THE GARDEN:

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14235, 4 December 1909, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN:

The rose, the, queen of:all flowers, Vis now the floral feature of the garden; *" varieties are a profusion of blossoms. - The magnificent displays at the:;' recent horticultural V and other , exhibitions are striking evidences of the, great achievements attained. The , marvellous • colours and combinations, and '; exquisite beauty •: of , many of the latest novelties make .one wonder what future developments are in store. At no period of its history has t the rose attained such popularity v as ; at - the : present time. , The English Garden, a weekly • journal has a special number devoted to ; the rose, and a review of the labours and portraits of the most famous V rose-raisers in the British Isles— .which it will be seen that Great Britain is well.to the front in* the matter of 5 rose-raising; and r that even greater triumphs are ahead after all.

THE CHABM OF THE BOSS. Fragrance is' the greatest charm of the rose* consequently, i"the greatest.aim should bo to preserve this. Just imagine a Frau Karl Druschki" with its purity of colour arid : perfect form arid size, but no perfume, possessing the delightful fragrant© of a La France" or a " Bardou Job. . Space will not permit to ennuwerate the ratines,of; the many '• splendid novelties; later i*- brief list will be given. ■% Special mention, however, must bo made of Pernet-Ducher's " Lyon , rose, which is considered v the best production of recent years. This glorious, novelty was well represented at the Agricultural Show last week. THE BOBE AS DEOOBaTOB. ! Roses of / recent > introduction ?, lend, * themselves particularly well to decoration, <on account of their beautiful colouring, * and also : to a diversity of uses in garden decoration $■■■ a striking i instance of this new departure is illustrated "■'. in ' : the : ; Garden w by,:: a . rustic bridge with: rose Dorothy Perkins covering the arches and handrails—a charming sight in the greatest profusion of bloom. Readers should note this, and experiment. >. A" rustic bridge hero and there, - and t- an occasional archway greatly adds to the oharma.of the garden, and takes from the formality. THE HOLIDAY SEASON. j V' The holiday season is again almost upon us," consequently the garden and grounds' should be < got ■ into 5 the • : best possible > condition •to enable the ■'- cultivator to obtain a few weeks' leisure, . and to thoroughly enjoy the ;& results wof his past ' labours. , Lawns;: and other portions lof the grounds that are in , grass must be closely mown, weeds must be eradicated from walks ; and " drives, and the i grass; edgings neatly' clipped; ; all vacancies in the beds and borders | must ;be filled |up at once, completing' all ' planting arrangements a week at ' least '- before ', Christmas. :\ \ ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

" Nanaku" :'! Seeds of ; pines, including the variety insignus, must not 'be soaked in hot water previous to sowing, and when transplanting tho young ; seedlings, no manure should bo used;" Tho' majority of varieties belonging to tho pinus ' family thrive on I the poorest of soilssome flourish <j where little other vegetation exists, owing to the • barrenness of the soil and bleakness of situation. " L.A.," New Plymouth: June and July are the best, months to prune the ; cherry plum. I The proner ;< system to : adopt Visl to cut off all decayed "wood and shoots, = and to keep the centre of the tree well open by cutting out superfluous growths and branches. Do not shorten back the j young wood/; or previous year's growth i all over th© tree, as this only ■> produces :• a / dense , crowd of fresh gowth. When the tree is properly shaped, very little after pruning is -necessary, beyond cutting out shoots and branches that crowd tho centre. " W.C.," Albany: Leaf sent to" name is evidently tho variegated form of the common balm, Melissa Officinalis, i a perennial herb used for medicinal 1 purposes. v; This variety makes a very pretty border plant. * " J.G.," St. HeHcrs: ; Judging from the appearance of cucumber leaf there is little hope of the plants recovering. Better ; pull up and - burn i them, r and either remove . the ramo to a fresh place, or take some of the earth out and replace it with fresh soil, and rcsow with;. : new seeds. :.-■: Tho ;;' leaves appear as if they had been ? scalded vby ,» the sun— | this may have happened when they : were damp and the > frame i closed. iEither sow Telegraph or the same ! variety , again. If i tho mjury is the result of sun-scald, < 1 new I earth 1 is not necessary,'"; merely make a, fresh * sowing. i ■■■•-■,■ y-' 'tr'-- t ~ .'•■':,:-,■' ■'■■■■■■,{' ■•';■;. " 0.1.5." : The material suggested j'or the building of the fernery^ will answer all requirements without close-boarding the sides. I The open lattico will provide ample shade, ; yet give sufficient light and air to : prevent tho plants becoming weak and drawn,' The '■ floor space mentioned should be amnio to allow of rock formation. In height of roof, however, I should suggest that it be taken four or even six feet higher than mentioned, so that a few of : our beautiful; native treeferns ;, can' 1 be planted V and :; have room uto ] develop unstinted by space. In the formation of J the : rock ; work, •'■' the object should be as much as possible to secure a perfect imitation of natural rock work. "; For this purpose largo stones should be ; selected, those covered with moss and other parasitic growth being preferable. These ; should )bo so '■'■- placed : as; to v form ; jutting ; points,; and miniatura caverns, in fact, , the more irregu- '; larly they can be arranged tho better the effect when tho house is ? furnished with grow-' ing ferns. To ■ add to ; the beauty, a 1 miniature ; ? pond ;or , fountain should be -placed' E where it will produce the best effect. 'w Even in the ; formation of this, a? rugged outline is best, so that y ferns: can be placed to form i a background and droop ; over |to ithe edge of ; the water. Provision, , too, •* should ; bo made" for j< osy ,: nooks where: seats can bo | placed under the shade of i the Ji! ferns. ; These, « too, should;' be placed in ■ a position where they command ? ! the best view of t tho house. As > you say your house ' faces ' north ; and south, arrange that the r door opens on ; the ? north side. J&isros.