THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LVI, 1 September 1923, Page 7

THE GARDEN

DELPHINIUMS AND LUPINS

The gardening correspondent of tho Manawatu Standard writes: —Our rosegrowing friend who is away on a visit to England says that ho will have plenty to tell us when be gets back to' old Now Zealand, and writes a. short letter about the glories of the new varieties of delphiniums and lupins. He says: "Everywhere that you go here you meet the enthusiastic gardeners. I never thought that any people could be so wrapped up m a tiny two by four piece of ground as these Englishmen and women are, and if 1 had to write the history of the people of England at the present time J would lay special stress on this fact, because gardening is the root of their love for their own country. But this is not what 1 wanted to tell you about, f was taken tho other day to see a collection of delphiniums that would take yoiir breath away. You have no idea how much the varieties have been improved by the hybridist, the individual flowers are larger, the colours better, and the blooms are better placed on tho stalks. There are delphiniums for every purpose, from varieties about two feet higjli to tall and stately ones, rivalling tiie . hollyhocks for height. Some of the flowers that we measured were quite two inches across and many of the spikes wen? over two feet long with all the blooi*s open on them at once. The border of them that I was taken to see was about a quarter of a mile long and about, fifteen .feet deep, with the taller varieties at the back and the dwarfer ones in front-- It was a private collection,] but had been raised from seed- and culled out where required. No plant is allowed to seed here or I would have begged or bon’owed some seed for my own garden. On the other s side of the walk,, which was really as wide as the drive through the. esplanade, with grass edgings about fen feet, deep, were growing tho finest assortment of lupins that 1 have ever seen. I have been to a few shows hero as you know, and had seen some masses of these flowers growing in pots and as cut flowers in vases, but it does not convey the one-half of their beauty that a border of this kind can. The plants range in height from four to five feet down to about two. I was told that all these, plants were raised from one pound of seed and that they will last for several years. T cannot describe the beauty of them, but they are very fitting subjects to have in conjunction with the delphiniums It was pointed out for mv edification that some of the colours did not. blend as well as they might have "done, but this is only a trifle compared with seeing such a sight. I am bringing seed home with me and think that T shall make show worth while when it gets going. The rise of tho lupins into such favour in England has taken place -within the last twentv years and the history of that rise ma-v 'he, of interest- to gardeners. Rather ‘less than twenty years ago tho lupin, known then as the herbaceous hipin, wa.s a flower of rather sombre purpl’ish shade, varied by an occasional dir tv white. The first variation that was noticed wa.s of continental origin and was probably the result of an accidental cross with the tree lupin as the seed parent, Tt was called pink when it was first discovered and was very largely grown. Subsequently, the treo lupin‘was used as a pollen parent and ,it is from this cross that the varieties our correspondent writes about were evolved. Tt is a. strange thing that the cross, although being from the tree lupin, still bears the type of the herbaceous variety with an occasional reversion to the tree type. But the most startling changes have been in the colouring and types of the flowers produced which vary in shades from the most brilliant blues and exquisite mauve shades. _ Bv a system of careful selection it is possible to obtain almost every conceivable shade of blue or purple where the colour is little more than a mere washed effect, to the brilliant colours mentioned before Most of the more beautiful varieties are bicolours of blue or purple and yellow or white, while distinct shades of colour on the wings can be got also.. The pink that was first raised was pleasing enough when the blossoms first opened, but as the Tower ones went -off they took on a purplish tinge which was anything but, pleasing. Rome of the newer ones are much better in thus respect, though there is still room for a great deal of improvement. At a recent meeting of fbe Royal Horticultural Society a Mr Downer was awarded a certificate of merit, which is said to have been well merited. His flowers all showed a new break, even showing reds, which, nnfortunatelv, do not blend well with the pinks, hut it is a break that, will he taken' advantage of, and we may look forward to something fresh from this quarter. Tt is well known that, the tree lupin is sweetly scented, and fortunately some of the crosses have taken on this part with the form of the herbaceous kinds. An English seed houso has taken the lupin up and is developing if, as fast, as it, can. Tt. has also made an attack on the.tree lupin for positions at the. hack of the border and has somo very fine things, which are as yet in tho evolution stage.

(By W. H. 'J’aylor in Journal of Agriculture.)

Early crops of cabbages and cauliflowers will in forward districts now be well advanced in growth. If growth is not quite satisfactory apply nitrate of soda, loz. to loz. per square yard, and repeat the dressing four or five weeks later. In later districts the surface soil should be loosened, whore possible, after heavy rain. Nitrate of soda should not bo applied till tbc normal frost period is past; after that it can bo counted on to produce good results. In soinc places cabbages and lettuces lose their bottom leaves, which turn yellow and often show patches of grey mould. The grey mould is a fungus known as Botrytis cincrea, an early form of a damaging disease, Sclerotinia fuekeJiana. The Botrytis form occurs only in wet conditions, and generally is the result of poorly drained soil or continued rainfall. If, 'however, it advances to the Sdcrotinia stage tins will continue to advance regardless of,weather, and in tho mid will destroy life plants, while tho seierotes falling to Hie ground will perpetuate the disease. Affected leaves should be removed as soon as detected, and the stems of tho plants dusted with air-slaked lime. The detached leaves should not he left on the ground ; they may he composted with lime or buried very deeply in the Si The disease, which is a very serious one. is far more prevalent than is supposed ; it usually escapes notice, until plants are killed. A good many plants are affected, including tomatoes and potatoes; hut most frequently the first appearance is on lettuces and cabbages. because the way ffio bottom leaves rest, on the soil creates conditions favourable to the disease. floods to he sown at this period include peas, spinach, turnips, and tur-nip-rooted red beet., while broad beans may he sown if not- already in. Celery for the main crop should he sown about the 15th September. Celiriac—known as turnip-rooted celery—is a valuable vegetable not so much grown as it should he; it is raised in the. same way as celery. Tomatoes for late crops should he sown early in September. Plant potatoes, rhubarb. Jerusalem artichokes. cabbage, cauliflowers, lettuce, shallots, garlic, and various herbs — such ns thyme, sage, mint., savoury, and marjoram-—and sow or plant, parsley. Asparagus Asparagus-roots a,re active some time before the heads show through the ground, which in middle districts occurs early in September. The best time to

Elant is as soon as the roots are active, ut if a head or two has broken it will do no harm. The activity of the roots prevents damaged roots dying hack, and ensures a good start. If the plants have to be procured from a distance they must bo packed jn damp material. If raised on the place they should be placed between damp sacking and exposed as little as possible. To plant, make a trench 6in. deep with a shovel; then with a rake make, a ridge in the centre of the trench by drawing up soil from each side of the floor of the trench. The plants should he placed on the top of the ridge with the roots spread on each slope, as on a saddle. The soil should then be returned, leaving the crowns from 2in. to 3in. below the surface. Modern practice is not to plant- closely in beds, hut at greater distances apart in lines on tho Hat-. It would lie better to plant one or two rows the whole length of a plot than a number of shorter rows side by side. In large plantations the rows should he from 30in. to 36in. apart, and the plants at least 15in. apart-, a greater distance heiqg bettor. Two rows 18in. apart, with (he plants 10in. asunder, is a good arrangement. This style of planting produces better heads than do crowded plants on the old-fashioned beds. . Established beds or plantations that have been previously covered with manure should now be put in order. In dm case of beds, the soil previously taken off should now he returned to cover the manure. Where plants are in rows a light, forking-over will bo wanted. Where a good dressing of manure has been given, no fertilizer will be neeessarv except nitrate of soda, which should not he left out. Asparagus is benefited more by heavy manuring than is anv other crop, except perhaps rhubarb.’ Nitrate of soda may be used with advantage in sufficient quantity to actas a weed killer where necessary ; it will also kill slugs. Amounts op to 6oz. per square yard may he used.

SMALL-FRUITS Strawberries in most, places are now coming into flower. Tf growth is not satisfactory a dressing of nil rate of soda should he'given; 1 oz. per square yard, equal to 3 owt, per acre, is sufficient. Nitrate of soda should not. lie applied till flowering begins, because if given earlier il is liable to cause luxuriant leaf-growth at the expense of the fruil. Weeds should he hoed out. before the fertilizer is applied. Mulching material should be prepared for application before the fruit stalks extend too much. Materials suitable for the purpose include spent hops for small areas, or strawy stable manure, straw, rushes, pine-needles. and coarsely ont chaff. Where a good mulch can he. afforded it serves to conserve moisture, as well as to keep the fruit, clean. t ape gooseberries may now he planted generally, and old plants cut down to the new shoots now appearing.