SHRUBB CALCEOLARIAS

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXI, Issue 302, 5 December 1931, Page 13

SHRUBB CALCEOLARIAS

Bedding Calceolarias were at ono time considered a most essential class of plant for the adornment of tne garden in the summer, and there were few bedding schemes which did not include a goodly proportion of these, particularly of tho yellow and brown shades. Nowadays, they do not, however, figure quite so prominently, having either been displaced by the larger and more brilliantly flowered greenhouse varieties or by some different class of plant entirely, with the result that many of the once popular varieties are now difficult to procure. Fortunately, for they are charming little plants, it is still possible to obtain these in sufficient variety to enable them to bo used with good effect either in bedding schemes or to brighten up some portion of the garden. Provided the weather is at all favourable, these may be planted out now, and, as short-jointed, stubby little specimens give much better results than long, spindly ones, preference should be given to the former when selecting one's plants. Success or otherwise depends to a certain extent on the season, as a very hot, dry season considerably shortens their period of usefulness, but as coolness at the roots is appreciated by this class of plant, these should be planted in a fairly rich loam, which has been deeply cultivated. Tho space allowed between each plant, depends on whether they are used as dots or massed; but wellshaped symmetrical plants can only be obtained by permitting ample room for development, and the ground between the plants should either be carpeted with a dwarf subject to keep the roots cool or else stirred regularly with the hoe for the same purpose.