THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LV, Issue 16895, 6 July 1918, Page 3 (Supplement)

THE GARDEN.

PLANTS FOR ROOK GARDEN.

The following list of plants aie all suitable and specially recommended for the rockery. Aloes in variety, Agathea coelestis, tho blue marguerite, Abutilon vexillariura (the trailing kind), Arabis alpina, Anthropodium cirrhatum, our native rock lily, begonias of sorts, cacti (several varieties), campanulas, carpathica, and other dwarf species. Cerdstium Bierberstoini should be in every collection. Cuphea platycentra, Diplacus glutinosa, Dip'lopappus angustifolia, Dianthus (alpine species), escheverias, Ficus minima (the miniature climbing fig), Fuchsia procumbens, the trailing and other suitable kinds: gazanias of sorts j geraniums, single and double-flowered ivyleaved kinds; Geum, Mrs. Bradshawj Ileuchera sanguinea, Hypericums, Iris variegata; irises in great variety; Kalosanthes coccinoa, an indispensable scarlet-flowering species ; Kalosanthes jasminea; lantanas, dwarf, compactgrowing kinds; Lantana sellowrana,. the trailing variety, which should be in every collection; Libcrtia ixioides, a pretty tufted plant; Lithospermum prostratum, intense blue, trailing; lobelias; Lotus poliorynchus; Mesembryanthemums or ice plants, indispensable in every rock garden; nasturtiums, dwarf growers; Phlox Nelsoni; 'Plectranthus thrysoides; primroses and polyanthus; Polygonium repens (this spreads rapidly and must be

curtailed in its growth); Reihmannia angulata; Russellia juncea; salvias, saxifragas, in variety; sedums, several kinds, all indispensable; veronicas, dwarf species; Vittadenia triloba; yuccas, cotyledons, several varieties; anemones, cyclamens, freesias, daffodils, and other bulbous plants. Quite a number of annuals, biennials, and several herbaceous plants and alpines not enumerated in the above list may be successfully grown.

Soil Pockets in Rockeries. Special pockets and soil conditions may be provided for hard-wooded plants, such as ericas or heaths, boronias, Grevillea delachcana; and a background of larger-growing shrubs, such as Phormium ' tenax, our New Zealand flax, in variety of greens and bronze, palms, rhododendrons, and azaleas and others may be plantod for shelter and effect. In fact, no style of gardening affords such opportunities for growing a large and very varied collection of of plants most sue-' cessfully in a limited area, as various aspects, sunny, shaded, cool, or otherwise, may be arranged for; and soils to suit the special requirements of the different species may 1 be provided in the various pockets and spaces where they are to ho planted. ' Perns for Rockeries. Many of the hardier sorts of ferns may be grown most successfully in shady positions where ample moisture is afforded. Stones arranged upon the face of a clay bank or sandstone formation where the natural soakago percolates through is ideal for fern-growing, provided shade is afforded from the direct rays of the sun. Although abundance of moisture is necessary during portion of tho summer monttis, the rockery must, eicepting for ferns, be so constructed as to provide thorough drainage throughout the winter. One of the drawbacks to successful gardening under ordinary conditions ' is the superabundance of moisture throughout the winter. Hence the necessity for providing other conditions which the rockery affords. THE VINERY. If vines have not already been pruned there should bo no delay in completing tho operation. If full advantage has been taken of the heavy rain when little could bo done on tho 6oil, the work of this department should be well advanced,

Even the latest varieties can now be pruned with safety, without any risk of the canes bleeding.' The safest plan in all cases is to prune as soon as the sap has returned. To do this it is necessary to prune at different times, particularly when a number of varieties are grown. Early varieties, for instance, ripen their growth and can safely be pruned before later kinds that carry their fruits until late in the season. The ripening of the wood dopends in a very great measure upon the treatmont the vines have received. In well-prepared borders where the vines are furnished with an abundance of surface roots, the ripening of the wood is rapid and certain. It is in unprepared soil, particularly if of a stiff, cola nature, that difficulty is experienced in ripening the wood. Spraying Vines for Pests. As soon as the pruning is completed, and before removing the loose bark, the vines should bo dressed with Gishurst'fl compound, fir tree oil, or other good insecticide that will destroy any bug or other pests that would, otherwise fall to tho ground when the bark was removed. After tho vines have been thoroughly dressed, the loose bark should be removed. This parts freely from the vines, and should bo removed without scraping with the knife. The object in removing the bark is simply to leave a smooth even surface, so that no crevice is left in which insects can secrete themselves. After clearing, the vines should be painted over. For this purpose, a mixture of clay, soot, and sulphur mixed to the consistency of thick paint, should be applied with a brush so that a smooth even surface is formed. This completed, the whole of

the woodwork, trellis, in fact every part of the house should be thoroughly cleaned throughout. It is at this time whon the vines are dormant that stronger measures can be applied than would bo safe at any other season. Strong kerosene emulsion, applied hot, and with sufficient force to penetrate every crevice, is an excellent material for tliis purpose. After pruning and cleaning, the house should be left open and the vine exposed to the weather as much as possible, the objoct being to keep the vines dormant until ready for again starting into growth. Ripening the Wood A great mistake is often made with late varieties of grapes, the idea being that the later they are started into growth the later the grapes will hang upon the vines. With such varieties, the most important thing is to endeavour to ripen the wood as early as possible, so that they can be pruned early and have a reasonable period of rest before being again started into growth. The sooner all late varieties can be started in spring, after they have had a fair season of rest, and without the aid of artificial heat, the more successful the grower will be. It is almost- impossible to keep any kind of grapes late in the season unless they are thoroughly well ripened and coloured, and it is almost impossible to properly ripen and colour grapes when they are started late in the spring; particularly if the canes are carrying full crops. Much, of course, depends upon the condition of the vines, the crops they are allowed to carry, and the treatment of the borders. If there is. healthy root action there is naturally less difficulty in ripening the fruit than when the vines are growing in soil that has had but little preparation. In every case, however, the earlier the later varieties can be started after having had a reasonable period of rest the more success will be attained.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. " Fern Lover:" Gleichenia Cunninghamii is the name of the umbrella-like fern of which you send a sample frond. It is difficult to establish, and consequently rarely seen amongst established collections. Young seedlings are sometimes to be found growing where landslips have occurred near the parent plant. These, carefully lifted and potted or planted in ihe fernery jvill succeed. .. Kefos.