Unsuspected Evils

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23009, 9 April 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

Unsuspected Evils

A frequent cause of severe -punishment to climbers is tho practice of leaving a gap between tlie bottom of the woodwork/nnd tho surface of the soil. This causes a continual draught just at a point which is particularly vulnerable —where the young growths start from the base -ol the plant. To remedy this by banking soil against the fence is unwise, because it-involves early decay of timber, fA. better plan is to place a 'piece of galvanised iron to fill the gap. * 'Another common error in training climber? fis to lusten tho' first main branches : in as nearfy an upright position as is possible, fly this means the top of,-the {support is soon reached, but in a year or two the top become# a tangled of growth, while the base is quite bare. A much better plan is to train out the first branches as nearly as possible in a horizontal position 1 . Secure them to.the.lowest vviro..Lateral growths from these may be carried upright,'.and it will be found that far more bloom and growth will be distributed evenly over a wide area.