HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Volume 23, Issue 2684, 23 August 1905, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Geubib.

POTTING SOILS.

As the time for this operation is now at hand a few hints as to soil and other re- ! quirenients of our indoor plants may be acceptable to some beginners in plantgrowing. Different; plants require different soils ; therefore the cultivator must make suitable composts for the requirements of the i^lan+s jf" he wishes to succeed in his labours. For the ordinary run of greenhouse and window plants good loam is indispensable. This can be procured by taking" the surface turf from pastures and the sides of roads. This should be stacked with the grass side downwards, placing a layei" of manure over every layer of loam. In this way the manure will become thoroughly incorporated with it, and when cut out for use ifc will be found in a nice friable state. The quality of loam varies in different parts of the country, some being- light, others hc-av/. The light loam is best stacked by itself in a pure state. After being stacked for six or twelve months it will be ready for use. —Leaf Mould.— This is formed of thoroughly decomposed leaves, which have been collected in autumn. This kind of soil requires to be two or three yea.'s old before using, and is useful for mixing with loam for certain plants. — Potting.— In potting plants see that the pots are new nr thoroughly clean, otherwise soil &nd roots will etick to the f-ide3 of the pot, fo that the pot will >aye to he broken or the roots damaged when shifting requires to be done. Before- commencing operations see- that the ball of the plant is moist

from the centre to th© circumference, as it is difficult to water it thoroughly after repotting without a deal of trouble, which may a3 well bo spared. Another important point is to give good drainage, or success will never be realised. Place a large piece of broken pot over the hoi© and some smaller ones round about and over this, with the hollow side downwards, and finishing off with still smaller ones, or some charcoal, which will be preferable, and then a little moss or fibrous peat to prevent the soil mixing with it. For anything requiring nicety there ought to be at least lin drainage in a sin pot, and so on in proportion. — Pelargoniums.— In Tepotting those that have been, kept over winter in 2in or 3in pots should now b© placed in sin pots, clean and well drained, using the following compost : — Three parts good turf soil, the" other wellroited "manure, and a good proportion of sand to render it of an open texture. A sin potful of bone me*l to a barrowful of coil will bo of benefit. Pot firmly and water sparingly for a few days, and when they begin to grow pinch out the points of the shoots so as "to induce- bushiness. When the pots become well filled with roots, and large plants are required, shift into 7in pots, using the same compost as before. Keep the plants in the full sun, and when the pots "are full of roots liquid tvanure may b© riven once a fortnight. Pelargoniums require plenty of sun and air so as to harden the wood. Soft, succulent wood will not flower so freely as wellripened shoots. • After blooming they ought to b& stood in the open for a time to thoroughly .ripen their ivcod; afterwards shorten back the shoots, and reduce the bal: of soil, and repot into 6in pots for Ihe winter, repotting into the 7in pots fcfce following fcuring. • The zonal© and ivylesfed section. puooced under th© same treatment. * — Cyclamens. — These are invaluable as spring decorative plants, and their cultivation is by no means difficult. They are only increased by seed, which should be sown at once, and if carefully grown in heat and shifted whenever *he pots have become filled with roots the plants may b© bloomed in a year, while two or three years are required when they ar© treated in a negligent manner. Plants purchased now from a nurseryman will be in bloom. These will require a good supply of water. When th© flowering season is over set them in a shady spot out of doo^s, giving no water, and as soon as the leaves are dead trim these off and lay th© pots on one side to keep them dry till th© plants require potting. This operation should be done just before they start into .growth in the autumn. The soil best adapted is loam leaf mould, well-decayed manure in equal parts, and sufficient sand to mak© the whole feel gritty. The finest specimens I have seen were grown in a mixture of soil gathered from under an old eoi*e hedge. Th© decayed leaves and surface soil, mixed with decayed cow manure and sand, seemed to suit their requ'rements. In potting the bulb or more correctly speaking the conn, should b© lleut v just out of .the soil. Th© largest oorms may require pots bin in diameter. As scon as potted place in a cold frame, secure from frost, give air on all favourable occasions, and. water moderately till the leaves are fully §ro\vn and the flowers appear, when it "may be more liberally given. I hey may then he removed to the greenhouse or wirdow, where they will continue in bloom for a long time. — Cactus. — ■ This ia an extensive genus of plants which has been, divided into several wellmarked -sub-genera or sections, but outside of botanical gardens they dont find such general favour as fome of them deserve. Nothing can be more showy than Caotus Bpeciosimus, with its la.rg© crimson flowers, or more interesting than Cereus grancliflora, the night-blooming cactus, with its large creamy-white flowers, which begin to open about 7 or 8 o'clock in th© evening, and before morning they have decayed. Their culture is not difficult. Good drarna<r e is an essential feature, and _ the soil best adapted for their cultivation is a mixture of sandy loam, river or silver sand, old dried cowdung, and briok rubbish. In. repott ; ix°- it is advisable to rtmove all the soil and drainage and any faulty roots, l.oldin» Iho plant well up. and shaking the compost carefully about the roots. Water must be given with care, but when growing in fine weather during summer they will require a. considerable supply. Although most of this family are natives of Mexico and Brazil thoy will stand outsid© during the summer months without injury, but during winter they must be protected frora frost, otherwise they will be killed outright. Mr James Neil, a well-known fruitgrower, of Mount Lona-rch ("Victoria), recently consigned to England 50 cases of pears, the species being Hardy's Euro and Vicar of Wakefield. The former realised 28s per ease, each case containing 60 pears, and the latter brought 10s 6d per case. Mr j Neil intends to export largely in future.