MISCELLANEOUS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1905, 14 August 1890, Page 5

MISCELLANEOUS.

Aidistinot step has been made by Mr Soott Wilson toward; the production of a deep blue primrose. The plant was exhibited recently at a meeting of the Scientific Committee of the Royal Horticultural Society. A white-flowered Heath, known as Erica hyemalis alba, is a choice variety of the type, which is one of the best of all the Heaths, and certainly the most popular. The flowers are pure white, and well grown plants in full bloom have a chaste and ornamental appearance.

Destroying Slugs.— Some of your readers who possess gardens may be interested to know that my gardener has in 12 days caught 11,454 Blugs. They were caught by means of small heaps of bran distributed over the garden, and from wbiob the slugs were removed every morning. The largest catch in one morning was 1790.— R. M. P., in the Field. Clematis Miss Bateman.— This is an excellent earlir flowering variety, well suited for planting at the baqk of the herbaceous border, trained to a Btout stake 6ft high. When it gets I thoroughly established allow it to ramble at will, as in this manner it is best ueen. The flowers are freely produced, about -tin in diameter, white with red anthers. _ For Buch a position as the one mentioned it is a oapital sort,' and gives increased variety to either the shrubbery or herbaceous borders, Golden Drop (Onosma taurica).— This charming flower was introduced into English gardens at the beginning of the present century. It is a perennial, growing about Biß or more ,in height, and bearing drooping clu«tere of oitron yellow flowers. This pendent character has given rise to the English name of Golden Drop. There are few prettier rock plants than this, and iin a well- drained soil and sunny spot it will thrive with vigour, making a dense tuft of leaveß. Sandy soil is best, in fact indispensable, as' in very wet places it never succeeds. If for a rockery, it iB best to plant it between the felnoks of stone, amongst whioh it will Bend down the roots. N6w Miniature Sunflower.— A writer in a contemporary recommends a type'of sunflower known as the New Miniature; Under ordinary cultivation the plants attain a height of about '4ft and a diameter of "3ft, and during summer and early autumn the flowers are produced in continuous succession and in such abundance as to produce a xioh effect in the border. The flowers, which are single, range from Bin to 4in in diameter, and are of a bright gplden yellow oolour. They Btand remarkably well when out and put in water, quite surpassing in the latter respect the 1 elegant little flowers of j the tallgrowing Heliantbus giganteue. < Tulips.— The two finest tulips, possibly^ for making distinct beds of are Tulip afulgensand T. maorospeila. In the Eoyal Gardens, Kew, each colour is kept apart, so that we obtain the full richness of the yellow retroflexa, the peculiarly soft combination of green and yellow in viridiflora, rich crimson in fulgens, and a delightful shining oarmine rose in maorospeila. It is in this way the beauty of each kind is fully brought out, not by mixing several together. This way of growing- tulips is infinitely finer than the ordinary way of grouping them. The parrot varieties, the flowers of which display a ourious bizarre colouring, gashed segments, and an irregularity of form inexpressibly charming, should also be grown together in a mass, if we require their singular character well displayed. Boxwood Edgings,— These ara used around many garden paths. They sometimes afford shelter tc vermin, but they m»ko good edgings if kept in good order. They are often neglected and allowed to grow up until they are out of:;* all form, and not only harbour insects, but shade their surroundings. Box edgings should be out down neatly once a year, and they should not at any time be allowed to exceed 4in in height. When they are upwards of lft high the best way of dealing with them is to dig thorn up, dig over and level tho ground, and replant them neatly. The little side pieces generally make the best for replanting, Each piece should have ft root attached. The present is a good time to renovate them. Belay all that requires this attention,, and clip down all that need trimming, It may be out hard in, and although it may appear rather unsightly for a little while, it will be neat and green by the summer. A well kept boxwood edging always gives pleasure, and it is surprising that anyone should ever allow them to be neglected. On the Cultivation of Cabbages,— A very rich Boil, plentifully manured, is essential for the production of tender and succulent cabbages. Cabbages will grow on soil that is too adhesive for turnips, but tbe manure applied to such a Boil ought to be of an opening nature, and ail the better if not decomposed. Stable dung or farmyard manure in a fresh state will be most proper in this case, and it should be buried to the depth of one spit below the Eur face. They blbo grow well on peat soil j but to such a dressing of lime, marl, gypsum, or even burned olay will be advantageous. Guano, superphosphate of lime, lime rubbish, wood ashes, and marl have been applied with advantage, and other artificial manures may be given occasionally ; yet they have not the mechanical advantages possessed by farmyard manure ; for the latter, by keeping the soil open, acts as akind of drainage, in consequence of which plants are enabled to grow better dining wet weather, in winter and spring, than would be the case if the ground were B&turated with moisture.

A Farmers' Union, Grain, Produce, and Finance Company with a capital of £25,000, in £1 shares, has been formed, at Christchuron, and 6000 shares have been applied for.

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