FLOWER GARDEN.

Hawera & Normanby Star, Volume XLI, Issue XLI, 12 February 1921, Page 9

FLOWER GARDEN.

(By "Hortus" for the Hawera Town

Planning Association.)

FLOWER GARDEN

Continuing the subject of the cultivation of the dahlia from last week's notes, a few hints on the selection and arrangements of.blooms for exhibition may be opportune at the present time, when the various summer flower shows are drawing near. In the selection of the blooms of all the sections care should be taken to see that they are as nearly -"?»rfect in development as possible, and quite .free from damage by insects or other causes. They should also, with the exception of the pompom and single varieties, be as larbe as possible, consistent with freedom from, coarseness, which is a serious defect. The show, fancy, cactus, pompom, paeony, ,flowered and decorative varieties should be cut when fully developed, but before the back no-sets have lost_ their freshness. In the case of the single and collerette varieties I booms that have , not quite reached 1 their full development should be selected, as these will retain their freshness after being cut for a longer period than will those which are fully onen at time of cutting.- Tn all cases the bloom? should be cut early in the morning before the rays of the sun have reached them, or else late in the evening, as iy be most convenient, and as the are cut the stalks should at once .be placed in water. In staging the flower? t is important to so arrange.them aj= to obtain a perfect harmony of colour, and when using sloping boards or boxes to graduate the blooms according to their sizes, nlacingr the larger or\es at the back, the next size in the middle row, and the smallest at the front, lt is not advisable to show the blooms of

j exceptional size with others and more ordniary dimensions, as by doing so risk is run of making the smaller ones look dwarfed, and giving the impression that they are really small. Dahlias are so far wholly free from bacterial and fungus diseases, and the earwie which is so destructive in the Old Country is here conspicuous "by it? absence. In the early stages ofgrowt' slugs are sometimes 'tdoublesorre, and protective measures should be taken immediately there are indications of ■j their presence. To protect the nlants i when in their permanent quarters" from } _-'ip depreciations of slugs the ground ; immediately around them should he ! made fine and ouite level, «o that n~ hiding place for the pcs 4* will be ayaijj able. These surfaces oan be dusted j n-fth lime or soot from time to time as ; be considered necossavv. » Thp'!,;likelihood of damaere to dahlias at %hitime of the year arises from +he mor<or less severe winds which are sure to be experienced while the nlants a^e in full vigour of growth anfi bloom. How- , ever, this can be overcome by careful j attention to staking and dying.

An enormous secret trade in cocaine has, it is stated, developed in Germany.

During 1920 there were 104 unsolved » murders in New York,