FLOWER PRODUCTION.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21196, 29 November 1930, Page 7

FLOWER PRODUCTION.

Every gardener, naturally, wants to secure the free-flowering of his plants. In a general sense plants that grow with great luxuriance rarely produce an abundance of blossom. Although the point is often forgotten, it is a' fact that the flower production on the part of plants is associated with semi-starvation. Examine a flowering plant, and it is evident that the blooms are nearly always at the ends of the shoots farthest away from the centres of nutrition. It is also a well-known botanical fact that most plants tend to-be more floriferons at an early date in_ rather poor ground than when the soil is very rich. If" a specimen la growing in extremely rich soil, a great development of leaves takes place, and the time of flowering is deferred, and the number of blossoms produced may be below the average. S Sunshine, is one • of the greatest stimulants in the matter of flower production, .there are a few plants which will grow in shaded places, like the foxglove, etc., but these are really excptional, for the vast majority of flowering subjects are sun lovers.. It should not be overlooked that a situation which is extremely sunny, like a north border, wil] often prove so hot that the beauty of the Powers does not last long. Here plants tend to set seed very freely, and it is most important to pick off all dead blooms as fast as they appear. Then the display of bloom in a hot poeition may be prolonged by keeping the soil in whicn me plants are growing thoroughly moist. . I inching out is a very wise practice in the case of many plants, whether out ot doors or under glass. Always one c ii mo , ro flowers by removing the tips °t the leading shoots in the early days, and the plant may be followed with advantage in the ease of annuals, as well as perennials. . If this is done when the plants are quite young there is no reason why the flowers should be late in putting in an appearance. The result of this step is seen iu the larger production of powers. The state of the soil in which plants are growing has a marked effect on the extent to which they bloom. On close, heavy land, which is relatively cold, plants are always slow to come into blossom. Un “KM- Warm ground all plants will come to the flowering stage at a verv much earlier date. Where specially early hewers are desired it is worth while preparing some beds in which the soil -is much lighter than that Usually recoinmended for the particular kinds. ANNUAL FLOWERS FOR CUTTING. • Thcre_ is always a demand for cut Powers in the home, and by sowing seeds ot suitable hardy annuals during the next

few weeks an ample supply may be had from this source from the end of January onwards.

Where garden space is limited the seeds can be sown direct in the flower border, but in larger gardens it is more advisable to reserve a spare plot for the purpose. However carefully one may out, the border always looks the barer if large sprays of blossom are removed, and for this reason it is better to grow plants that produce solitary long-stemmed flowers, if space is limited, rather than those bearing blossom in eprays or clusters.

Some of the best annuals of the former type easily raised from a sowing made ’ outdoors now are the dainty modern single marigold, the Dimorphothecas, and these are really charming, with flowers ranging through white, lemon,’buff, champagne, deep yellow and orange.. Coimflowers are invaluable for cutting, and they will thrive in any soil or aspect. Blue is the familiar colour, but there are also varieties in white and pink, and these are equally good. Perhaps the brightest of all annual flowers for cutting are the summer chrysanthemums. From a mixed packet of seed an almost endless range of colours hq had,'whilst most of the - blossoms will be ringed” in contrasting shades. We and double blossoms are included m the range, and the doubles ar e especiavr ne * or m^oor decoration. Aigella should on no account he missed, j ® lovely soft shade of blue. delicately veiled with a deep green involucre. Miss Jekyli is the finest form, with clear cornflower blue flowers. Miss Jekyli jct- 18 a ? ood companion plant for this, and Hispanica bears deep blue blossoms. ~ Atm J ual poppies are indispensable, but u ~V (; t“ e drawback of being very short-lived in the cut state. The double forms wfl!. be found to have a longer life' than the singles, while if the blossoms are cut just as they have opened, and the ends of the stalks charred in a flame for a few seconds, they may be kept quite 0r OUr or five days. Of annuals hearing blossoms in sprays or clusters, clarkias, with their long, loose sprays of brightly coloured double flowers are worth including. A good m ° l f -. Beed Y iU Sive scarlet, salmon, pmk, white, and purple. A poor strain often contains rather dull shades, and it bufthe hist seeT “ d Bpa ” . to E<W any . Godetias, the finest ar e the tall double-flowered sorts, which may be had in delicate shades of rose, mnuve, lavenclcr, and crimson.

Annual larkspurs will also b e found usetul for large vases, especially those belonging to the stock-flowered section. Rosy scarlet is particularly pleasing, and as fine by lamplight as by sunlight. Pink blue, white mauve’, and rose are other colours that may be had. Among many other flowers mention may also be made of asters in all shades; Marguerite carnations, very fragrant Cosmos, very elegant in white, rose, and crimson; sweet Scabious, scented of honey and very long-lasting in th e cut state; tall ten-week stocks, highly fragrant and of many pleasing shades; and . ra te Btl ® anc * formal, but of the most brilliant colouring and uusurGaSn Wr! tt3ng -~“ Syringa ” in the