HARBINGERS OF SPRING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20650, 23 August 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

HARBINGERS OF SPRING.

BUDS AND BLOSSOMS. Evidences of spring are everywhere Buds of many of the deciduous trees are swelling preparatory to bursting fnto growth and flowers. Prunus mume, a favourite Japanese flowering plum and the purple leaved variety Moseri are already Jn full blossom. Salix caprea, the goat, or, pussy willow, is also in full blossom [with its silky catkins which are much appreciated for cutting. Polyanthus and primroses, the natural harbingers of gpring, are commencing to flower freely. Daffodils are in plentiful supply, intluding that special favourite King Alfred, and other large-flowered trumpets. Violets have been more prolific than ever. Snowflakes are in full flower. Early planted anemones make a gorgeous display. Cyclamens are extremely showy both in their flowers and prettily-marked foliage. Lachenalias are most attractive .with the bright coloured spikes of flowers and prettily-marked foliage. Iceland poppies have become the most popular of .winter-flowering plants. Iris tingitana, the Algerian blueHowered iris, is also conspicuous. Borders of Virginian stocks are most attractive early-flowering dwarf annuals. Pansies, top, are showing flowers, and that welcome addition to winter-flowering dwarf border plants, primula malacoides, is a profusion of dainty spikes of bloom. Mignonettes are popular hardy winter flowerers.

/ SHRUBS. Tn addition to flowering plums camellias »ro flowering profusely, as well as several .varieties of rhododendrons and a few of the earliest of the azaleas. The magnolia ptellata is conspicuous with its sweet Bcented star-shaped blossoms, and the cassia floribunda is a mass of yellow blossoms. Berlecris darwinii is another nseful early-flowering shrub, not omitting Lasiandra grandiflora, the large, purpleflowered variety. Several of the varieties oil ericas or heaths show the greatest profusion of showy flowers. Recent heavy frosts have greatly injured some of the tender shrubs,''notably the evergreen varieties of hibiscus and some of the half hardy annuals, but have not affected growth to any extent, judging from the appearance of the many trees »nd shrubs that are showing signs of spring growth. DECIDUOUS MAGNOLIAS. HARDY FLOWERING" SHRUB. Magnolia stellata (starry), or Halleana, !s one of the best hardy deciduous flowering shrubs. The first flowers appeared a few weeks ago. It is now in fall flower and will continue for some fecks. The flowers are white, semidouble, very fragrant and star-shaped ®nd much prized for floating bowls and other floral decorations, including wreaths. Magnolia conspicua, the yulan tree, a native of China, is ono of the earliest and most beautiful of spring flowering trees. Its large, fragrant tulip-like blossoms are produced in the greatest profusion beforo the leaves appear, giving the tree a most conspicuous and picturesque appearance. Some splendid specimen trees of this magnolia in several of our local gardens, are now bursting into flower. Magnolia obovata discolour, a dwarfergrowing species producing large tulip-like Purple-coloured blossoms, is a fitting companion to the preceding, flowering at the ; same time. Magnolia sonlangeana, a hybrid variety, has large, white, puipletinted flowers. Magnolia Campbelhi is a . Ver y handsome large-flowered, tall-grow-*nf> species from the Himalayas. Representatives of these beautiful-flowering, deciduous varieties of magnolias should ® 8 included in all shrub collections. TREES AND SHRUBS. 1 PRUNING OPERATIONS. In addition to fruit trees thero are nany varieties of trees and shrubs that " a y be considerably improved by a "didous annual pruning. In some cases fees, that form the best specimen when fained with a single leader will somelme3 form two or more and can be im'foved by removing all but the most 'remising leading shoots. In other induces, plants may have overgrown tho P a M. allotted to them and require to be artfully and judiciously shortened back "fin reasonable bounds. With other ar ifities attention may be necessary in dead twigs or branches, or 'thinning, out to give the centre more # and air. Some trees are liable to become infested borer, destroying many of the r *s and rendering tho shrubs ungntly at a time when they should be their best. As far as practicable all ®<jtßd parts should be cut off and burned | destroy any grubs or larvao that are in tho wood. Shrubs that have •«>®e stunted in growth may often bo by the judicious cutting back o thinning out of the old wood to induce growth to bo made. Deciduous trees, «eu as shrubs, require attention while are in a dormant condition. varieties of flowering shrubs are I'wited by a certain amount of pruning. jjJ dgcidious flowering plants produce » flowers from the young shoots and it ln>V P run ' n K that an increased Hp®? of young shoots are induced to