POPULAR VERBENAS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22256, 2 November 1935, Page 8 (Supplement)

POPULAR VERBENAS

FINE MASSED EFFECTS Verbenas aro among the most popular of plants' and should make a special appeal for bedding purposes, sinco their culture oilers no difficulties of any magnitude. It is now too late to sow seeds, but good plants may be obtained from seedsmen that will give a good show this summer. In large beds, where tho plants aro simply grown in masses, it is possible to allow them to develop at will, but it is always worth while coing to the trouble of pegging clown tho growths, in tho samo manner as with tho annual phlox, to prevent tho inevitable untidy, ragged effect. It is useless to expect good results on anything approaching tho nature of a starvation diet; a fairly rich soil which has been deeply dug some time previously is really essential, and good drainage should bo assured. Stagnant

moisture is a condition that will never bo tolerated, as it invariably encourages the mildew to which the verbena is always prone. Good results may be had by feeding later when the plants art) thoroughly established, if the soil is on the poor side, but in addition it is as well to fork in a light drcs&ing of fertiliser when the site is being prepared before planting. ' .. For a massed effect allow the plants u space of 12 inches each way. Given good culture they will soon cover the •space, when the leaders can be stopped. I'his will have the effect of encouraging lateral branching. •' / The sooner the plants can \be "encouraged to cover the bed the better, for hoeing is impossible after the shoots have been pegged down. For this reason watering is an iin pern ti fro necessity luring dry spells. Feeding can be on a rather more generous scale- thari for most plants, and it is wise to let the main diet take the form of weak solutions of natural manure. This will not stimulate growth of a soft nature, but will support the plants under the strain ■>f continuous (lowering. That popular parietv I'll lon Wdlmott. is a taller-growing variety, and is seen at its best when planted as a centrepiece in fairly largo beds. The colour is a beautiful salmon rose, .which is inailo all tho more effective'by the distinctive white eye. It, hotvever, has tho fault of not coming true from seed, and " rogues " produced aro usiially of an insipid colour. To maintain - a : true stock it is necessary to propagate from cuttings or layers from well-coloured specimens.

THE ROSE SHOW A glorious display of bloom is assured for visitors to the Hose Show of the Auckland Horticultural Society, to be held in tho Town Hall 011 Thursday and Friday next, November 7 and B. While Kngland's national emblem will hold pride of place, a special feature is to be made of n unique collection of Iris, specially brought from Hotorua for tho Show. The variety of dainty colouring now ••obtainable in the newer t-hades of these lovely plants must be seen to be really appreciated. This is an occasion rarely missed by those interested in horticulture, or even by those svho.. simply love flowers. The popularity of the [inrely garden roses as now seen at the shows gives a decorative effect, which was unattainable, in the days when exhibition roses alone were shown. Tlio im provemont is welcomed, for ■anyone would indeed bi hard to please if they were unable to find at least a few among all the varieties, which would not bo an acquisition to their zarden. The dwarf polyanthus too, are becoming more popular year, and for massed effect in be;ls, there are few other flowers, to equal them", for quantity of bloom, and length of the display. All these and- more, will be on view at the show, which will be laid out in the attractive manner which has character-1 ised previous shows of the Society. I