HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2804, 11 December 1907, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Br J. G*bbie. ORIENTAL POPPIES. There is nothing more graceful than the blooms of single poppies, and few flowers are easier to grow. Shirley poppies have long been favourites for table decoration, and among the many annual varieties they are the beat for the purpose. Among perennial 6pecies the Iceland poppies- rank first for table . decoration. Easily grown «nd flowering the first season from seed, they bloom for years afterwards. They are most beautiful and graceful, the bright blossoms being borne on tall wire-like stems well above a crown of fern-like foliage. The colours, especially in the new strain, are bright and novel — yellow, orange, ealmon," white, 'pink, and other shades— but as plants for garden decoration at this season of the year the gorgeous varieties of the Oriental poppies with large blossoms of n.ore or less saucer-shaped outline are unique. When the plants become thoroughly established they display score? of blossoms day by day for a considerable time. A few years , ago the varieties in commerce were few and of a tall habit of growth, but during recent years several new varieties have originated of dwarf or comparatively dwarf kinds, and of shades of colour unknown a few years ago. The typical species (Pa paver Orientale) was introduced from Armenia in 1714. The flowers are rich scarlet, with a black blotch near the La.se of each petal, and measuring Bin or more across. To-day I was admiring a row of seedlings which were sown during the. autumn of 1905. There are 24 plants, gome of them carrying over 30 blooms and making a wonderful display in tho border, rhododendrons, callas, and the golden yellow hemeiocalis in the background setting them off to advantage and forming a brilliant colour effect. As regards their culture they are not fastidious as to soils, but a fairly liberal dressing of manure should be given and the ground deeply dug or ire'uehed, as they have & deeplydescondiflg tap-root. In planting 1 they should be given positions where thev^ may remain for three or more years without disturbance.

DIPLACUS.

These are pretty dwarf shrubs, suitable for greenhouse , culture^ and blooming tolerably well in- the borders during summer if well established or old plants are employed. They may be potted in loam, leafmould, and 6and in equal parts. Like other f ree-grow ing pßrnts they should be frequently topped when in the young state to keep them bushy until they get to a blooming size, or as large as may be- required. Strong plants should be prepared through one summer for blooming the following spring. Small plants to bloom the same year may be raised from cuttings in spring. The three best varieties are Diplacus glutinosis, orange yellow ; D. puniceus crimson, and D. Californicus, nankeen. In tl.e Oamaru Gardens they stand throughout the winters uninjured,' and bloom from now on.

LARGE RHUBARB

Those <]cii roiis of growing largp stalks of rhubarb should procure, when the time comes round, a few roots of Stot'e Monarch. Two stalks which I saw weighed a few days ago turned the 6cales at 81b. These stalks were 24in long and 7iin in circumference. In the same plot are stalks of growth, so where weight is required in rhubarb for exhibition that is the sort to cultivate. The flavour is equal to the ordinary rhubarb, but the colour is green, and on that account not appreciated for the table.

SOMETHING ABOUT LEEKS.

Tn England leeks (Allium porrum) are becoming a very popular vegetable, while a few years ago .tWy were seldom seen. The flavour of the leek is most delicate, and when well grown and properly cooked it inoro resembles asparagus than anything else, and during the wiuter and early spring it will be found a useful vegetable. Now is the time to plant in well-enriched soil, as the more liberal the plants are treated the thioker and longer will be the atalk* Instead of forming bulbs ac the

onion, it makes a rather thick straight stem at the base, and tTiis is blanched by being earthed up in much the same way as for celery. There are various methods of growing leeks, such as planting in trenches like celery, but not so wide or so deep. Sometimes they are planted on, the level ground and the earth drawn up to them. The simplest of all methods is to make holes with a dibber about 6in deep and lft 18in apart, and into these drop the leek plants. In a little time the holes become gradually filled with soil, and, if necessary, the plants may be earthed up a little more. The Lyon and Musselburgh are the best.

MARROWS.

A lot of unnecessary trouble is taken in growing 1 vegetable marrows. Many think that they cannot be grown without heaps of manure put up in a mound. As they are plants which require a deal of moisture they would do better in a manure pit than on a manure heap, where a week or two of drought will probably ruin the plants. More satisfactory results may be obtained by planting marrows on the level as you would a cabbage. If the soil has been well manured they will grow and fruit amazingly, and will continue to bear until cut down by fro3t. A hint to exhibitors may prove useful. Marrows are usually shown in pairs. Each marrow should be of about the 6ame size as ita fellow, should yield under pressure, and be tender enough in the skin to admit the thumb nail readily. Jf yellow and as hard as a board and tough in the skin it is passed.