GARDEN NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2665, 12 April 1905, Page 10

GARDEN NOTES.

A FIXE SHRUBBERY. On visiting the residence of a friend a few days ago the writer was gratified to find a considerable variety of trees and shrubs — some of them rare with us, all of them, with one or two exceptions, in fine form and growing luxuriantly. Some of these were formerly considered too tender for our climate, but by persevering attention during the earlier period of growth they are now acclimatised. Space will not permit giving a detailed description of all, but a few of the most marked may be dealt with. The acacia, or wattle, has several representatives out of its very large number of

varieties, the most commanding of these being A. , rising to a height of 40ft, »f?ith wide-spreading branches not densely clothed, the flowers small, a clean stem or trunk with -smooth bark, round and solid,

rising to 9ft 'when the branches weak out. This variety is very uncommon here. The seed for this specimen was obtained from

the late Mr Waugh, who was justly recognised for the great taste and skill he displayed as curator of the Inveroargill Gardens. Among the other wattles were A. melanoxylon, from which in Australia the bark is stripped annually for tanning purposes. Several years ago an attempt was made by the Provincial Government to introduce it into Otago for general cultivation. For lack of persevering, sustained effort, it, however, came to nothing. A. cultiformrg' and longifolia are both so-named from the shape of their leaves. Among the prickly specimens are A'rmata, often used for fencing ; A. horrida, or karroo thorn, a. South African variety, an umbrageous tree of 20ft, in its season a mass of yellow

flowers.

Closely allied to the acacias is the Cape wattle (Albizzia lophanthaj, with its gorgeous, dark-green, spreading foliage and floral gpikelets, deep yellow, about 2in in length. The whole- of these are perfectly hardy, and grow freely from the pea or by cuttings, the Cape variety alone requiring a little protection in winter during the first few years. Leucadendron Argentea, whioh is rarely seen among is, is of great attractiveness. Of the order of the Proteade, it is com-

rconly named the white-leaved silver-tree of

Cape Colony. It is grown very successfully > in different parts of the North Island, and is muoh appreciated, the leaves being used by artists in place of paoer'for etching purposes. Another Protead is Calietemon, Vl bottle-brush of the colonists, of very ' peculiar habit, the showy, scarlet flowers springing from the tips of the branohes after each year's growth. The seeds when formed are closely packed together, like , an Indian corn oob, in a very hard case, adhering olosely to the branch, and so remaining for years, and are with difficulty , st lipped* off. The Hakea, another of the same order, has its seeds formed 'in a simi

iar way. The Australian waratah (Telopea truncata). formerly existing, has been accidentally destroyed. — Conifers.—

Of these there are some fine specimens. First among them stand Thuja gigantea,

well worthy the name, and though still far from its full height, its many strong arms spread oat all round, closely covered by branchlets of drooping spines, sombrely green 'n colour. Alongside is Thujopsis t dolletrata, of peculiar habit, some of its I leaves lying flat, others on edge of upj right on a slender stem, the light greeu . colour contrasting noticeably with the other '— a most attractive plant.

j — Retinospera Plumosa, — Sof much dwarfer habit, but well fur- ' nished, stands next in line. Then comes j Biota rneldeusis, which has not done so j well, either from exposure or from its j soil or position not being favourable. A short distance off is a grand specimen of J (Jupressus, admittedly one of the hand- ; sornest of our ornamental shrubs, its ! branches regular and compact, and freely bearing seed. There are no yews, the onlj member of that tribe on view being Cephaj lotaxus fortunii — both the male and femala j plants quite distinct. The male is of a • dull, dark-green colour, the young shoots ! of tlie female being at first a lively yellow tint, gradually changing as they mature to a light green shade. The best specimen of 1 the. female plant is to be seen near the ! centre of the Southern Cemetery. j Many other orders of plant* also find ! room, among them being a fine bushy ' myrtle, with its white florets relieving the ' dark gre&n foliage, and Eugenic Ugnii. Of ! the berberries there are several varieties '■ doing well, and showy in flower and fruit I with the exception of Mahonia ague-folia. ' now added to the order, which has not

' prospered very well. Escallonias of various ' kinds (with the exception of Monte Vidienf sis, the handsomest of the lot), Ootoneasters,

Spireas, and Hyperienus were in considerable number. Acuba Japonica, fern closed this line, the scion grafted from the male plant not yet having had time to show itself and exercise its influence over the female flowers. Another very conspicuous plant was Arelia siefooldii, standing about 4ft high, its branches spread ail around to a greater distance, each having a profusion of nine-lobed leaves, with a diameter of 9in, the leaf-stalk very stout, the leaves tr^emselves of great substance, of a bright green colour, with a yellowish suffusion, which in the sunlight shows very bright. Among other flowering plants were several specimens of Agapanthus, the bltie African lily; some, also, of the white variety. To these two colours the flowers are confined. Th 3 flower heads are very large and showy. IS ear these is one of the Amaryllide — Foureroya longavite, whioh, like the majority of the agaves or aloes, is monocarpic — that is, flowers and fruits once only. The bulbel of this specimen was pressed in the ground 13 years ago, and is not yet showing its flowering stem, which it is expected to do next year. It attains a height of 15ft, freely branching out and tapering to the summit like an immense candelabra.

— Potato Experiments. —

A special visit was made to the grounds of a well-known grower to see his crops and form an opinion as to the time on which returns should be closed. Some of the varieties were still quite green and carrying flowers, and the growers had decided not to dig until the end of April, or even further on, so as to allow the tu'bera to attain their maximum — a course wo would recommend others to adopt. As some growers may not have received tne oirculars, or may have mislaid them it may be repeated that the points on which returns are wanted are : —

1. Name, number, and weight of tubers, and from whom obtained. 2. Number of sets obtained and planted 3. Nature of soil, description and quantities of manures used.

4. Date of planting, width between rows, and distances between sets.

5. Date of lifting, weight of marketable prtafeoee and those of smaller size. 6. Any other remarks the grower desires to make.

7. Any sign of disease on leaf, stem, or tuber. 8. Has eupertuberation been much I. M. I.

noticed.