Enjoy Your GARDEN

Northern Advocate, 13 May 1939, Page 4 (Supplement)

Enjoy Your GARDEN

Spend the Leisure Hours of Daylight with the Flowers

Cannes is celebrating the centenary of mimosa, of which the first seeds planted beside the blue Mediterranean were brought to France by a sea captain from San Domingo. From one of the seeds he planted a mimosa tree, which grew to dimensions measuring 50ft across. Attracted by its sweet scent, perfumers of the Riviera decided on its cultivation.

It was a horticulturist of Cannes, ons Jacques Bon, who found out the way to treat the mimosa. Later the mimosa was favoured for its blossoms alone.

Mimosa needs a stony, permeable soil, which the Esterel provided, and which proved ideal for its cultivation. At present the region of Cannes counts 215,000 mimosas, and 2500 to 4800 tons of parcels of cut flowers are sent annually from Cannes, Cannes-la-Bocca and Mandelieu-la-Mapoule to Paris. London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Bordeaux. Strassburg and Berne.

This makes me think of the many noble trees in Northland that must be nearly a hundred years old. While we are busy looking after our native trees, planting and preserving our forests, don’t let us neglect those trees that our grandfathers grew from seed. To the early settlers these trees from the homeland seemed Uke part of their own lane.

I will probably write more on this matter another day. Perhaps my readers will look around and find old trees that should be remembered in the centenary.

Planting Native Shrubs and Trees

The present is a good time for planting native trees and shrubs, particularly those wrenched six or eight weeks ago. The planting should be done as soon as possible after lifting. A common mistake is to plant too deeply. Put in to the same depth as the plant was growing. Always plant in a hole big enough to comfortably take all the roots without having to cramp them, and with something to spare.

Do not* plant while the ground is sticky and sodden; this applies more particularly to heavy soils. Plant firmly. If the plant is of any size and likely to get the wind, give it a firm

The Centenary Of Mimosa

stake .as the shrub has to develop fine roots before it can begin to make any headway. Wind may cause irritation below ground and make it very hard for the plant. Give the newly planted trees or shrubs a tea-tree protection from wind and frost for the next few months.

Erica Melanthera This heath flourishes here, and it is quite evident that it enjoys our soil and climate. It makes a fine showy bush in many gardens in April. The shrub is from four to five feet in height and bears numerous deep mauve blossoms, very small, but plentiful. The colour does not harmonise with the bronze and gold of most flowers, but it supplies a welcome change of colour in some other part of the gar* den. Suitable associates are petunias, the- small flowered norines. with chrysanthemums in mauve colourings. This erica may be planted now. General Hints Order your roses now; and do not forget some of the climbing varieties. Paul’s scarlet climber is a very showy scarlet that does not grow very tall. Emily Grey is. a variety that makes a good cover. The glossy green leaf is attractive with the yellow flowers.

Many of the old favourite bush varieties can now be had as climbers. Any rose catalogue will give a list of varieties. The two mentioned above have quite different habits. , When cannas have died down sufficiently, they may be cut back. If the room is wanted, the cannas may be lifted and stored under a hedge or tree for the winter.

Plants such as thalictrum. gypsophila, lilium, etc., that die down to the ground, should have the position marked so as to avoid interference with the roots when digging.

Adding lime to the manure heap is a wrong practice, as it causes a serious loss of useful nitrogen in the form of ammonia gas. At the same time it is not good practice to add manure to a sour soil. If the soil is at all acid 1 , it should be drained and limed well before adding the manure.

Farmyard manure is complete in itself. as it contains those elements of plant food necessary for plant growth.

Stored animal manure should be tightly packed so as to exclude air as much as possible. If loosely exposed to the air it loses much of its manorial value.

A dusting of powdered gypsum or sulphate of lime is said to help the manure to retain its strength by preventing loss of ammonium salts. The liquid portion of animal manure contains a higher percentage of nitrogen than does the solid, and the nitrogen is more readily available in the former case. Hence the best manure is obtained from the stables where suitable bedding is used. Short bedding material is a much better absorbent than long straws, and it breaks down more readily in the soil. Don’t use artificial manure too strong. Make “weak and often’’ the rule.

Don’t try to feed the plants with artificial stimulants during June and July, when the roots are dormant. Feed your annuals now while there remains some warmth in the soil, and so make strong plants to start the winter.