half of the previous season’s growth, do not cut hack into old wood. Tf not possible to water them in summer put a mulch of leaves or litter round them. The borouia is often attacked by small aphides (“green-fly’’). The remedy is to spray with “Black-leaf 40 ;” one teaspoon to a gallon of very soapy water, it may be necessary to spray two or three times during the summer.

RHODODENDRONS. These are o'nerujf the. most gorgeous of iiie flowering shrubs. They require a good 'soil’containing plenty of humus or decaying vegetavle matter and must not be allowed to become dry’ at the roots during the summer. Lime or artificial manure, should never he used near the mots a-s it acts like poison to them. -■) They should! not be .planted close to • large trees which impoverish the. soil ; and keep it too dry to suit- rhododenI drons. They are usually .sent out f rom the nurseries balled in sacking or. scrim and should be planted without removing this material. It is advisable to soak i the ball for an hour or so before planting. Just cover the ball of soil and tread the soil firmly. There is a very large number of varieties to choose from, and it is difficult to give, g selection, but the following are very good: Ambroseum, pinkish white; Alarm, white, centre edged scarlet; Elegans, rose with blotch of se.pia-hr-own; Fastuosum, -semi-double lavenI dor; Nosegay, deep rose ; Sappho, white, deep lilac blotch; Sir Robert Peel, crimson, very early; Pink' Pcrle, deep pink; Mr T. Thistleton Dyer, rosy pink, maroon blotch, very large flowers. The Himalayan species ami varieties are of ((impact semi-dwarf habit of growth, witli large trumpet-shaped sweetly scented flowers. They are quite hardy and many of them commence to flower the' first year. The following six are highly "recommended: Countess of Haddington, white .suffused rose, four feet; Countess of Sefton, white flaked, pink, two feet; Fragrantissimum, white with heliotrope reverse, five feet; Multiflora, white, sulphur blotch reverse rose. three feet; Virgmalis, handsome foliage, white Tunnel-shaped! flowers, strongly scented, eight feet. There is a. 1 new dwarf species Suitable' for rock-work. They are bushy and free-flowering, but the : flowers are not so large: a-s the- taller varieties. The following are recommended : Olefoleum. pale rose ; Racemosum, pink plant, only a few inches' high; Virgatum, an ideal . rockery plant, large blush-rose 1)631I shaped flowers. The flowers of all classes of rhodo-

, uenurons snouict o© removed as soon as they, have, faded, as if allowed' to form seed pods the formation of seed is a 1 serious 'drain on the vitality of the plants. ‘ Rhododendrons do hot lifted any pruning; as’a rule, unless they heeome straggling Or'overgrown,' but any extra. Jong or vigorous shoots should be removed to keepi the plants in shape. The. best time to prune is in the spring or early summer, directly iff ter the dowers are over, when new giowth l is i made at once. In the spring a mulch of leaf mould or w-e 11 -decayed manure should he spread on the soil round the plants as far "as the hrenclies extend. RRI'NIXC ROSES. Newly planted roses should be Out had: to two buds on weak shoots and five or six on strong'.shoots. "With established plants no' 'hard aild fast rule can he given, but as a general rule the. plants I that are pruned! hard produce the best II quality blooms, and when the hushes are slightly pruned more, dowers, but of inferior quality, are produced, i The hybrid perpetual roses should be j pruned about tins end of July and the 1 more delicate tea- roses at the end of August or early in September. If| pruned too soon the. plants break into' growth too early and the young growths arc damaged by heavy frosts. First cut away any dead wood, then any shoots growing into or across the centres of the plants. Then, shorten the strong shoots to a. plump, outside bud, I according to the vigour of the bucli. In the ease of strong growers, about one third .should he cut away, it is not advisable. to prune strong growers too hard! as it encourages rank growth. Weak growers, should have about twothirds of the growth cut. away, leaving not less than three or four buds. Climbing roses should have all old growth cut away each .season, leaving I only the strongest young growths. Weak .side growths ,should be cut hack to two buds. Those of th© rambler type should have the flowering shoots .shortened hack in oarl.v summer immediately after flowering, in winter .some of tho old growth 'should he cut away where it is overcrowded, to induce strong new growths.

Standard roses are pruned in a .similar manner to the dwarf roses, hut as a rule the growth is not so vigorous. The aim .should he to get a well-slurped and evenly-balanced head, once this is secured It is easy to maintain a wellshaped tret*. Voting plants roouir© more attention than those that have been growing for a few years.

ROUTINE WORK. Plant all kinds of trees, .shrubs, and roses when the soil iy in a suitable condition. Never plant when the soil is (very wet or sticky. Should plants arrive when conditions are not .suitable for planting unpack the plants and cover the roots with soil. Plant rhubarb roots I'om- feet apart in well-manured soil. Prune fruit trees. Spray fruit trees after pruning with “lime-sulphur” ' solution, one part to nine parts of water. Prune roses under glass. Lift and divide overgrown perennial plants and replant in well-manured soil. Place .seed potatoes in boxes round end uppermost, in a light airy position to keep the 'sprouts sturdy. Protect from frost at night. Plant garlic and (shallots. Put in chrysanthemum cuttings. Plant cabbage, cauliflower and”lettuce plants. Sow under glass cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, mustard and cress, and tomatoes.