HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2722, 16 May 1906, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

BT J. GKB3fE.

BORDER CARNATIONS.

Those who wish to have bright and interesting flower beds and borders next season should begin now to make any alterations that may have been contemplated, and try to make the soil suitable for the various plants you wish to cultivate. Tienehing or deep digging and allowing the soil to remain in a rough state to the action of the weather for a month or t\vo will improve the character of the soil, which is so essential to root growth. For stocking the beds and borders an almost endless variety of plants are available, and these wlio taLe a delight in their, gardens will find in any of the leading nurseries sufficient variety to fill all their requirements. Most people have some particular class of plants to which they show preference. Roses, lilies, dahlias, gladioli, daffodils, and carnations are among the most popular perennials grown. The carnation is, perhaps, next to the rose during summer the greatest favourite. Its neat habit of growth, usefulness for cutting, and the delightful fragrance of many of its varieties tends to make it a general favourite. In the ordinary border varieties ate many equally as good as the best of the show oiass, and requiring less trouble in their cultivation. The best soil for hoider carnations is one which is not too hot in summer or too wet and heavy in winter. About the best soil that ran be need is nice, sweet loam with good diainage. The loam can be obtained by taking the top soit of pn old pasture and stacking it with tho grass side down, and allowing it to remain for some months until the grass decays. It ought then to be turned I and well broken no, when it will make a good foundation for a carnation bed if j one has to he specially prepared. All j strong or fresh manures arc to be avoided, and only well-<lecayed manure should be' used, and this kept well below the surface. ! fo that it does not come in contact with the j-co(s of the plants until these have started into growth iv the spring, as nothing i s more calculated to encourage disease than manure near tho surface. This is frequently the cause of the sudden collapse of healthy-looking n lants when in the height of their vigour and just as they are beginning to flo.w-er. The shoots wither, and if they are fjulled come away quite easily from the rest of the plant, and the centre of the shoot will be found quite rotten. If to be planted in the ordinary soil of tho bord-er, -4iou!d this bo of a heavy nature, it may be improved by adding old mortar rubbish. This will lighten the soil, and the roots of carnations delight in it. Road scrapings, leaf mould, or sand may bo .used if the mortar rubbish is not obtainable. Besides planting in the mixed border, they look well planted in bee/i by themselves. Tln?se should be where they would be shaded during the hottest part of rhe day. In «ueh a position the blooms will last" longor If planted in beds -each bed should contain three rows, and the plants about 12in apait each way. Very strong growers might require more room, but for moderate growers 12in would bo a. gocd average. In planting, a little ot the pronared soil rou-id the roots vill give th-em a fair start. A little soot dusted over the plants after a shower will help to keep off slugs and other pests. Plant firm, and in usirg the prepared soil see that no wireworms are introduced, as these peste aro often found in turfy loam, and aro very destructive to carnations. Autumn planting is preferable to spring, when t! c 6oil is suitable, but when tho ground is wet and oold planting may be deferred to epting. The ground at planting time might to bo in a nioe friable condition, bieaking up easily with the hand.

FLORAL HEDGES

_Ther3 are many places wbere some kind or hedge ;s wanted to act as a screen to sJmt out some unsightly object, or to :.ct M a wind-break. For this purpose many .'.ardv flowering shrubs are adapted, and, besides being ornamental, arc useful f<r furnishing a supply of cut flowers. For an ornaiuenta! deciduous hedge there is nutiii.ig better than Cydonia Jat»onica (known also as Pyrus Japonica). It Is enc of the best shrubs available for tho purix.se, and :n: n the spring of the year, when in bloom, is a most lovely sight ; the different shades of crimson, pink, or white flowers are very effective. The oklfashioned monthly roses also make a nice hedge: in fact, any of the stronsr-growing varieties of >:csc& may be utilised for

making hedges, and may be pruned in rether freely without fear of losing the blossoms. Lilace, guelder roses, ribes, and many other flowering shrubs thai are anienable to pruning or thinning, and not of over-rank growth, would do well in such a hedge, and may either be planted in mixture or alone. Honeysuckles, jasmines, climbing and rambler roses, may also be tiained down to form beautiful floral screens and hedges. The shrubs 6hould be planted about 4ft apart, and 36 flowers ore wanted they are as well not to be cut in so severely as other hedges, so as to allow them to flower. Ths Penzance briars, varieties of the sweet briars, make beautiful hedges. Where these are to be planted the ground should be thoroughly trenched and manured before planting. Good healthy plants should be selected, ejid planted about a foot or 18in apart. They require to be pruned short back the first season so as to fill up at the bottom ; afterwards clipping: with rhe sloears annually vrill suffice. There are many varieties' of these hybrid sweet briars, and a hedge of them when in bloom is very bright, and even after flowering the scarlet fruits give a longer period of brightness.

THE LOGANBERRY.

In several gardens during the past summer I have seen <.he loganberry growing vigorously and fruiting profusely. The best' way to treat this plant is to train ir to a fence, wall, or some similar posi-, tion. They need rich coil, and, being strong growers, require to bo planted Bft or 9ffc apart.' and in a. short time will make shoots 12ft; or more in length. They are very free-frujting, the fruit bsing sometiling similar to a raspberry, but longer, ■ and making a fine preserve. They may nlso I b? grown as bushes, treating them similar I to the raspberry. As they only bear en j the young wood, all the- old growths should be cut out as soon as the crop is gathered, and the youn<r choots shortened back to sft or 6ft. Plants are readily obtained from any nurseryman during the planting season.