HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2809, 15 January 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gebbie.

AN AMATEUR'S GARDEN. A few days ago I had the pleasure of inspecting- the garden of Mr J. M'Laren, who is an enthusiastic amateur gardener. Passing along the street I was attracted by a large specimen of Lilium auratum, the blooms of which were just opening. One bulb was planted about three years ago, and now there are six stems from 6ffc to 7't high, bearing from 24- to 43 flowers each, the total number of blooms being 180, ajud the average width of each bloom being 12in. "We often see this lily with flattened stems and one stem with 100 or more blooms, which may be termed a monstrosity, but this specimen, is normal in its growth, and a better specimen it is hard to conceive. A beautiful bed of single and double begonias, a mass of bloom, and edged w ; th blue lobelia, is very attractive. The roses, although past their best, are yet putting forth a few fairly good blooms. Among these I noticed Lady Ashtown, a very distinct variety of the hybr'd tea section re cently- introduced. The blooms are large and full, with a high, pointed centre, coloured with a beautiful shade of roso. Mrs David M'Kee, a beautiful creamy white, of large size and good form,_ pears to be one of the finest. Anna Olivier, although an old rose, is yet one of the best fca rosfee Tie blooms are rosy flesh and buff, large an.d full, beautiful in bud, and a good exhibition variety* Frau Karl Druschki, the best white rose grown, The blooms are snow white, and perfect in form, the plant being a good grower. Killarney, with buds long and pointed, flesh_ colour, with a shade of pink, is a useful, free-flower-ing variety. Lady Roberts is a sport from Anna Olivier, very distinct and beautiful. The bud's are rich salmon red, the open flowers orange salmon, passing to apricot. Mildred Gfrant, Mrs Mawley, and Caroline Testout among the light-coloured' varieties were conspicuous for size, form, substance, and colour. Several other well-known varieties are in the borders, but their blooms are past for the present. From this collection were culled the blooms which carried off the 12-guinea oup at the North Otago Horticultural Society's show. Some nice healthy dwarf fruit trees and vegetables occupy the remainder of the available space which is not taken up with flowers. The whole area taken up by this model garden and six-roomed house with outbuildings is under quarter of an acre, and shows whafi can be grown on a small area by one who has a love for gardening. OLIVES. The oiive (Olea Europse} is a low-branch-ing evergreen tree, rising from 20ft to 30ft, with stiff> narrow, bluish-green leaves. Tie flowers are small, and produced in bunches from wood of the former year, and in this district appear during December, January, and February. Thp fruit fe what is called a drupe, of an oblong form, and hard, thiclc flesh, of a yellowish-green colour, but tuwiing black when ripe. A large bush about 12ft high is 'now to be seen in full bloom in the garden of Mr W- H - s - Roberts, Oamaru, who has had it growing for many years; It bears annually heavy crops, but the fc'frds have a particular liking for the fruit, »nd clear them- off before thay ripen. _ I have not yet seen or heard of the olive being cultivated in the Dominion as a commercial product. The salad ol of_ th© shops is prepared from the rips olives, and is employed both in food and medicine, and in Spain, Italy and some of these olive countries it takes the placo of butter. Unripe olives are used also as a piokle, and are said to promote digestion and create an appetite. The tree ie supposed to be a native of Greece, but is now naturalisod in the South of France, Italy, and^ Spain, where iti has been extensively cultivated for an unknown length of time for the oil expressed from its rruij;. Tie tree is said to attain an incredible age Some trees are in existence now which are supposed to be those mentioned by Pliny in the first century. ROSES AND OTHER, FLOWERS AT ELDERSLIE. The idea that roses will only thrive in heavy loam is erroneous. In the roso

( beds at Elderslie there has been a magn: ficent show of bloom. I was 100 late t' see them at their best, but at Oio timi of my visit there was a fair quantity o bloom. It is surprising to see the vigorou growth of these plants, as the soil is i light, loam resting on a strata of gravel i few feet below tho surface. No doubt th( heavy application of manure and water ii responsible for their healthy appearance "Hie white Maman coohet, a magnificen rose, grows her© to perfection. Last sea ■ son it was the best all-round rose in the collection, and again this season it take: first place. Mildred Grant, Killarney, a.-v Mrs Mawley are also very fine. Of annual: sweet peas are the most popular, and iust^ so — their delightful perfume, delicate colours, and suitability for decorative worl commend them to all. Here they arc grown in quantity, and may be seen in per fection, all the newest and best varieties being represented in shades of white, blue, crimson, and yellow. Two other note worthy annuals which attracted my atten tion by their freedom of bloom were Memesia Suttoni and Schizanthus Nivens. Bott are highly recominendable plants for thf border. They are very free-flowering. TllO firsfc-T»a.med h&S flowers of rick a.nd varied colours, and grows about lft high The schizanthus grows from lft to 2ft high, and throws up flower stalks in profusion, which can be most advantageously used for , bouquets. The flowers are pure white, and as the plant is of a symmetrical habit of growth, it will make a handsome pot plant. Another pretty and uncommon annual was a dwarf nasturtium with variegated foliage and dark crimson flowers, a good contrast, and would make an effective bed. The borders and flower beds are gay with bloom, but a few of the late planted things are beginning to suffer for the want of rain. A few genial showers now would have a beneficial effect, and cheer the heart of the indefatigable gardener in charge, although they might have a contrary effect upon the neighbouring farmer, whose crops are ready for harvesting.