BEDS AND BORDERS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19328, 15 May 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

BEDS AND BORDERS.

PROVIDING EDGINGS. Edging is the term applied to dwarf, plants such as violets, primroses, polyanthus, echeverias, daisies, armerias, and other varieties used for the purpose of defining beds and borders: also to turf, tiles, concrete or other materials that are employed for the same purpose. Gra® verges, when properly kept and neatly trimmed, always present a refreshing appearance. Box edging is not much used • here as it harbours slugs, • PREPARING THE GROUND, It is necessary to define and properly prepare the ground for weeks previous to laying an edging of any description. The levels must first be taken and marked by driving in short pegs at convenient distances apart. If such pegs are placed right and a line tightly strained to touch their tops, the necessity of adding or removing soil in any part along the line can at once be seen. Firmly tread the soil wheie the edging is to be planted, well rake and beat down with the back of the spade. CONDITION OF SOIL. The work of preparing edgings should ba done when the soil is in fit condition—that is not too wet to adhere to the spade or to the feet in treading, nor too dry, otherwise it will crumble down and be difficult to cut out a back against which to lay the cuttings or plants. It is impossible to cut out, fix, or plant an edging if the ground is: not carefully prepared previously. TIME FOR PLANTING. The present is a most suitable 4 time for planting box edgings as the cuttings will have all the winter to make roots. Make the cuttings from 4in. to sin long, insert them 3m deep and lin. apart, and well tread. Violets are popular edging plants ,as they produce an abundance of blooms. Select single crowns and plant in even line about 2m. apart in fairly rich soil. % Primroses, polyanthus and cowslips, plant about 3in. apart; daisies about 2in. Echeverias are popular edging plants, forming pretty rosettes that produce numerous young offsets, eventually forming a dense edging that keeps the soil up. VIRGINIAN STOCKS. > These produce an extremely useful and showy edging in contrast with the perennial varieties and, being of annual growth, are of short duration, but extremely attractive when in full flower in the early spring. Seeds of this plaiit require to be sown in a row about 3in. wide, scattering the seeds very thinly, as every one germinates. Cover them with a light dusting of soil. PRESERVING PLANTS FROM FROSTS In localities where frosts are occasionally severe precautions must be taken to preserve several of the more tender subjects either by lifting the plants and transferring them to the protection of glass frames or greenhouses, shade-houses, or under the protective branches of trees, or by covering them with litter or other material. Alternantheras, iresines, helio- , tropes, fuchsias, pelargoniums, heterocenirons, statices, echeverias, fibrous begonias, . cannas and even bouvardias are killed or cut down by severe frosts.

BOUVARMAS. These plants are now about in their fullest perfection of flowers. These beautiful genera succeed so well here that they are worthy of extensive cultivation in our flower beds and borders. They are of easy culture as they will thrive in a variety of soils, and, when grown in pots, are admirably adapted for the window, drawingroom, verandah, or greenhouse. They produce their brilliant and effective flowers in the greatest profusion throughout the autumn and early winter, and are invaluable for cutting. Plants in full flower may be taken up and transplanted now, "provided they have been previously prepared by wrenching. They include a wide range of colours from the purest of whites, to the brightest and richest of scarlets. Where, heavy frosts prevail, to save the plants, they must be cut back" and covered with straw or matting. TO CORRESPONDENTS. Mrs. A.J.T.. Blenheim. —Name of herbaceous perennial is Aster sub-cceruleus. a hardy species of Michaelmas daisies. J.C., Waihi.—-Name of yellow flovrer .to identify is Spartium junceum, or Spam'sn bloom. The name of the grass is Panjcum crus-galli. a British annual grass. . It seedj and comes ud so freely as'to become a pest during the summer season. G.A.W.. Pirongia.—Specimen with seed pod to name is Datura straiaionium. the thorn apple; order, solanacece. It becomes a weed when allowed to seed, and spread. J.L.M., Waihi.—Apple to comment upon is best described as a glorified, but true, Northern Soy. .As you have had a large fruit from a two-year-old tree and seven £roai a three-year-old tree worked from the original, it suggests early and regular fruiting. Quite unlike the. old Northern Spy. that takes several years to come into bearing. Such a type should make it invaluable for, the home orchard and for the commercial orchardist, _ provided it- reproduces true and retains its early and regular bearing capabilities. K.L.. Cambridge.—Re seedless barberry to propagate: Early in August is the best time to take off. make and plant the cuttings. Select clean, straight shoots: cut them into Sin. or 9in. lengths, making a clean cut below a joint: .insert the cuttings in rows, arranging them about. 4in. apart, and urmly trod. _ E.C.I.*. Waikino.—Formula for preparing Bordeaux mixture: For five gallons, weigh out Boz. of bluestone (copper suiphate) and. soz. Quicklime. Dissolve the bluestone in a little boilins water, and! pour it into the five gallons. In a separate vessel dissolve the lime, which must »e fresh or qui?K. and pour it into the bluestone liquid. Instead of lime 6cz. of washing soda, may be used and is often preferred, being easy to mix and procure. HW . Matamata.—Re black (Acacia decurrens) for shelter hedge -linn the seedlings to Isin. apart Ihe thinnings may be transplanted if not too big. lor a second row a distance of about ,6ft. would be sufficient. .This variety should be hardy enough to survive your winters. "Inquirer." Waitara.--For treating stiff soils obtain the unslaked lime in the stones and shake in heaps on the ) land. P™RJ r scaHer over the surface when it is hot, after being slaked, by sprinkling water over the lime from a watering-can and. covering witn old sacks to keep the fumes s n., "Britisher.'' . Avondale.—Ar/emisia, vulgaris (common) is the botanical name ot uo plant called southernwood and old man that is to be. seeu in so many of the hngUsn cottage gardens. . Mrs T.J.W.. Te Kuiti,—Apple to name is Rhode Island Green, a late-keeping " Subscriber." Papakura.—Names of chrysanthemum blooms sent under the following numbers are: —1. White 9 wan. 2 ? 3 Good Gracious. 4. An anemoneflowered species. 5. Source d'Or. 6. tw? Pulling. 7. Bonnie# Dundee. 8., Dr. l ilT w - Ingles: 0. Charles Basque. 10. Wm. Seward. 11. Pink Louis 13oehmer. 12. Ldwm Molvneux. 13. Yellow Louis Boehmer. li Queen Mary.. 15. Dorothy Goldsmith. 16' W. L. White. 17. White Good Gracious. 13. Edith L. Quittendou. " Enquirer." Tauranga.—-Apple sent, to name is the well-known Northern Spy. wnicn always takes a long time in coming into bearing. T.W.. Newmarket.—Specimens to identify are;— No. 1- Tetranema mexiqana (Mexican foxglove). It is propagated 'by seeds or divisions, and the flowers are purplish violet. No. 2. Episcia, fuleida <shimn*V' corolla bright, almost vermilion and funnel shaped. It is a. beautiiul stove herbaceous perennial, a native of .*ew Grenada, it grows in shady places. there about, 30 species. FE E . ' Te Puke.—The dressing of ttje vines should be done, after the Drumng w completed* and will more _ every portion of the vine is oamted ovor with Gishurst compound. Ihis w obtain in boxes and can be procured from an reliable seedsmen. If it is too. much of an undertaking to paint the whole vine n ake a spray ot the material. Full direcu ■ are printed on each packet at what to aiiDlv Painting, however, while vine is dormant- is preferable and mora effective than, spraying. Replies to " Native," Waitara. L.T.8., Manawatu. and A.8.C.. To Kopuru. are held over for nest week.