GARDENING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19197, 13 June 1924, Page 4

GARDENING CLUB.

The opening meeting of the Dunedin Gardening Club was held on Tuesday evening, where there was a good attendance of members. The president (Mr H. F. .Hollingworth) was the lecturer for the evening, and gave an interesting and instructive address on seasonable operations and the planting and trimming of hedges. lie emphasised- the need of the proper preparation of the ground by digging, trenching, and manuring at this lime of the year in readiness for the planting in the spring. Trees, shrubs, fruit trees, roses should be planted whenever the ground was in fit condition, making good large holes, so that the roots could he spread out properlv, and then made quite firm by treading. He dealt with the putting in of cuttings of gooseberries and currants, and the sowing of tree seeds. Mr Hollingworth etressed the importance of proper preparation of the ground for planting hedges by deep trenching, as it bad to last for years, and nothing could be dene after the hedge was planted, except surface cultivation. Olearia and hollv were the two mostly used in Dunedin, but good hedges could be made by planting privet, hawthorn, yew, cscallonia, macrocarpa, barbery, and single roses, etc. Olearia did heat when planted apart in deeply trenched ground with good drainage, and did not require animal manures. It was subject to the gall mite, but this could ho kej>t considerably in check by pruning at the proper time of tile year (November). Holly, on the other hand, was a gross feeder, and required plenty of farmyard manure to get Ihe best results. Planting should be done in September. These hedges should not bo topped till they had grown the height required. The best time to trim hedges was November and Alarch. At llio conclusion of the address the lecturer, on the motion of Air AI. Thomson, was accorded a hoartv vote of thanks. There was an exhibition by members of a large, show of flowers, showing the mildness of the season. There were also exhibited by Air J. Passmore some gladioli) bulbs iust received from England. Trey had been held hack in England, and posted in the middle of Alarch. and arrived hero in gcr-rl (ondilion, just showing sprouts; and by holding them hack hero for a short time, and then planting them, they should bloom in early summer. This was the most successful way of dealing with imported bulbs.