THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 14984, 4 May 1912, Page 4 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

Jjj <■ weather, of ■ late lias been . wet, <, cold, ' and • • boisterous,; with * r frequent. southerly squalls, accompanied by heavv rains, , .ssfcnr^, •> in the -soil* and greatly delaying ( outdoor . operations, as - well*' as playing , sad. havoc •with the floral display. 7 Cosmo* have had a short Teign, and dahlias aw about over for the ' season. 1 ;^ Chrysanthemums ' have alao suffered from so; much' moiflturC.-j It is .to be hoped that a change will ; and that better weather conditions -will pre-,, vail : for. a few weeks at least, to allow; the various "" works >to be ? proceeded j with - ana the irarden and grounds m good condition before the winter 'finally, sets in. In connection with the many new suburban residences that have ; recently been erected or are in course of- construction, the:laying; out: of the grounds; by making .walks - awl drives, and the arrangement r 01, flower - beds and borders, - and sowing . portions in grass, as well as providing for ; the » planting' of trees and shrubs, : disposing of . the; varieties in euch ?a- manner as to eventually ; produce the best and most pleasing effects, ; also the planting of suitable • hedge., plants, making rockeries, and other arranicements fortthe adornment of the garden, are probably being undertaken ;at the present time." . . . r J t 't /V ' ■ ■ {■' Laying Out Grounds. The successful laying out" of grounds can only .be . undertaken by ; the;, guidance' or • supervision, of those who , have acquired" the ■ art from experience and careful observation, ' with a ' natural:gif : and love ; for the ;work. Many books have .been written ■ upon land- ■ Bcane' gardening * • but' it is almost impossible ' to follow any . fixed, plan « that . may .be jf laid down, or - carry • out - the work', according , to* the. models that may -be provided;^,. In small . plots; of ground). in ; connection with city and suburban residences,';'the 'gardens ' may be designed according ,to .fixed - plans i- ; but in dealing with;larger aresuvitisimpos i sible to lay . down fixed' rules, 'as the natural. disposition of the land and its . surroundings ' is in almost every instance totally different. 1 The direction 'of . the roads and paths: must be governed -by :.tho peculiar: condition of I. the plaoe ; and.itß ejirroundings. : *-5.* i .... . . Soil and Situation; • 1 The ever-varying. soil, , situation, and cli- ' mate must bo , taken 'into consideration. The beauty of the existing,scenery enould always ' bo kept in 'view. The most successful J;re-, , sults are : invariably produced by the intel- ■ ligent manner in which : the designer- makes use of the natural.materials at his disposal. [ Although new ideas and improvements s may' , suggest themselves as the work proceeds, r never commonco - without some > filed idea and full consideration as to the result calculated ;' upon • when finished. ■ After the grounds have been portioned' out: by drives and walks, and witn suitable flower ; beds and ■ borders, etc., ; the'planting with orna- ; mental- trees and shrubs 'to atford ; shelter > and protection 1 from the ' weather,. as well as to. add to the privacy of the garden and enhance and'embellish the beauty "of 1 the landscape, should be the .next and by | no means least important procedure.. / Effects of Planting. r ■ No ' matter how well the walks may. be planned, the cffect may Ibe ' ruined by in- ' judicious planting. V The planter must ' possess knowledge as , to . the. ultimate require- . ments of. th© trees and other plants ;at his > disposal, as one of the greatest mistakes is > that of indiscriminate .' arrangement, with--1 out regard to , the ultimate height this or I that variety may attain •> to,' or space the branches may require when fully, developed. » Before proceeding with the. general plant- : ing. select and peg out suitable positions for i the • tall-growing - t trees that» will ultimately develop, into handsome specimens. • The smaller-growing trees and shrubs may then . bo . arranged so as not to interfere with ■ those that are intended-for j specimens. -In • arranging , the planting, provision *must!al. >■ ways 'bo made for. ample ; lawns - and " other ■ grass plots, as these ; are the • most pleasing , features in connection with - large »grounds.

~ The Orchard. ; , In a few weeks tree-planting; will again he in full- swing, and intending planters will do well to have all necessary preparations made, 'so'.that there will he .m little? delay as possible wnen the. work isonco started. - As often stated in these' columns'« the success, or, failure in tree-planting idopends so much upon the condition of /the soil and 'the treatment the trees receive at tho timo of planting that too much attention cannot'be' drawn to, it. Thousands arid scores, of thousands of trees are planted every season, v with widely varying results. Even when planted 5 in . the same ? locality and apparently the:same v soil? success and failure , are often seen almost fiide. by„ side. •

Thi*. .too, i«. frequently seen. even- - the I trees come from the same eourwlSlffi -have been grown under the of, culture.* '"Anm^A^^Um , Cause . of Failure#. - A The reason of failure is at onoo armat,'**s> ,to i the observant and practical but to 5 the. inexperienced the want of cess in. almost every • instance is laid to J2&& fault in the trees, whereasv.:Xktbi&lK would 4bo safe to state that' by ; far «K greatest majority of the trees planted ujXf proper conditions of cultureVvkwMlsumSPl This doe? not, necessarily mean thouehlSif tree may make healthy growth that tluSa - would be. the same uniformity of size most varieties of trees, ' whether tW SI apples," • pears, : plums or peaches, tftrigSg vary m character of growth jvi some IS naturally of a dwarf, sturdy: habit,s*MSl others have a tendency to run to wood Sf make large specimens. Thit,. however of little moment. The main thiritf is 'ill secure* healthy growth and success is assured. i Jho ooinrlihon of .the soil i« the roastl important matter to ensure sucOew, amfno practical farmer would expert success wifc any crop unless the soil was in such con *• dition as would fjrow it successfully TIT same applies to all kinds of trees, whether?, they are fruit or other trees. .■■■ ✓ ''' ■ • • • '' i J '}■: IV/J? Variation of. Soils . ' ' r 1 Some soils naturally contain a supply «f| those > elements necessary lor the worth i and development of plants and trees, wSS| others are deficient of : the material ' from' which trees derive their ■ sustenance. both, cases the soils aro "capable"''Wwtaffil improved. With the former*?, » suffix® to thoroughly work the " soil, but with'SSs latter not only thorough cultivation "of th» soil required, but the addition of th«W ; mammal properties in which' tho soil i*f deficient. But, whatever the nature t>f tW soil,' thorough drainage' is' necessary ij® tree can thrive in stagnant water. " Excess" ? moisture, too: keeps the soil in a cold cor Jiaon and stagnates growth. Air is nSafcf. essential 'to healthy .root actiont bo only should there be, free • outlet -Jor;«jJDMs water, r but even the • surface should bs k&tA% loose - and mellow. If: planters "to&i that the soil in which trees are to bVpUnSf was thoroughly cultivated and sweeten<S'i there would be few failures in tree wm -Kiroa. . i-4S