DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20870, 9 November 1929, Page 8

DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB

’•The, Dunedin Gardening Club met on Tuesday evening, when there was a good attendance. Mr P. H. Hollingworth presided. Mr John Whyte, gave a short address on the cultivation of the dahlia, in which he explained the mode of propagation by division, cuttings, and seeds. Division was usually used where small quantities weer required,' and consisted of breaking or cutting up the stools into pieces each with an eye. It was Lest before breaking them lip to wait till the eyes showed, and ‘■hen there would. be no blanks. Where large quantities were required it was necessary to. resort to cuttings, which were made from the young shoots and placed in a frame with a bottom heat of about 70 degrees. They soon rooted, and could be hardened off and planted out. Growing from seed was very interesting, and the most satisfactory results were obtained with the single, star, and collarette varieties. With the double varieties only a very small percentage was of any use. When planting out, a.position should be chosen with a northern or. north-west aspect, sheltered from winds. The soil best suited for good flowers was a heavy clay loam, deeply dug and well, manured in the autumn. Before planting, good stakes should, be put in at least- four feet six inches high and a plant put in at each one. The large varieties, should be at lenst .two feet,apart, and,should be well and carefully tied to the stakes, - liked moisture,; and mulching with stable manure was. a great help in dry weather. They-liked liquid manure, which helped to. make-the flowers larger and the plants more vigorous. -The varieties were numerous, and the latest and most useful were the bamboo or stiffstemmed ones. The president (Mr Hollingworth) gave a resume of the work of the garden' at the present time, and . the work necessary for the growing of winter vegetables. Seed of savoy and broccoli should be sown now to provide plants-for planting out between: Christmas and the end of January. The plants would take from the time of sowing about six weeks in the sect bed, and about 16 or 17 weeks from planting out to mature. Leeks should be now planted in their permanent quarters, and also brussels sprouts, cauliflowers, peas, beans of varieties, carrots, beetroot, and onions, and later on tomatoes for outside culture should be planted in warm, sheltered positions. Mr Hollingworth. referred to the practice of people using the hose in their ardens, and was of the opinion thst better results could be obtained by cultivation. After a number of questions had been answered a hearty vote of thanks was passed - to Mr Whyte and Mr Hollingworth for their interesting and instructive addresses. There were on exhibition rowers and plants. Mr J. W. MTntyre showed waratah, embrothium, Felicia, fruticosus, Veronica Fairfieldi, and '“omelia Gnidia. Mrs Doodeward showed a collection of well-grown schizanthus, which were much admired. Mesdames Rhodes, M'Gregor, and Doodeward displayed pansies and violas, and Miss M. Nelson stocks.