THE GARDENING YEAR.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE GARDENING YEAR.

FAVOURABLE CONDITIONS. I", taking a brief retrospective glance ppon the past year from the horticulturist's point of view it may be said that conditions throughout the whole twelve months have been most unfavourable. The abnormally wet season continuing throughout the autumn, winter and Bpring, made general gardening operations most difficult, greatly interfering with the Rowing, planting, and cultivation of vegetable and flower seeds in the open, as well as the ordinary planting operations. Throughout June and July heavy soils were unworkable, it being useless to fcttempt any sowing of seeds or planting oi anything but a few permanent trees and shrubs. Even in volcanic and other light porous soils that are usually workable at any time for sowing and planting irrespective of the weathcj, operations were more or less in abeyance &nd seeds failed to germinate and plants to grow, FROM WET TO DRY. Tha recent protracted speil of dry breather, following upon an abnormally wet period, when the soil was so saturated with water, made it most difficult to bring soils of a clayey nature into a sufficiently friable condition for sowing or planting, hence the lateness and scarcity of vegetables in many of our private gardens. To add further to tha discomfort, loss end annoyance, the absolute cutting off of the city water supply at the very time when copious and regular waterings are needed to enable planting to proceed and to keep our flower beds and borders and grass in a flourishing condition is a deplorable and unwarranted state of affairs. ORNAMENTAL GARDENING. Notwithstanding the drawbacks pre!*riously referred to ornamental horticulture lias again made marvellous progress, and it is pleasing to note that our growers ara well abreast of the times in adding to their collections now classes by importing and also raising from seeds some of the latest and best novelties. In Europe and America the remarkable development and improvements in horticulture proceed with unabated vigour. PRODUCING NEW VARIETIES. Hybridisers and specialists are more fcusy than ever in the production of new creations, each year producing a fresh batch of novelties, and this is especially the. case with dahlias, chrysanthemums, roses, gladioli, irises, cannas and narcissi or daffodils, and also in the improved varieties of herbaceous, perennials, and annuals, particularly perennial delphiniums and phlox, zinnias and other annuals. IMFEOV»M3*mre XH SSOWSTStf. Hydrangeas h=,v»» recaived attention, Bome r>J.rvellou3 new creations being the result. In shrubs, .rhododendrons are in evidence, the celebrated pink pearl being superseded. In gladioli and daffodils our local growers have attained splendid results. This is a pleasing feature as our climate is specially adapted for the raising of new varieties, promising a wide and profitable field for the specialist that might also raise him to future fame. SOCIETIES AND CLUES. Our Auckland Horticultural Society is to be congratulated upon its energies :n encouraging and fostering horticulture by holding various shows and in giving practical lectures upon the cultivation of some of the most popular flowers by expert lecturers. The branch societies and clubs, each with a large membership, notably, the Chrysanthemum Club, the Dahlia Club, also the Club, have arranged suitable competition schedules, with numerous cups and other trophies. This will give an impetus to the three respective classes of flowers. The New Zealand Institute of Horticulture, under the auspices of the New Zealand Government, is a national institution to further horticulture in all its branches, grant diplomas, treat upon plant breeding, the general principles of classification and nomenclature, and other divisions of the plant kingdom. SPARTIUM JUNGEUM. Spartium junceum, the rush, or Spanish Ibroom, is conspicuous among the i'ew flowering shrubs at this season. Several splendid specimens may be seen in full flower in some of our gardens at the present time. It is very h.'irdy, most ornamental and specially adapted fcr the mixed border, and shrubbery; succeeds in almost any ordinary Boil, and is mostly propagated from seeds Its flowers are bright yellow and fragrant. A native of the Mediterranean region and the Canary Isles., CONVOLVOLUS MAU RITANICUS. This is ft most useful trailing or climbing plant, with blue flowers, and is specially adapted for hanging baskets and for covering low stumps or stones. It is now clothed in the greatest profusion of pretty blue convolvolus shaped small flowers. It- is a native of North Africa, and quite hardy and of easy cultivation. Suitable for hanging baskets on verandahs. PLANTS IN FLOWER. Notwithstanding the recent dry spell and harsh, boisterous winds, our gardens aro unusually gay with flowers. Roses, arum or calla lilies, agapantbus, crinums, etatices, antirrhinums, stocks, zinnias, phlox Drummondii, sweet peas, fuchsias, pelargoniums, cannas, many annuals and J few permanent shrubs, shrubby calceolarias fibrous begonias and offer a wealth of bloom. To prolong the display attend to picking off all damaged and blooms*