HUTT VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

Hutt News, Volume 9, Issue 9, 7 August 1935, Page 5

HUTT VALLEY HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

A most interesting lecture was delivered by Mr. Thomas Watigli, before a meeting of the Horticultural Society's (ianlen Circle last wpok, the subject being ''Shrubs Suitable for Our District." Mr. Wangh first of all pointed out that it was not nil easy matter in this country to differentiate between a shrub and a tree. He reminded his hearers that New Zealand was the home of the smallest tree in the wi'ild. a pine which grows on an average two inches high. On the othei hand the country has many of -he largest shrubs which grow I'd or ;S0 feet high and a violet which is a tiee gtowing feet high (Melicytus bafiiitlorusi. Mr. Wnugh threw out the suggestion that the knotty pioblem would prove an interesting subject for members to debate on some occasion. Hecently we have had, said the speaker, quite a lot oi advice as to what trees we should plant, tiom (lanlen Circles. Horticultural Societi"?, Beautifying Societies, Arbor IJav enthusiasts, right down to borough councillors, so [ venture to add my quota. Some of our friends have been advocating planting Knglish hardwood trees as being more beautiful than New Zealand trees., I admit that Knglish liardwood trees, such as Oak, I'.lm, Ash, etc., are most beautiful, in fact, thev are more than beautiful; the\ ate majestic in I heir right place, which is not Wellington, round Wellington harbour, or expo-ed- positions in the Hiwt Valley. I never go tr <'h ristchuodi but what 1 stand and admire those wonderful Knglish trees and take off my hat, as it were, to those men who grew and planted those great specimens. Truly those men have left living monuments. Why is i, that Knglish trees do not grow better in the Wellington district.' Simply because they are deciduous. When their young leaves unfold in the spring, before thev are mature, we get one of those gentle breezes of ours right oil took Straits mid the young leaves are cut, tuttered and torn (this happens two <-r three times in the spring), which renders them quite useless tor their natural function of feeding the plant. Many of you will remember the Oriental Planes, planted on KaiUvav Avenue. What happened to them.' We are blessed in this country ui'li a unique and wonderful flora; we ha\e the finest native bush in the world, the

most jH'i'lVrt ri■! lt'cli on ot evi i iui l'i'ti shrults an'l I rri'S, why not tukc U'ivantage of what nature has provided for us and plant Xew Zealand trees and shrubs Our country is clothed with vegetation from one end to the other and all with plants suitable to !he particular district in which they are growing. W ** are told that Wellington harbour at one lime was clothed with vegetation to I he water front; 'he trees which grew in 1 li>)•■ will grow !o-day. It you look at the native plants gTowing near Oo,d< Straits, how many deciduous trees will you iind.' You will, however, Jind many with verv small leaves, others with hard glossy leaves. From this we can learn a lesson. You will gather, from what I have already said, that I definitely range myself on the side of cur native plants and would ask you just to picture to yourself a Kowhai. I- to lo feet high, in full bloom, standing bv itself; what could be more beautiful.' Then, alongside, one of our many forms of I.acebarks, though in..-Ily while or nearly so t I his, to my mind, docs not take from their beauty). A- a contras'-, put our yellow Tainui next. What could lie more gorgecus th an ii full flower plant of this.' Then come Carmichaelia, our native Broom, which are all useful and worthy of a place in any garden. We have our Manukas, many wonderful varieties; I rv Keatleyii il von waul something good. Our great Poll il t ii ka wa comes next; for a windy exposed position, nothing can excel it, thought 1 lie tlower is short lived, the foliage is still beautiful. Many of the Olearias deserve n place and wi 1T stand a severe buffeting as much its any plant. They are mostly while composite flowers, (Tiniitlius piiuicens is a very n-eful plant in many places, its bright red colour comes in handy -oiuetime-, There is a good pink form nl-o. A list ot e I i a (X./. Wineberryi i- a verv showy plant- when in flower and one which will grow anywhere. b'ewa Kewa. otir native Honeysuckle, deserves meal ion as il is a plant for a windy position and il- curious (lowers are interesting. 11l Senecio we have a great variety, vellovvs arid whiles, all good and worth growing. Veronica-.- This remarkable genus of plants is fully represented in our flora and varieties can be obtained suitable for any position, What is more graceful than the New Zealand Lilac with its pendulous ra -elnes? 1 have only mentioned twelve of our native plants so la r . When you stop to consider thai we have some thousands to select from, what a wonderful j| ( >|,| it is. I now leave our native plants with apologies to the many beautiful forms not mentioned. Now, turning to our Kxotics, I would place Hybrid lihododendrons lirst as making a wonderful display; take sin-h varieties as Alice, Britannia, Pink l'enrl, Unknown Warrior. What could be liner than plants of these varieties j., full flower,' liven old -lohu Water"!' and Sir .Hubert Peel each make a great; display early in the season; not many chains from where we are now, you have a good example of this each spring. Japanese Azaleas: These gorgeousflowered subjects are worthy ot' special mention. Their foliage is a study in itself, tho many wonderful autumn nil tides they take on before dropping. The flowers are produced bufcru the

new leaves and are of all colours—yellow, orange, pinks, und flame shades. Kabii iTiige, Ki-renge and Heni-renge are nil varieties you can see round Iho district. Uot.li Ithododemirons and Azaleas do partimlaiiy well in the Hull district; nowhere will you iind better specimens than we have here. This is probably due to the very marked deficiency of lime in the Hutt soil. The several varieties of flowering Fruit Trees are worthy of cultivatioi. Prunus Mume, which has been flowering for a month or more now, is one of the first. It is a very bright pink and stands the weather well. Cowering Almonds. Cherries, Peaches and l'hmis are all very showy and worth growing. I will now give you the names of a few trees and shrubs that are uncommon, some of them new, some very old. Waratah (Telopea truncata), the Tasmanian one. This is a handsome and easily grown variety bearing great heads of bright rod flowers. Kmbothrium coccineum, (Tire Hush). An evergreen tree of about to feet, brilliant orange scarlet flowers ami produced- in large clusters along the stems. There was a very line plant of this ,n "Mason's Gardens, Idesia polycarpa, a handsome tree >n account of its wonderful berri"s. These are produced in long racemes of bright red colour, which hang on the tree until the following year and iv;ain their colour. Kolkwitzia amnbilis. (Heautv Hush). A hardy Chinese shrub, very graceful in habit and carrying bunches of pink and yellow flowers. Kegelia granditlora, a neat -lirub with attractive foliage, deep crim-ou , flowers, 'resembling the flowering <ium.

Angophora laneeolata. (Apple Myrtle) Very handsome 1-m-a !y ptns-1 ike l'oliage, with pendulous white (towers, Banksias, several varieties. An interesting section of Australian plants. Bushv, evergreen shrubs ami tre-s bearing curiously constructed tlowrs. raiK'ing i" colour through yellow . amber, apricot and flame. Acmena (loril.mnda: Worth growing if only for its berries, which are produced in great profusion. Aiiielanchier canadensis: A -nuiL tree, bears masses ot whi,e llovveis before the leaves appear. Arbutus .Men/.iesii. A striking tree, large panicles of flowers, followed by bunches of orange yellow berries. liaeckia plieata: A spreading shrub with pinkish white tlower; useful fot cutting and good on the rock garilen. Buddleia salvifolia. menlioued on a - count of its wonderful annual growth, highly scented pale lilac (lowers ind (lowers in mid-winter, Callicarpa americaua. A neat little shrub, small red flowers and viol d berries. Callistemon lanceolatus. (The < nnison Bottle Brush). Hardy, will thrive anywhere; wants cutting well back after flowering. Cassia brasilien.-is, liicli yellow lloweis; grows very quickly and (lowers earl v. Ceanothus. Mostly blue-flow ered. For those who like '.lie colour there ,s a large choice. Prune well back alter flowering. Chiinonanthus fragrans. A new hardy winter-flowering shrub. sweetly scented yellowish Holers, which precede the foliage. ('horizeuia illicifolium. Holly like foliage, red and yellow pea shaped flowers, Cvdonia. There are now many line coh-urs in these old-fashioned plains. The bright scarlet is still good.

CvtiMis In the Hrooms ui l ii;i\r now iitany wondorlwl v;i viatic*-. mi< h Burkw ooilii, Lord Lnmboiirne, .-mi Truby King, and dustice Blair, 'ill smothered in the spring with their bicoloured flowers. Drvandra tloribmida. Hand-ome deeply serrated evergreen leaves, peculiar burr-like flower.-, which la.-t w 'II when dried. Kii'-alvpti licifolia m'd leucoxylon rose,a, the pink-flowered. Kugenia myrtifolia. (Australian IJo-e Apple). This bears very large crops of purplish ro-eberries, Felicia angustifolia. A little shr.ib which bears a profusion of heliotrope coloured (lowers in the spring. Persy t Ilia. A very old friend but still one of the mo.-t haiidsoine velloAtlowered shrubs grown. (iarrya ellip'.ica, which produces those peculiar long pendulous pale green catkins, which last on the tree for quite a long time. (lordonia anomala. Another Wmt'r floweret', with very handsome folia go and creamy white flowers. Grevillea. Many flowering varieti"s are now grown, all evergreen and -nine very brilliant flowers. hidigol'era decora. A dwarl shrub with pink flowers, after the style ot a miniature Wistaria. Kalmia latifolia. (Calico Bush i. One of the very lines! flowering shrubs, but must be grown in the shade. lxerriii japonic. Bright yellow flowers .mostly double, tlower.- early in tne spring. I.eoiiotis leontirus, (Lion's Tail). So called on account of the formation o' ils flowers, which are orange scarlet. Lnculia. A Chinese shrub ol nieril. The large pink flowers are borne in terminal clusters throughout the winter. Frost tender. Prune well after flowering. 'Magnolia. Several evergreen and deciduous varieties worth growing; Campbellii the best pink; Fuscata. port wine coloured and highly perl limed. Melaleuca are all Australian. The variety "laterita" is the best known as "Hobi,, Kod Breast Tree''; orangescarlet flowers. Nandina domestica. A decorative shrub of great value, richly coloured leaves in autumn and handsome scarlet berries; at its best now. Oleander. All good evergreens and stand the sea spray well, the pinks and reds are best.