THE GARDEN.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19009, 3 November 1923, Page 3

THE GARDEN.

NOTES BY D. TANNOCK, F.R.H.S. WOEK FOE THE WEEK. THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY. Plants under glass are making good growth now, and this has to be encouraged by careful watering, syringing twice a day during sunny weather, and frequent damping of the stage and paths to maintain a moist, warm atmosphere. Climbers trained on the roof are also glowing rapidly, and these will require constant attention. Those which twine should bo watched and prevented from twisting round wires or other permanent supports. This does not apply to smilax or asparagus, which can bo allowed to twine round strings, that can be pulled out when the long sprays axe out. Fbchias are excellent for the cool greenhouse roof. They can stand the full sunlight, but provide a reasonable amount of a shade for the plants below. Thin the young shoots out a little, but do not tie them too tightly to the wires, for they look much better when allowed to droop slightly. Calceolarias and senizanthus are about their best at present, and though we can get very reliable seed from the seedsmen, it is quite a good idea to pollenate a few of the very best varieties and save a bit of seed. When the lower part of the srhizanthus flower is touched with a piece of stick it liberates the stamens, which spring up with a jerk and scatter the pollen around. The calceolarias can be polIcnatcd with a small camel-hair pencil, which readily secures fertilisation. Mark the varieties which have been pollenated. and when the seed vessels are fully developed. collect them and place in paper bags where the ripening process will be completed, Tuberous begonias come on very rapidly now. and it will be necessary to thin out; the shoots a little on very largo tubers. Two is quite enough for bin pots, and throe or live for the very large specimens. Keep up on the bench near the glass, and syringe twice a day regularly. Should begonia mite appear syringe with a weak solution of niooticide and fumigate with X.L. All. Gloxinias arc also growing rapidly now, and as they arc very excellent plants for furnishing the warm greenhouse about Christmas time, they arc worthy of special care and attention. Stand the plants np on pots inverted on a bed of ashes the warm house, and keep the alinospnere warm and moist, to maintain their develop me.nt. THE FLOWER GARDEN. This is a busy time in the flower garden. All the hardy bedding plants can be put out now in beds and borders, except the more tender kinds such as tuljcrous begonias, heliotrops, salvias, etc. Roses are making excellent growth and so far it is very dear and free from green fly. The feeding can commence now that the buds are forming, and the liquid manure barrels can bo cleaned out and charged with fresh material. If three barrels arc available, one can be horse manure, one cow, and one sheep, and the drink can ho varied trom week to week to avoid monotony. Tie in all the long shoots of the ramblers and continue to thin the buds on the hush varieties. Thin out, stake, and lie iqi the herbaceous plants, and keep (he soil stirred np with the scuffle hoe during dry weather. Daffodils are now sufficiently ripened to lift, provided they are got up with care ami replanted in the nursery or reserve garden immediately, where they can complete their ripening process. Primrose polyanthus can also be lifted, and if the plants arc not too old they, too, can be lined out in a cool, semi-snaded place in the reserve garden, where they can remain until next autumn. At this season one cannot help admir ing the broom and gorse oven though we know lint they are noxious weeds and are over running much valuable land. Were 1’.,.. i.ws common and more difficult to ivale, they would find a place in our guldens.' and* as a matter of fact we do v many plants which are less decora •V.,' There are. however, quite a number members of the broom family which r.urh growing in the garden, some 1 ■ ■ - ’ml'.-.'.le for the shrubbery and others . r-id; garden. r llie brown and gold ;(‘vLsu's seoparius var Androenus, G ' f - died Genista Audncnus, is ~ .i. 1 , umi-. - iaicil for the shrubbery, it i both bardv and free flowering. It . r..-.i discovered bv Mr Edouard Andre v'nvnnndv. and (hough a proportion of seedlings come true, it i# often grafted

on the laburnum. Cytisus scoparius var. sulphurous, the Moonlight Broom, is a flat growing more compact plant than the common species with sulphur-coloured flowers. Cytisus Beanii, named after Mr Bean, the curator of the Royal Gardens, Kew, >8 a dwarf, semi-prostrate shrub ranging from 6 to 18 inches in height. The flowers, which fro golden yellow, form charming sprays of bloom up to a foot in length. It is n choice hybrid raised at Kew in 1900. and first noticed in a bed of seedlings of C. Arcloini, and is o good rock garden plant. Our plant flowered on the rock garden for the first time this year. _ Cytisus Dalliniorei- is also a hybrid raised at Kew oy crossing C. scoparius var. Andramus vvithC. nlbus. It is a tall shrub growing to a height of Bft or 9ft with slender stems. The flowers are rosy pink, deepening on (he wing petals to crimson, a striking and pleasing combination. This is the first livbrid broom raised bv artificial cross fertilisation. .and it is propagated by grafting on the laburnum. It was named after Mr Dallimoro. at one time the foreman in the Aboretum at Kew. and now the keeper of the Museum of British Forestry Products. Cytisus Kewensis is a low, deciduous, perfectly procum-hent shrub less than a foot high, but sometimes 6ft across. The flowers, which arc produced in parly summer, are creamy white or pale sulphur yellow, and it is a hvbrid between C. Ardionii and C. albus. which was raised at Kew. Cytisus albus, the white broom, is a very useful and showy- shrub sometimes growing to a height of 10ft. It has slender branches, which are simply smothered with the small white flowers which are produced in early summer. It is tfic only _ hardy white broom, and is useful for planting on a dry bank. It can be raised from seed, or increased by means of cuttings, and is a native of Spain and Portugal. Genista rEthcnsh. the Mount Etna broom, though not in flower yet, is a useful plant for the shrubbery or rock garden. It flowers in' January at a time when there is little bloom in the shrubbery border, and it sometimes grows to a height of 20ft. The leaves are so small and so few that the plant appears to be leafless and when young the pendant branches give it quite a distinct and attractive appearance. The flower, which is golden yellow, is produced in great abundance, and it ripens seed sogularly. Like most of the legnminosK. it does not transplant well, and should either be sown in small pots or in the position in which it is to grow. Genista sagittalis is a prostrate shrub almost devoid of leaves, but with evergreen winged, foliose, branches which are jointed in a peculiar manner. The flowers, which are borne in upright racemes, are yellow and are very attractive. It is a native of Central Europe and is excellent for covering a dry bank or for a sunny part of the rock garden, and is easily raised from seed or increased by means of suckers. There is a New Zealand broom which ought to be in every garden whore space is available for choice shrubs. It is Notospartium Carmiohaelliae, commonly called the pink broom. Like many of the broom family, it is almost leafless, with thin pendulous branches on which the small, bright pink flowers ar produced in great abundance It is an ideal plant for a dry bank or the rock garden, and can be raised from seed. It flowers about the beginning of the New Year. Cytisus cororiensis is a much-branched shrub with short racemes of yellow flowers. It is a shrub which is almost, always in flower, and is useful for a dry bank and the rock garden. Spartium junceum is also a good broom with erect clusters of bright yellow flowers. THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GARDEN. Continue to make sowings of salads, spinach, and other vegeatbles which grow quickly, make further sowing of runner, French, and butter beans and peas, and plant out cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts. Make a sowing of broccoli, cabbage leeks, and greens, to provide plants for putting out later on. Plant out tomatoes, vegetable manows, pumpkins, and ridge cucumbers, earth up potatoes and spray second early kinds, stake peas and runner beans, and keep the soil cultivated among all growing crops. Spray apple trees for mildew, which is to be found on the leading shoot, with lime sulphur formula, summer strength. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT. Anxious. Ounedin.—The foliage of the piece of plant sent is covered with mildew, which is usually very common in the spring, attacking roses, apples, hawthorns, etc. Spray the plants with lime sulphur at summer strength. It can be obtained from the seedsmen, and directions are on the tin. Potassium sulphide can also be used. Dissolve one* ounce in three gallons of soapy water and spray once a week. Student, Dunedin.—The plant sent is Pynis Aira, white beam tree, a native of Britain, where it grows to a height of 40ft. It is a very hardy tree, growing well in poor soil in exposed positions. Its foliage is very pretty just now and in the autumn it changes to splendid red and brown tints.