HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2623, 22 June 1904, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

The wise amateur who loves flowers and knows little about them, and has room for only s few beds, will confine his or her attention. to a small number of plants with a view to growing them well rather than undertake so much that the result wili be a lot of inferior specimens. To get the greatest amount of pleasure from the small garden quality instead of quantity should be the motto. To obtain the best. results there is plenty of material in the old-time favourites, such as sweet peas, stocks, nasturtiums, asters, marigolds, and others.

—The Sweet Pea—

"~ is one of the most desirable and popular annuals we have. The splendid varieties nowk offered by seedsmen are fin© ornaments to the garden, delightfully fragrant, and unequalled for cutting. For the largest and finest blossoms make a trench six inches deep, put in two or three inches of jrotten manure, then a little soil; sow the seeds thinly, then cover an inch deep. This can be done as early in the spring as posjsible. As soon as the plants have grown to be about thre-e inches high draw some of th© soil taken from the trench about them. By moulding up in this way you get strong plants, whose roofs are deep in the soil, where they will be cool and damp in dry weather. This ensures vigorous growth and fine flowers. By cutting tho flowers freely, thus preventing them forming seed pods, they will continue to bloom for a long time.

— Ten -week Stock—

is another charming annual and very old garden favourite, producing beautiful flowers of many shades of colour, and of epicy fragrance. Many of the plants will produce single flowers, but these should be pulled up as soon as the character of the flower is known, as only the double varieties "are worth growing. The flowers are useful for cutting, and they la<3t forja considerable time. The plants require ricn, mellow soil, and must never be allowed to suffer for want of water.

— Asters.—

These are eple-ndid autumn flowering annuals. They are ve-ry free-flowering, with lot-ely flowers of various colours and many habits of growth. Some are quite- dwarf, only a few inches high, whilo others are 18 inches or more in height. The flowers are usofvtl for cutting, and the plants, when in fall bloom, may be lilted and placed in pots,

when they will continue to bloom a3 if they had never been disturbed. — Phlox Drurmnondii — io one of the very best of all annuals for making a continuous display during the summer and autumn months, surpassing all other annuals in brilliancy. The varieties of grandiilora far surpass the old varieties, having larger flowers and _ more ehowy colours. Neat and compact in habit, they are unsurpassed for bods or borders.

— Dwarf Nasturtiums. —

There is nothing easier to grow, and nothin? that will bloom for a longer time than nasturtiums. They have bright and beautiful flowers, which are borne in great profueion. The habit of the plant is compact, and they are never attacked by insects, thriving and flowering well in poor soil and in dry situations. Like sweet peas and some other things, the season of flowering may be prolonged by pulling off the seeds so coon as formed. Tall nasturtiums, if given some branches or a fence to climb upon, are equally attractive, and make a brilliant show. Clipping off some of the leaves brings to view many of the flowers that are otherwise hidden. The colours of fhe flowers are rich and varied, and they are excellent for cutting. Two rows of those (about 200 yards in length) in my grounds this last season were a surprise to many, being a mass of bloom for months.

— Petunias — • require a little more care in raising than the other subjects mentioned in these notes, but they are well worth the trouble. To save trouble plants can be purchased at a cheap rate from any florist who deals in bedding plants. They aro very showy and free-flowering, especially the single-striped and blotched varieties. A few beds* in our public gardens of these blotched varieties were the admiration of visitors. Those called the Californian Gianfe are a great improvement on all other varieties, and are truly magnificent.

— Convolvulus Major. — If you have a feuce or any unsightly object to cover cow convolvulus major. They are rapid growers, free bloomers, and well deserve the popular name of morning glories, which is applied to them. They aro of no use for cutting 1 , but thoir delicate and richly-coloured flowers always attract, attention.

— Calliopsis. — ■ Where a mass of yellow is wanted this ia the plant to grow, being one of the brightest of yellow-flowered annuals. It is a very free bloomer, the flowers being borne on long slender stalks well above the foliage, aud are most useful for cutting. Like other things, cut freely, as by this means the blooming period is prolonged.

— Marigolds — of the French striped and African varieties are also bright and showy annuals for garden decoration, requiring only the slightest care to do well. The variety called Legion of Honour is very dwarf and compact, producing a mass of flowers. Tho centre of each flower is brownish red, while the outer half is bright yellow. It is one of the prettiest marigolds grown. ■ — Mignonette. — No garden, however small, is complete without a patch of mignonette. Its sweet smell commends it to all. and for cutting to mix wkh flowers in the dwelling it is indispensable. Many varieties are cultivated, and one called Matchct is about the best, the plants being bushy and profusebloomers, with extra large spikes of flowers, exceedingly fragrant. -• The above are £.11 old-fashioned flowers, which, with reasonable care, will yield a bountiful crop of bloom, and -are therefore well adapted for those who have only a small garden or but little time to devote to floriculture.

,T. GEBEIE, Awamoa, Oamara, June, 1904.