HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2812, 5 February 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By. J. Gebbie. GLOXINIA TUBIFLORA. This is a greenhouse plant far different from the ordinary gloxinia, being of erect and branching habit. The flower stems rise to a height of two feet each, bearing several pure white blossoms about four inches in length, l and of a peculiar spicy fragrance. Although a native of South Brazil, it is easily grown in the greenhouse, where its fragrant blossoms are much appreciated. Forty years ago it was grown in Dunedin, and exhibited at some of the flower shows. After a few years it disappeared from the show tables, and I had not seen it for many years until last season, when a gentleman obtained it from America with other plants. STAPELIA BUFONIA. Stapeu'as are a genus of succulent plants from the Cape and are something like the cactus in habit and requirements. They require to be grown in a composition of sandy loam and old brick in well-drained pots. They should at all times be sparingly watered, and in winter time they require hardly any. They have four-angied fleshy etems and star-shaped flowers of curious appearance. There are a great many species, all of which are worth growing. Stapelia. grandiflora i-s particularly interesting, having dark purple flowers about Ift across. S. bufonia. which is blooming now, has blooms about 6<n across, jellow and black, and has the singular pioperty of smelling like carrion, which smell attracts flies, so that the blooms often become eaten by maggot*. They are only worth growing as curiosities, their flowers being almost artificial like. DELPHINIUM SULPHUREfM. Delphiniums (larkspurs) are an extensive genus of hardy plants, chiefly perennials, but containing some annuals and biennials, mostly plants of considerable beauty end favourites in gardens._ The ordinary perennial delphiniums, with majestic stems three to eight feet high, clothed with light green leaves and surmounted by long spikes from two to three feet in length, with blue flowers in many shades, are first-class plants for garden decoration. Of other species there are quite a number not yet introduced into our gardens. The beautiful delphinium sulphureum, or, as it is often called 1 , D. Zalil, is just now flowering beautifully in a country garden. It is the first time 1 have seen a specimen of it ; the seed being difficult to germinate accounts for its not being in general cultivation. This particular plant is 6ft high, and consists of one main stem with a> number of laterals. These are clothed with sulphur yellow flowers resembling the finest orchid. The individual flowers are somewhat larger than a shilling, and the plant when in bloom is a grand object. For 16 years the owner had been trying to obtain a plant, and with that object in view purchased on various occasions nackets of seed costing Is to 16 6d each, but all failed to germinate. Some three years ago a penny packet was sown, with the result that two plants made their appearance, one of which damped off, and the other is the beautiful specimen now in flower. This larkspur is a native of Syria, and requires no special treatment beyond that given to other members of the family. A deeply-dug soil, with a good supply of well-rotted manure added, wjll grow it to perfection. VERBENAS. Of summer and autumn flowering plants for ci eating a. show in the flower garden few can ri\al the verbena. In 1827 verbena ehamiednfolia, or better known as V. Melindris. was disro\ered in the vicinity of Busno, Aires, and became one ot the first favourites, but like most of the other specie* it has been lost amid the ivore beautiful sorts tint haie sprang up under the florist's care. It was of compact habit and an abundant bloomer, arxl these habits June been imparted to the florists' seedlings, the size, fragrance, and more erect habit having been derived from verbena tenerioidos. a species introduced from Monte Video in 1837. These two were the fii^t verbenas grown in Otago. and were followed by Scarlet Defiance and Purple King. These- old varieties have now ■dropped out of cultivation, having been superseded by a race of more beautiful plants. In a good strain of verbenas the pla.nte are vigorous in growth, and shortjoi'ited and co\erorl with blo<~m. Tl c irusses arc lar's-e. and the range of colours is great, including white, scarlet, blucstnpcd. pink, lavender, and others — in fact, an endless number of different colours and combinations. In the early days of verbena culture, when a good distinct variety mado ><>> appearance, it was kept under glass during winter and propagated from cuttingg during spring, and a troublesome matter ii was to keep them free from mildew and other t ests. Now there is no more need for this tioublo, as they can bo raisec 1 so easily from seed. Sown in heat in August, and the seedlings hardened off aft< r having been pricked into boxes and thfn transplanted into the beds and borders dm ing Nb\ 3«iber, a biilhant display will be obtained during the summer and autumn months i.nfil destroyed by fro^t. A fow days since I was in a garden whoro verbena? n-oie among- the most attractive plants. The <lry hot weather just su.ls them. In oidinarv uarc lo ns not too rich they bloom to no, fcctici. but v oveidoso.l with manure ai J the acison happen to he a voi one. lu\unar»t growth a.yj ui."c>-ior blooms will result.