GARDENING.

New Zealand Mail, 27 August 1902, Page 54 (Supplement)

GARDENING.

THE FUCHSIA. The fuchsia is a native of South America, and when first introduced was treated as a stove or hothouse plant, being afterwards grown in the greenhouse and finally in tlie open air. Some of the species and hybrids from them are hardy enough to live in the open ground altogether in most parts of this country, and many more will live through an ordinary English winter if planted in a sheltered spot and covered with, a shovelful of ashes, oocoanut fibre, or the like before frost sets in. but when very severe frost is experienced numbers will perish. Among the hardy species are the pretty F. gracilis, F. riccartoni. F. coralliua, F. globosa. etc.: but in mild districts, especially near the sea, fuchsias of many. kinds may be successfully reared altogether in the open air. a little shelter from high winds being provided. In the Isle of Man fuchsias luxuriate in a remarkable manner, and are. in fact, almost wild plants, growing freely in old walls, banks, etc., and in many places forming strong hedges several feet in height. In some cases they are allowed to grow into huge bushes or trees, and when in full bloom these have a charming effect. The method of propagation adopted is very unusual elsewhere, and wheu a fuchsia hedge is required one or more old plants are cut down, and the branches, from the thickness of a walking stick to a broom-handle, are chopped into pieces more than a foot in length, and inserted firmly to two-thirds of the length in the open ground, where they are intended to remain, this being done in the autumn. In this way few will fail to grow, and a close and bushy hedge is quickly obtained.

Fuchsias are also increased by inserting cuttings formed of the young shoots in sandy soil in a warm house or pot. in the spring, when they root quickly. Thev luust be shaded from sun and kept regularly moist. Pot them off into rich, loamy soil when they are rooted, and grow On freely, giving plenty or water and liquid manure, and shading lightly from cor sun.

DELPHINIUMS. These handsome plants, which are. perhaps, more commonly known as Larkspurs. are just now in full beauty, and when the best kinds are well grown they produce a splendid effect, whether seen as single plants in the mixed or herbaceous border, or placed in bold groups by themselves, on the lawn or elsewhere.

Tne old Bee-Larkspur (D. el a turn' of cottage and old country gardens is a beautiful plant, but many of the new hybrid forms, which have been obtained bv'intercrossing the above with D. grandiSoram, D. formosum, etc., are even finer. There are now some scores, or hundreds, of named varieties obtainable, including almost every imaginable shade of blue purple, violet, etc., with, both single and double blossoms, and there are now some pure white forms to be had.

THE EOTAE GARDEN’S. In the "Gardener's Chronicle’* (Coronation number) are upwards of a dozen excellent illustrations, taken from photographs, of the Eoyal gardens at Sandringham at Buckingham Palace, and at Windsor Castle. The estate of some 11,000 acres afc Sandringham was purchased for our present King in 1563. and parts of it were commenced to be planted shortly after. But there are many old features in the estate which give much charm to the place, and which represent the growth of very many years. Such are the cld Scotch firs that line the path known as the Church Walk, and the avenue of lime trees that one enters immediately after passing through the handsome Norwich gateway. The walls of the mansion, which is a homely-looking and modest redbrick building, are screened with many climbing plants, including Ivies, Ampeiopsis veitchi, Roses, Lonicera fragrantissima, Crataegus pyracautlia, and Euouymns radicans variegata. A sundial, * affixed to the wall of the new library, bears the following familiar inscription—"My Time is in Thy Hands." "Let others tell of storms and showers: I’ll only-count your sunny hours.” The flower garden, immediately in front of the principal windows, is a carefully worked-out design, nth variously shaped beds. In the spring these are filled with wall-flowers and other early-blooming plants; in the summer they are planted with the choicest bedding-plants, the effect of which is relieved by numerous **dot” CDAAiiBAn* noltu-'

species of an ornamental character. On the terrace, close to the house, room has also been found for a few flower-beds, and in these are planted species that will afford fragrance as well as beauty; the former virtue being esteemed equally with the latter. •

Noar to the great limes is , another avenue of considerable interest, if not of great beauty. It is composed of memorial trees only, and having been planted at different times and with different species, the irregularity of growth could hardly be greater. These memorial trees, and others in almost every portion of the grounds, which here, as at Osborne, M indsor, and other Royal residences, serve to keep in remembrance the visits of distinguished personages, and to mark domestic events in their Majesties’ immediate circle. Specimens of deodaras, Abies douglasi. A. pinsapo, English oaks, Turkey oaks. Cryptomeria elegans, Fagug purpurea, Pieea pungens, and other beautiful trees have been planted from time to time by our present King and Queen, by the King of the Belgians, the King of the Hellenes, the Czarevitch, a Grand Duke, a bishop, and other noted personages.

.A little below the terrace is a sunken flower garden, in the shape of a half moon, and in the centre is an old white well-head, probably brought from Italy at some time. It is known as the Holy \\ ell. Above the well-head is an iron vessel suspended. as if to be lowered for the purpose of obtaining water. The Queen is reputed to have a fondness of the well and the beds which surround it. Here are the Queen’s pansy beds. To all these beds there is a double edging of box, and white shell or gravel covers the little paths. Towards York Cottage the lakes appear in view, where weeping willows, white silvery birches, and other suitable trees and shrubs adorn the banks and cast tlieir shadows in the water. Rhododendrons, vliite and yellow brooms, gorses, old thorn trees, berberises. lilacs, etc., are found near here in abundance, and make the scene at all seasons one of exceptional beauty. On an island is a remarkable old oak, having a bole that measures at 3ft. from the ground more than 20ft. in circumference. Some stepping-stones across one portion of the lake presents a nice rustic appearance. Conifers generally do not attain to a great size; this is owing to the poorness and lightness of the soil. Not far distant is a maze, constructed of Thuyagjgantea, box, etc. The rosery is rather singular-looking. Part of it stands where the tennis-court used to be. It is enclosed with very high fences of ornamental wire, painted green. Inside is a kind of wire pergola, 2oft. high, in the same colour. This is covered with climbing roses. Half-way up. on the summit of each pillar, in an inconspicuous box. which contains soil for a second tier of plants to grow on the upper portion. Inside the wire fences and on the border around are planted tea roses, the hybrid perpetuals being grouped in beds. Two of these beds have wire tops representing the Prince of Wales's feathers. There are wire fences to all of the beds, inside margins as well as outside, these being a foot high. Two beds of the variety Papa Gontier succeed unusually well and flower abundantly. In the centre of thi3 garden is a marble columnar fountain, and there are grass and gravel walks around the beds.

The Queen’s wild garden is a little spot screened in a plantation. A grassy path leads through this, and on either side wild flowers are growing. The gardeners are unable to make this spot appear more wild than Her Majesty would like it 1 o be. It is the extreme opposite of the formal garden in front of the mansion. The Dell is a charming little scene in which a winding stream flows through rapidly-rising banks on either side. _Bauiboos. tall birches, rhododendrons, ferns, etc., adorn the banks- and the p'-l is not only a grateful retreat from brilliant sunshine. but it- a most delightful foil to the more formal features of the garden. The kitchen garden consists of It ».ere 3 contained within the walls and two acres outside. On either side of the main walk, which runs through the garden, are borders of bright flowering plants, and then 6ft. high trellises with cordon pear and apple trees. The range of planthouses is extensive. These are built of teak wood, and fitted with teak wood lath blinds; some of the floors are also of teak wood, with iron gratings on either side. Of the beautiful Gloire de Lorraine begonia—from one thousand to twelve hundred plants are cultivated each year. The for the growth of fruits, such as peaches, nectarines, grapes, figs, and tomatoes, are very extensive. A mushroom house is 70ft. long. The pleasure-grounds altogether are about 100 acres in extent. Forty or so Srdeners and men are employed. Their ajesties are fond of roses, and particularly of the China rose. Hermosa, of which variety something like 10,000 plants mat be found in different parts of the gardens. Around the model dairy the grounds are laid out as a Dutch garden, and the clipped trees are striking.