THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10407, 3 April 1897, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

AUCKLAND CKKYSA.XTHEMUM SOCIETY. Tiie annual exhibition arranged to be hold at tho Drill Hall on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, the Bth, 9th, and 10th instant, promises to be most successful in affording a good floral treat. Owing to the Ion? spell of dry weather experienced during thoir early stages of growth cbrysanthomums are later than usual in coming into bloom. Consequently the date fixed for the show is a little too early for staging a large general assortment, as the late varieties are not yet ready to cut. But any deficiency in chrysanthemum bloom will be more than made up with dahlia and other floral exhibits that are now in full perfection and likely to be staged in large numbers, The schedule provides, as usual, for collections of pot plants, table decorations, bouquets, and baskets of flowers, etc., all of which add variety and make the show of greater) interest. Dahlias are strictly autumn dowering plant:, and are now at the height ot their flowering season. The recent moist weather has forced the plants into luxuriant growth, and the flowers are larger and finer in every respect than I have ever seen them. The splendid blooms shown in the various shop windows in Queen-street are evidences of the perfection attained. The cactus varieties are the most pleasing, and generally admired; tho large double show blooms are perfection in form, size, build, and colour, but are too formal in their appearance to meet the fashionable taste. Wonderful additions have been made to tho various sections of the dahlia family, particularly to the cactus, by raising new seedling varieties of distinctive characters. Only a few years ago, the original species juarezii was the only representative, new aorta have come latterly in rapid succession, enabling the national Dahlia Society of England to class the true cactus varieties by themselves and exclude the decorative section, which were previously admitted amongst them in shows. Mrs. A. Peart, Matchless, Mrs. Ben.iett, Delicata, May Pictor, Gloriosa, Bertha Mawley, Juarezii, Countess of Gosford, Council's Gem, Dedu Hole, and Apollo are all splendid examples of the true cactus type, and quite distinct from the decorative sorts. Single-flowered dahlias are especial favourites, and most useful for cat purposes. They are light and graceful in appearance, and comprise beautiful shades and combinations of colour. Bouquet or pompon dahlias are also useful on account of their compact dwarf habit of growth rendering them most valuable for small gardens and for planting near the edges of the borders. They produce small double flowers of various colours in the greatest) profusion. An 4deal pompon bloom is small in size and of even outline and symmetrical build, avoiding large size and coarseness. Double show dahlias, including fancy varieties, the flowers of which require to be large and very full and of most perfect form to be considered good. Recently a new class of dahlia has been added to the long list in the singleflowered cactus section, the varieties of which are exceedingly graceful and useful for cutting. That beautiful annual, the coemea, h extremely late this year in coming into bloom, but is now a gorgeous sight. This is comparatively a new species and one of the most useful for cutting and perioral decorative purposes. Miniature sunflowers are ttill in the utmost profusion of blossom, This is also a variety of recent origin and equally indispensable for cutting from. Altogether there is no lack of good flowering subject: to select from for keeping up a succession of flower throughout the summer and autumn months.

THE VIKEBT.

The weather during the last few weeks has nob been very favourable for ripening late grapes, The excessive moisture and sudden change in temperature, particularly at night, following the long spell of dry hot weather experienced throughout the spring and early summer months, will have an injurious effect upon late grapes unless a plentiful aupply of water has been at hand, and the roots kept well supplied with moisture. It is in seasons such as we have just experienced that great lose often accrues through an insufficient supply of water, Vinei are such gross feeders and require such an abundance of moisture wheu carrying heavy crops (and they are generally taxed to the utuoet in this respect) that

they cannot perfect their fruit when the borders are allowed 10 become dry, or partially so. Lack of moisture soon causes a premature setting of the skiu and ripening of the fruit, and upon the first heavy flush of water the grapes crack and other evils arise, while the fruit seldom attains that colour seen in well-grown grapes. Lato varieties, such as Mrs. Fince, Barbarosa, Gros Colman, Lady Downs, ami a few other are always difficult to colour unless pushed on early in the season. I have frequently pointed out to growers that these lute kinds need always to be started early or planted in a house whore artificial heat is used. Late grapes are a mast profitable crop and pay well if kept until late in the season. But to keep grapes sound the berries require to be thorouguly well ripened and coloured before the end of March. Late grapes will not ripen after that time, and seldom do much, good if not pretty well coloured by the middle of the month, and even than it ia u difficult matter to keep the berries sound for any length of time without the aid of artificial heat, owing to the moisture in the atmosphere during the autumn months. In the Old Country I have frequently kept grapes perfectly souud for many weeks after being cut from the vines. The bunches are taken off wirh a pieco of the lateral attached, and this is placed in a bottle of water. To keep the water perfectly pure a teaspoonful of animal charcoal is placed in oach bottle of water. The bottle should be stored away in a dry room, and placed in a slightly sloping position, so thai the bunch hangs perfectly from the bottle. The bunches of all late varieties should be frequently looked over, and all faulty and damaged berries removed. Shorten back all sublaterals to allow the sun and air to penetrate, and aid in ripening the wood and mature the buds. Keep the foliage clean and healthy until natural decay takes place. If tll'rip or any other insect or disease attack the leaves or vine, take immediate steps to eradicate it, as next season's crop depends in a very great measure upon the condition of the vines during the autumn, Kkpos.