SEED NOVELTIES FOR 1932

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21621, 16 April 1932, Page 7

SEED NOVELTIES FOR 1932

FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES OF DISTINCTIVE MERIT AN APPRECIATIVE AND CRITICAL REVIEW. Every enthusiastic gardener, botli professional and amateur, is' eager to obtain something new. Sometimes items are allowed to remain in the novelty section beyond length of time a plant may reasonably be called new. That in itselfis an indication that tradesmen find that is the part of . a catalogue which is most closely studied. Sometimes, also, it means that a good thing has met with such a welcome that available stock still remains short with price correspondingly high. Most people who aim at keeping their gardens and collections of plants well up to date are disposed to think that novelties are far_ more numerous than they need be. Quite naturally, a plant-breeder l s eager to realise as much return as possible for the labour and expense involved in trying to produce something really good enough to be sensationally successful, and a good many things are tried out for a season in the hope the public may receive them with open arms. Another significant factor is that our hybridists and breeders have made such progress that a much greater proportion of crossbred seedlings possesses good qualities than was the rule years ago. Standards have, however, altered in like manner, and a new plant or vegetable must be of extraordinary quality to create more than a very mild and fleeting impression upon the buying public. GLORIOUS NEW ANNUALS. Some of the most remarkable achievepcnts are to be found among hardy and half-hardy annuals. In many instances, fresh breaks, which were hailed with delight only a very few years ago, have already been left behind by the further developments. That, of course, is not unthe first departure from a firmlyestablished type may involve many years of seemingly futile efforts, but when once the break occurs further improvements are more readily secured. Always remarkable for brilliant colouring, and beloved for its associations with the little garden plots of our childhood, the nasturtium is adding a new and very welcome feature to its powers of attraction—a sweet-scented variety, with double or semi-double flowers, the colour of which is a clean, lively yellow. Golden Gleam is the very apt name of this immensely pleasing flower, which, unlike most of the double members of its family, is easily raisable from seed. At times one hears the complaint that nasturtiums grow too rampantly, and produce more leaves than are wanted, but too few flowers. That is an indication that the soil is too rich; these plants should be grown on the poorest patch of soil in the garden, and in a sunny spot. Masses of flowers may be enjoyed under such conditions. Seeds of Golden Gleam are offered by a number of well-known firms.

Another golden flower worthy of notice is Calendula Radio Golden Beam, a bright buttercup-yellow counterpart of the quilled orange variety Radio, which was itself a distinct novelty just two or three years ago. Like the original, the yellow variety carries its blossoms on long stems, giving the plants a graceful appearance in the garden, and greatly enhancing their value as decorative cut flowers. Annua! asters (Calistephus hortensis) are a family that is constantly giving new forms and races. Most of these reach us from Southern Europe and from America, because only a few English growers make a practice of harvesting aster seed, ■ although great quantities of the best types are grown for cut flower trade. •*- ■•■■■ Californian Giant Sunshine is a new type, with large flowers on tall plants. The blooms have an outer ring of broad, reflexing petals, whilst the centre is a neat, compact cushion of quilled florets, after the manner of the anemone-flowered chrysanthemum. Mixed seed produces many beautiful colours, and for the requirements of many garden owners are more suitable than a number of packets of named sorts-

Clarkias are unwavering in their strides of improvement. The double, white Albatross is unusually compact in growth, a distinct advantage .to those whose beds and borders are of restricted size. The old types of clarkia were given to spreading about, occupying much space, and yet presenting a gappy appearance. The flowers of Albatross are "of good size, well doubled, and freely produced. , The dwarf Scabious Coral Rose is another introduction possessing the beauty and fragrance of the pincushion flower on plants of neat, close growth, riot exceeding eight inches in height. Thus we have a capital plant for beds in town or, country gardens. and in a colour which is both distinctive and cheerful. There are instances where advancement in the merits of’hardy border 'plants raisable from seed are even more- conspicuously attractive, than among; annuals. Many of these free-growing, gaily-coloured plants will fill beds and borders for , a whole season’s flowering, and,, being raisable from seed, without artificial heat, they afford a most economical means of furnishing new gardens or extensive areas without exhausting resources required for development of more permanent features. ANTIRRHINUMS. These hard-working ’ and good-natured plants are more than. maintaining their, hold upon popular favour, and the breeders are still making great progress in perfecting types and varieties which possess wonderful qualities in form of flower, habit of growth, arid most fascinating colours. ~. Hitherto the weakest spot in the family has been found in the whites. When purity of whiteness has been secured, the flowers have been small, the spike gappy, and the habit of the plant somewhat spindly and lacking in vigour. These blemishes have been eliminated from the latest new white, named Majestic Avalanche. Majestic is a racial name, given to a tribe which is itself of recent development, and is remarkable for sturdy growth and large flowers, whilst retaining comparatively dwarf stature. That is precisely what has been wanted in a white variety for bedding, and Avalanche is very welcome as the fulfilment of that need. IMPROVED VEGETABLES. A really dwarf pea. Which comes into bearing immediately behind the very earliest of the small-seeded 1 types, is named Phenomenon. The writer tried this pea last year, and it cropped magnificently. The haulm, even in that- damp season, which favoured unusually tall growth, did not exceed tWo feet and. a-half. The pods are not very large to outward appearance, but are packed tight with from nine to twelve peas, the flavour being excellent. . Zulu King is the name of a new dwarf French bean, which should be tried in comparison with the old Canadian Wonder, Pods are ready for picking several days in advance of the older favourite, and it is a prodigious cropper, continuing for a great length of time, so long as all usable pods are picked before they strain the plant by developing seeds. , A new beetroot, named Detroit Select Globe, should meet the needs of exhibitors who want a beet that will cut solid red throughout, with a fine-grained texture, and which will grow well on soils that are too harsh for long beet. Another good round beet is Clucas’ Empire Globe, this also being bright and solid in colour, and a capital cropper throughout the summer. Clucas’ Favourite Brussels sprout is a compact variety, which buttons early and maintains solidity until late in winter, whilst Latest and Best is the one to plant for spring gathering. A new parsley, called Dark Green Winter, is hardy, rich in colour, arid a good standby throughout the winter months. , In lettuces, a fine new cabbage variety is Trocadero Improved. It hearts well, and is crisp and tender, and of a pleasing shade of green. Summer White is a cos variety, which needs no tying, and is of excellent flavour. It was granted, an award of merit by the Royal Horticultural Society. ...... In tomatoes, Radio is good, whilst those who has not yet tried Histon Ideal should certainly do so this year. We saw it cropping most abundantly, even during the sunless weather of last summer, outdoors as well as under glass. Its quality, is first-class, and it is difficult to imagine any variety of tomato being able to produce heavier crops. ’ A new carrot, called Red Cored Early Market, is a beautiful stump-rooted variety, more serviceable than the actual short-horned, and better for harsh soils than the long, tapering rooted kinds. It is very rich in colour, th& red passingright into the core, while its skin is smooth, and shape beautifully even. FLOWERS FOR THE GREENHOUSE.

Improvement in the popular families of greenhouse plants is incessant. Cinerarias and cyclamens, gchizanthus and petunias, streptocarpus and gloxinias, as well as primulas of various types and strains, are carried a stage further every year by the experts who are constantly working for the improvement of habit, formation of flowers, and new shades of colour. In the Feltham Beauty strain of starflowered cinerarias, The King is particularly good by reason of the clarity Pi its bright rose-pink blossoms, with •yellow centres. The Princess is clear sky-blue, with a pure white centre. _ These are two fine selections from a strain which, in the mixture yields a wonderful variety of colours, some of the shades being almost unique among flowers. A dwarf fringed petunia, named Setting Sun, is a plant that should become extremely popular. It is of compact habit, about 12 inches being its maximum height; the individual blossoms are large, heavily fringed, and are produced in wonderful freedom. The colour is a really bright rose-pink. It is an ideal plant for five-inch pots in the greenhouse, where plenty of light and air may be enjoyed. Improvements have been great in the obconica section of primulas, and Red Chief is a real beauty, its ruby crimson blossoms being the richest and deepest shade thus far secured. Fire King is exceptionally brilliant, and Salmon Queen is the cleanest possible pink, without any rose or lilac in its make-up. The blossoms are large, symmetrical, and beautifully flat, while the trusses are of fine size, upstanding on stiff stems. ADVANCEMENT IN PRIMULA MALACOIDES.

In the malacoides section quite a number of good forms are offered by various growers. One named Brightness is a wonderful colour for this species, closely approaching crimson without the dullness of most of the dark shades. It is quite as large as we wish to see the dainty starry flowers of the malacoides type, and

is one of the most serviceable of all plants for the small greenhouse that can only be sufficiently heated to exclude sharp frost. Princess Mary, a rich rose-pink variety,, was introduced a few years ago, but this season a further development has been placed on the market, resulting from skilful re-selection; from the original break. The, colour now is still deeper and richer, and the first whorl of blossoms opens op the stem just clear of the foliage. ; Among all’ new developments in greenhouse plants that are raisable from seed, perhaps the most striking , and interesting is the Cascade type ’ of small, singlecowered chrysanthemums. Of course, there can be no ’idea of guaranteeing-cer-tain colours from seed, nut’the mixture of shades produced is -of’ fascinating interest, and there is; always a chance of securing one that is. worthy of perpetuation by propagating from cuttings. > A new strain of schizanthus, named'The Danbury Park strain, is remarkable-for its smooth-edged flowers, • almost- j like miniature violas or pansies in outline. The plant is of bushy and well, balanced habit, not too tall for pot work, and carrying, its flowejs in a compact domed head. The colours. are chiefly clear and decided seifs, ifi shades of pink, red, mauve, and purple. This is one of the greatest advancements in the schizanthus of recent .years.—Amateur Gardening. ■