DIVERSIFIED COLOURING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 20112, 24 November 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

DIVERSIFIED COLOURING.

Coreopsis are of the simplest cultivation and ai'e an effective feature of the garden. The flowers of the annual varieties include a wido range of colours with most beautiful markings. All tho varioties with tho exception of grandifiora aro annuals. 'lhe biennial variety, grandifiora, produces a profuse arid long-continued succession of largo golden-yellow flowers almost throughout tho summer, making it a striking border plant and an invaluablo subject for cutting. Jt is a good, dry-weather plant, and provides a regular supply with the young seedlings that come up so freely around tho parent plants. Tho annual varieties are reinarkablo for their freedom of flowering. They provide the greatest diversity of colour. A BUSY TERIOI), The present is a busy time in all departments of tho garden. Work that requires attention at this timo includes digging under early-flowering annuals; taking up anemones, ranancflli, narcissi and other bulbs that have ripened off, and planting chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnias, phlox Drinnmondii, scarlet salvias asters, petunias, antirrhinums delphiniums, French and African marigolds, eclosias, portylacas, etc. TO CORRESPONDENTS. L.M., ralmerston North—For stiff clay soil in a very windy exposure, large-leaved lncebark (hoheria) and peppermint gums aro unsuitable. Tlio hardiest of tlie lnutipoa would be suitable. Melicytu a ramiflorus (mahoe), Pittosporum croEsifolium (ltaro), Podocnrpus lotara, Olearia Trnversii (akcake), Coprossnia Baueri (taupata), and tho karnka (Corynocarpus laevigata) aro all hardy natives that withstand severe winds apd will grow in a stiff soil. The coprosma and Olearia are best suited to break the under currents. Bambusa japonica (metnke) is the best exotic to form an impenetrable wind-break to tho ground. " Woodlice," . Kaeo.—To kill woodlice, poisoned parsnip is a. sure remedy. Cut a parsnip into small squares and boil.it in an old sauoepau, mixing a small portion of arsenic in tho ater. Boil long enough to cook the parsnip soft, but not to break it up, nnd placo pieces of the parsnip where the woodlico congregate. They booii attack the dainty morsel and pay the penalty with their lives. Great care, however, must be taken in the preparation and distribution of this poisonous, but most effective, remedy. Woodlico are extremely partial to horse droppings in a half-dry state. A number of lOin. or 12in. flower pots filled with the droppings can he placed where they con gregate If these are emptied once a week into boiling water, the number of insects will soon be lessened. Poultry and amall birds devour woodiice.

" Crysanths," Hamilton.—Re treatment of chrysanthemums t after arrival from, Great Britain: Immediately after unpacking not each plant separately into small pots filled with lifrht, loumy soil, to which some sand has been added. Give sufficient water to dampen the soil and place tho pots in a class frame and shade. When they haro started into growth, give more air and light. Permit Buckers to start and take off a few cuttings to strike. Do not give the old plants any liquid manure. 'J lie cuttings, when rooted, should be potted into 3in. pota and grown in tho usual manner.

J>.K., Parnell.—Centranlhus ruber (red valerian) is tho nimo of tlio plant you have sent. There nro several forms of this species, including olio with while flowers. It is partial to rock, whero it thrives with but little soil.

" Interested," Piopio.—l. Ro Billington early plum fruiting freely tho first year, having only u few flowers and no fruits the second year, und a profusion of blossoms and only sis plums this year: Next year, when the blossom buds are developing, apply ii moderate dressing of nitrate of soda and plant two or three other kinds that flower ut the same timo for pollenating purposes. 0. Elberta peach, flowering same timo as J. If. Hale:: You should pollennte it. ;l. Apricot Roxburgh red is selfpollenuting. Quinces are self-pollenatinsr. 5. Cherry Hello de Orleans is eel/pollenating. Have had no experience with fig and mulberry. (5. Nectarine Goldmine is eelf-pollenating. 7. English or European plums: The plums yon name should nil fruit. 8. Billingtou's Early and Purple King plums, grown from cuttings, should develop into good trees. 0. The black and silver tree ferns nro equally easy to transplant when done at the proper season. 10. Early spring, before growth commences, in the best time to transplant clematises. 11. Ipoinoea tuberculata is a most suitable evergreen unlive climber to grow over shade house. Parsonia heleronhylla and Clematis indiva are two suitablo species to plant with ipomaca.

H.R.. Westport.—Re flower buds of paeony roses failing io develop into full flowers: Some varieties aro of this habit, I aeony roues rcQiiire to bo liberally manured (cow dung being the best) nnd to bo grown ill tt moist, loamy soil. Try a few other kinds. The whito-flowerud varieties, as a rule, flower freely.

F.A.T., Nelson.—To cultivate carnations successfully, it is necessary to disbud freely, leaving only tho primary or finest ones to develop. A seedling should only be left with about three main flower stalks and sometimes only ono on each of the stalks. Ihe top or primary bud produces the largest and best flower. Five or six flowerproducing shoots mny bo allowed to develop below tlio crown flower. Ab the buds expand, occasional doses of liquid manure will be found beneficial. A good liquid manure mny be mado up of nitrate of potash (ono part) nnd , sulphate of potash (t wo parts), dissolved in water at the rate Of {oz. per gallon. Well soak tho soil around the plants with clear water before applying the liquid fertiliser.

W.J.8., Paeron.— Seedling carrot, with two diminutive insects, to hand. The insects, unless very plentiful, would not account for the sickly aopearance of the seedlings. Coal ashes nnxeJ with tho soil would affect the seedlings and prevent their growth. Try sowing in fresh ground that has been liber, dlly limed or dressed with product No. 1. tho latter 21 days before sowing the seeds. Keroa.