NOTABLE GARDENERS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21698, 13 January 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

NOTABLE GARDENERS

MEN OF PAST AGES Of the gardeners of medieval days no records have been preserved. There is no doubt, however, that John Gardener, the author of " The Feate of Gardening " (1440), the earliest treatise on gardening in the English language was a practical gardener. In Tudor days there were many distinguished gardeners, notably William Turner, " the father of English botany;" John Gerard. Sir Thomas .More, Sir Hugh Piat, and Richard Gardiner. Even in that age of distinguished gardeners the name of Tradescant is of the first importance. Many of the best known garden plants are associated with their names. The Tradescants were an East Anglican family of Dutch origin. In 1607, John Tradescant the Elder married at Meophani, being then in the service of Robert. Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury, then Lord Treasurer of England. His name, however, is chiefly associated with Hatfield, and he was several times sent abroad to buy fruit trees —Parkensen says of him: " He hath wonderfully laboured to obtain all the rarest fruits he can hear of in any place of Christendom, Turkey, yea, or the whole world." His bills for fruit trees purchased abroad are still preserved at Hatfield House.

THS SPIDER WORT John Tradescant the Elder's name is chiefly associated with the Spiderwort Tradescantia Virginia, which he introduced from Virginia, with Narcissus roseus Tradescanti, the double daffodil is still grown. John Tradescant the Younger, succeeded his father in the royal service. During the Commonwealth he lived in obscurity absorbed in tending his garden and mujieum. The catalogue of plants he grew is to be found iri " Museum Tradescantium (16o6). Tradescant the Younger introduced many plants including the American plane, the American walnut, the tulip tree, the deciduous cypress, the red maple and the acacia. ANOTHER FAMOUS GARDENER Ralph Tuggie, another celebrated gardener, had his garden at Westminster, but the site of it is unknown. He figures conspicuously in Johnson's edition of Gerard's " Herbal " and Parkinson's " Paradisus." He was specially famed for his carnations and some of the most popular were named after him. General Lambert, lord of the manor of Wimbleton during the Civil War, was noted for the tulips and carnations he grew. He is the only gardener who has achieved the distinction of being depicted in a pack of playing cards. In a sixteenth century pack he figures on the eight of hearts, holding a tulip and underneath is the inscription: " Lambert, Kt., of Ye Golden Tulip." LEAF SCORCH METHOD OF CONTROL On trees affected with leaf scorch the leaves have a dry brown margin, which appears first in January and gets worse through the season, the leaves taking on a brownish shade of green and tending to fall prematurely. The trouble is not due to any fungus, but is caused by a deficiency of potash in the soil. It is exceedingly common, particularlv on light soils, and its appearance forms a useful indicator of the potash requirements of the soil. Many fruit trees are affected, one of the most sensitive being the gooseberry. Apples and red currant are also highly susceptible, and raspberries moderately so, while plums, pears, black currant and strawberries are less commonly affected. Leaf scorch can be readily controlled by regular dressings of potash manure. It may take several years to cure the trouble if leaf scorch is severe, and a shorter time if only moderate in extent. Tn small gardens the quantity of potash required may be taken as one ounce per square yard, applied in a ring round the tree, corresponding to the position of the active roots beneath the surface. Nitrogenous and phosphatic manures must at the same time be withheld or applied sparingly.

TO CORRESPONDENTS

M.K. (TirauK— I The name of the shrub i< Sntherlandia rrutescens, commonly called the duck plant or bladder senna. M.W. (Epwm).—There will be considerable risk of loss by planting the acacias at this season. More success will be attained by deferring the planting until April. M.II. (Gordonton I —The marrow? and pumpkins fail to-develop by reason of imperfect. pollenation It would be better to hand-pollenate them. A dry atmosphere is needed and the operation is best done when «he tiower3 open in the morning. Maize Cob."—The maize has suffered a severe check from frost, and it is extmnelvdoubtful if a cfop would mature even if they continued to ifrnw. It would be more satisfactory to bow again, as it is not too lata. Given favourable conditions, a crop will be assured, although late. "Dubious" 'Green Lane).—l. It is not necessary to lift the lachetialia bulbs every year. Lift once in three years if they tend to become too thick. 2. There will be little dtfferenre in the time of flowering if replanted not later than February compared with those left in the ground " Kaipara."—The fruits are affected by black spot, which is more prevalent, under moist conditions. Spray with limq sulphur. 1 to JOO. The most effective control is by sprayine with Bordeaux, winter strength, just before the buds start in spring, followed by lime sulphur after the fruit has set.

" Narcissus" (Kaipara Line).—As the bulbs are to be planted on the same land again, the land should be ploughed and worked as deeply as possible. Bulbs do not like fresh mantirj_ at any time, and better results will be obtained by top-dressin?. v.hen the foliage shows abov>; ground, with sulphate of potash mixed with five times its weight of fine, dry soil. Lime the soil after ploughing. F.E.G. (Kpsom*—l. The small hydrangeas will make much better growth if the flowers are removed. -2. The plants may be removed to a permanent position any time from April to August. 3. The small plants will bo finite satisfactory as pot plants in a greenhouse. Place the plants out of* doors in autumn in full sunshine to well ripen the wood? return to the glasshouse in .Tune, C.E.R.S. (Epsom).—To make tar water, boil one pint of tar in one gallon of wafer; let the mixture settle, then pour off the clear liquid for use. Do not use the sediment; the water will be sufficiently impregnated with tar. The same effect can be obtained with less trouble by using a wellknown brand of household disinfectant with an odour of tar at the rate of one tablespoonful to a benzine tin of water. Spray the plants with the mixture as a deterrent for white butterfly, diamond-back moth and leaf miners.

U.S. (Cambridge).—i, The Salvia patens is a perennial and makes a number of fleshy root*. which may he lifted in districts subject to severe frosts and stored in sand in a froc.t-frpe place until sprincr. when they will start into srowth. '2. Any manure containing phosphate and potash would he suitahle, or a complete plant, food as advertised in these columns. 3. Salvia patens has not, found favour for massed beddins for the reason that the spikes of bloom have only one or two flowers and at the same time Erivin? a rather thin appearance to the bud. " Cucumber."—An article on t.U'j cucumber wilt, which appears to-day. will perhaps solve your difficulty. Cut off and burn any diseased plant tissue, and avoid watering, especially with cold wafer. The low temperatures. combined with wet conditions, favour the spread of the disease. Spraying i 3 of little use when the attack is Revers. Cucumbers like warm conditions and are surface rootine. Feedinsr is most successful when applied as a topdressinir of srood toil, with a fertiliser added. To three pounds of nitrate of soda, add two pounds of sulohate vof potash, two pounds of superI'hcsphate. and half a pound of sulphate of iron. Use this mixture at the rate of about two ounces per plant, mixed with some Rood soil as a light topdreasinsr. The topdressing should not be more than one or two inches deep: xvhen the roots «ho«through apply again. Kepos.