ONAGRARIEE.

Otago Witness, Issue 2528, 27 August 1902, Page 10

ONAGRARIEE.

Tliere is a large order in all temperate and many tropical parts of the world to which many of our introduced garden plants belong — annual, biennial, and perennial — of which Clarkia is a good specimen of the annual, with either rose-coloured, purple, pink, or white flowers, single and double. As a biennial, the evening primrose may be quoted, of which there is a v considerable variety, both annual and perennial, the botanic name being (Enothera, the first half of the word signifying wine, and the last imbibing, the roots of one of the varieties being supposed to incite a desire for copious draughts. It grows wild in Britain, and there in former times tho roots were freely eaten, our forbears subsisting on many vegetable produpts which we now disdain. Dealing specially for the present with New Zealand flora, perennial examples will be confined to our own representatives of the Onagrads, of which we have two of the species which did not come on the ridge eaid to have connected us with Australia; or if they did, they certainly are a clear proof of the "survival of the fittest," as the remnant which may have stayed behind have either died out or become so reduced in circumstances as not to have found a place in the carefully-compiled list, "Collection of Carpological Specimens of Australasian and Exotic Plants, Containing 570 Species," by Mr W. R. Guilfoyle, F.L.S., etc., Director, Botanic- Gardens, Melbourne, a list which contains members of the 75 orders of New Zealand plants. The first of our two genera to be noticed is

EPELOBIUM, derived rom "epi," a point, and "eobos," a pod, and usually known as the willow herb. W» have 17 varieties, all of them perennial. Hooker says it is a very large genus in almost all temperate climates ; rare in the tropics, especially abundant in New Zealand. "The species are without exception extremely variable, and probably hybrids. I have repeatedly studied the New Zealand ones, which completely puzzle me." So there may be many intermedia-tea between those described. In face of this frank acknowledgment, it would be presumptuous to attempt to particularise, bo a general view may be given. Almost all the varieties are abundant over the whole of our colony, more particularly in the South Island and those adjacent. Tasmania is credited with two or three varieties, Australia with one oi.ly. The majority delight in moist or damp ground, and are found from low levels to 5000 ft. The plants are mo.=tly prostrate, the branches spreading along the ground, the tips of some of them becoming erect. The tallest variety attains a height of from lft to 3ft, with a, stem about the thickness of a goosequill. Our plants are not endowed with any economic \alue, and the flowers, generally small and few in number, do not make any of the varieties of sufficient attraction to merit garden cultivation. Of course, in a botanic collection it is entitled to take its place. The evening primrose, introduced originally into gardens, is well woitliy of a prominent place.

FUCHSIA

Thib is the only other genera of tlie Onagradb of \vliich we are possessed. Of it, however, we may justly be proud, as South America and New Zealand are the ouly countries in the world which claim it as their own peculiar property. In the firstnamed it grows in great profusion on the ranges of the Andes, and was thence first brought into notice by Dr Tucks, a cplebrated German physician and botanist, and by whom tho particular name was assigned. With us there are only three varieties, differing in the locality in which they are found growing, and in our genial soil and climate one. rising to the dignity of a tree over 40ft in height, and very stragghngly branched. The practical value of tho timber is widely estimated, one authority pronouncing it worthless, another claiming that it is veiy durable in character and may bo u^ed for many purpose?. Those who hai c uasd it either for fencing posts or house piles can best testify to its value. One tnmg is certain, it is %cry inferior as firewood. The kind known as F. excorticata is the ono we are. mo-t familiar with, as it grows in ©very district of the colony, and <a!l3 for no particular description. F. proouinbous is found on top-i of mountain 0 , and kc oi-s its head lowly to the ground, the floweia being, a= a matter of course., much smaller; and ¥ colensoi may be considered an intermediate spe-cu*. Thn. name Riven by the Maori, aceprdinp; to Coknso. is "Koliutuhutu." and* the fruit "komui." High hopes were entertained of it when first intioduced into home cultivation. One eminent Writer says of it : "When the gardener discovers the way to improve the size and flavour of the fruit, we cannot doubt hut that those of the fuchsia -v\ ill be among the first novelties at dessert." Nearly 60 years ha\e elapsed Johnston recorded that opinion, and very likely he mads eifiwiments lumself, and

relied on others doing the same, and yet no result has followed. It is -the same insipid berry it has been from the first. The Maori word given, "konini," is difficult of translation, unless an alteration is made so as to read " koniniri," when it might mean '" the small, deceitful." Williams' s lexicon does not contain the word konini.

The flower is of very different estimation everywhere — not that of the native plant, but of those plants which have been improved by processes under our control well understood and in constant practice. Many stories are current regarding the history of its early introduction, when prices almost as fabulous as those of the tulip mania were realised for small hybridised specimens, sgs being obtainable for plants for a considerable period. One I heard related at -the great exhibition of 1857 of a London nurseryman who, in his travels about Wapping, saw in a humble window a plant new to him, and which he determined to possess. Calling at the house, he told his errand, and offered the wife first £10, and then £20 for it. Prudently she declined, until her husband came in from his ship, recently arrived from South America, and as he had just brought it home, the sale was at his option. Jack, wieer than sailors usually are, smelt a rat and resolved to make a rise. So when the .would-be purchaser appeared at the appointed hour next day Jack at once demanded £50, which, nfter somo higgling, was agTeed to, and paid, the pair rejoicing at the result. The purchaser was equally satisfied with his bargain. The old favourite,

FUCHSIA FULGENS, has the credit of being the one Jrom which most of the earlier sorts were bred, and its strain is still regularly worked upon for producing the almost eudless varieties with which nurserymen's catalogues are now filled. Flowers have their times of popularity, lasting for shorter 6t longer intervals, as tho fancy may lead. The fuchsia can never go out of date, however. One of the most graceful and elegant of flowers, it will continue to hold its own, and though not so frequently seen in our gardens as heretofore, it will again, in due time, resume its place The double-flowered variety, named universal, and the single, la crinoline, are perfectly hardy, while for the greenhouse others more tender in their varied hues and colour of their petals make a display which cannot be excelled, some of tho individual flowers measuring 3in acros*. ,