MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1932, 30 November 1888, Page 10

MISCELLANEOUS.

Virginian Creeper and Irish Ivy. — A beautiful effect is made by planting the ivy and Virginian creeper together so that they cover a wall ot a dwelling house or other structure. We have them covering a part of a gable of a house 40ft high, at the base of which they were planted eight years ago. The effect at the present time is charming. The ivy receives an annual clipping, and thus it is kept within bounds.

Tomatoes.—Amateur ; A sunny wftll will be as good a place as any for the plants. They must bave sun, and in shady places never give a good account of themselves. In soil of ordinary quality they will thrive, and after planting give a liberal watering. The only attention requisite during the summer will be keeping^ the plants properly nailed up and the shoots thinned out. To Keep the Birds from Fruit, — Pans of water placed in fruit and berry patches will keep birds from eating the fruit. An English naturalist claims tbah the reason birds eat cherries and strawberries is because in the blazing heat they get dreadfully thirsty. If the birds can easily get at water they coon leave off taking the fruit. The experiment is certainly worth trying. Green Fly on Roses. — Syringe the plants well with pure water so as to dislodge the pest. It is a good plan to lightly fork the ground beneath tha trees after dislodging green fly, so as to more effectually destroy them. As the plants are in the open it would prove more plague than profit to fumigate. If the syringing is not effectual, lightly dust the foliage with tobacco powder after it has been moistened; Some Hardy Autumn Flowers —Amongst the flowers of autumn the following are conspicuous ; Senecio pulcher, rosy crimson, about 2|ft high, and of striking appearance ; a good mass of itis very effective. The great ox-eye daisy (Pyrethrum uliginosunij bears large white single flowers of the ox-eye daisy type, and is very effeotive in a mass in the border ; it grows about 4h high. Solidago nemoralis is one of the most usef ul of the golden rods, growing about 18in high. Anagallis (Phillip's), flowers intense blue, borne in great profusion. I saw the plant in blossom last week, in the Cambridge Botanic Gardens. It has a neat habit, and is worth looking after. Cape fig-wort (Phygelius capensis) has bright scarlet flowers, and the whole aspect of the plant is very effective. I saw this plant also in flower last week in the Cambridge

Botanic Gardens. Statioe tatarioa, of dwarf, neat habit, is very useful for cutting. — E. H, The Common Barberry.— The ornamental qualities of the common barberry (Berberis vulgaris) are of no mean order, for it forms a shrub of very pleasing outlines when allowed plentj of room! or its full development. Then, after a winter's rest, it is^Studded with delicate clusters of partially expanded leaves which are of a beautiful shade of bright green, while the flowers, which follow soon after, add another pleasing feature. Its most .ornamental stage, however, is undoubtedly when it is laden with its drooping clusters of bright-coloured fruits, for then it holds a high place among autumn berried plants. The great advantage of the common barberry ia the fact that it will succeed in almost any soil, for it holds its own well in hot sandy spots where many other shrubs would suffer greatly. A variety of it with purple foliage is very effective in early autumn before the leaves drop ; but to be seen at its best it must be planted in a spot fully exposed to the I un.— H. P.