GARDEN NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19505, 13 June 1925, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES FROM ENGLAND.

Written for the Otago Daily Times. By Robert Ascroft, M.8.E., A.U.C.R. ‘‘Firetail” impresses me as being one of the most wonderful advances yet seen in the raising of new daffodils, and it will have a wonderful future as a market flower. The flowers are beautifully perfumed although not too strong. In some respects the perfume resembles that of the wallflower. The flowers keep their colour well and last in good condition for a full days after they are out. “Firetail” has won for itself almost every award that a. new flower can gain, both from the Royal Horticultural and the Birmingham Daffodil Societies. It is certainly the best of the red cupped Barri section, and a two-year-old bulb will throw as many as 10 spikes. It does best facing east or south-east, where it has the benefit of the early morning sun whilst escaping the strong sunshine during the afternoon. The National Bose Society’s Spring Show has just been held in London and, despite the abominable weather which we have been experiencing through the winter and early months of the year, the quality of the blooms was probably the best ever shown in the spring. The two most popular roses in England at present _ are undoubtedly Madame Butterfly and Richmond. Chelsea Show, the most important flower show in the country, and a great social function, will bo opened on May 19. Year by year fresh arrangements have to bo made to provide space for the increased demands of exhibitors, and this year for the first time it has been found necessary to exclude artists and their works in order to provide room for exhibits of a more practical nature. The Royal Horticultural Society is for the first time in its history trying the experiment of holding a special show at the end of Juno at which only amateurs will bo allowed to compote. Prominent members of the trade have already promised to assist the competitors in setting up their exhibits, and this is an example of the esprit do corps which is largely responsible for the tremendous interest that is being taken in gardening at the present time. This show wall undoubtedly revive interest in the cultivation of hardy and half-hardy annuals, which used to bo very popular in the days when gardeners were content to stay more in their own homes. The introduction of greenhouses and the habit of travelling, especially in foreign lands, was responsible for bringing many rarities to our gardens, which oould only bo wintered under glass. The result was seen in the ornate carpet bedding of the Victorian period and later in the beds of red, white, and blue formed by planting geraniums, calceolarias and* lobelia. Thor© is possibly nothing quite so horrible in the garden as a bed of scarlet geraniums with a red brick wall for a background. It is impossible to give any general dale for sowing annuals out of doors, but the secret of success is to sow when the land is in a good workable condition, and this in its turn depends on such factors ns the locality, aspect, and nature of the soil. Nature has a knack of making things oven ill the end, and there is no need to despair even if the seed is not sown until late in May. Seedsmen are, as a rule, like musfare! manufacturers, inasmuch as they mako their profits out of the seed which is wasted On light soils of poor quality littio thinning is necessary, but on - strong, heavy land space is much more urgently needed. When sowing always keep magenta colours away from reel, and remember to separate yellow and pink. Beautiful colour effects may easily obtained by sowing godotia* in England early in May direct on the site where thoyare to bloom. In order to obtain the best results they should not be pricked out or transplanted in any way, but superfluous seedlings should be removed. Where a wide border is available the following scheme is most effective: Front row—Godeiia, dwarf pink. Second row—Godotia, dwarf Duchess of Albany. Third row—Godetui, scarlet Queen. Fourth row—Godotia, tall Duchess oi Albany. Fifth row —Gqdetia, Marchioness oi Salisbury (red with a white edge). Sixth row —Godetia, double rose. Eschscholtzins are, strictly speaking, perennials, but the modern practice is to grow them as annuals. Seed sown in the spring will provide vivid patches of colour during the summer months. Flame is the most vivid of all the colours, being coppery’ orange-scarlet, and as this variety has a dwarfor habit of growth than some of the older sorts, it is especially useful for the front of bods and borders. Eschscholtzm Crocea, rich orange, and E. Californiea, pale yellow, are two other delightful vnneling. Where tall subjects are required for the back of borders, the hardy annual Mallow Lavatera Rosea splondens or the new improved variety “Loveliness” is very- effective. The rosy pink flowers will provide delightful material for filling the vases indoors. „ „ . , The National Sweet Pea Society is again holding its annual trials in the grounds of Syon House. The house itself stands on the site of an old monastery, which was abolished about the year 1539 by Henry VIII. Amongst the varieties which achieved fame last season I would select “Angelo, “Wembley,” and “Mammoth.” Tire firstnamed variotv is a most beautiful flower which is of especial value Sot table decoration under artificial light. The colour is a charming blending of blue mauve suffused with pink. “Wembley’ is a light blue oi practically the same colour as the old grandiflora variety “Lady Grizel Hamilton, whilst in contrast with these “Mammoth is an orange-scarlet which really does not fade or bum in the sun. The pear trees are now in full flower, but unless suitable varieties which flower at the same time are planted together the fruit will not sot. ’Tho most selfdertilo pear is “Conference,” but even this one seems to produce more fruit if fertilised with pollen from some other variety.