HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2840, 19 August 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By. J. Gkbbie.

PRUNING ORNAMENTAL TREES AND

to the sort of beauty or effect expected fiom them. Those cultivated for their flowers should be pruned upon th& same* general principle as fruit traes — that is, all wood should be removed that has a tendenc3 to exhaust or weaken the tree or plant by an unnecessary profusion of leaves and branches. Those which are grown on account of th«ir foliage should be less pruned, merely taking away all weak shoots or part of those that are stronger where they appear too crowded. Those cultivated for the beauty of their natural shape or general outline require little or no pruning, except the- removal of any branches which may have been accidentally injured. To have fine trees and ehrubs pruning must be practised, if foi no other purpose than, the removal of dead and mispk/ced spray. The object to be attained is the removal of all ill-placed branches, either where they cross each other to disfigure the tree or where they come too close to the walks or flower beds. It is often necessary to thin out the heads of trees and shrubs for the free admission of air amongst them, as well ac to keep them within their prescribed bounds. Rosas and some others require an annual pruning, and if well cut back will break much stronger and flower better, besides being kept within reasonable bounds they will have a healthy and young appearance.

POTTING PLANTS.

Amateurs frequently experience considerable difficulty in getting their window and orher pot plants to thrive. This may be the result of bad potting, and, if so, no amount of cleaning leaves, top-dressing with fresh soil, or careful watering will do good while the essential to plant-culture in pots — i.e., proper potting — i 6 wanting. Every good gaTden should have special spot for potting soils, manures, and composts, so that when any special potting work is to be done the operator has the material at hand. 1 have frequently seen amateurs who wished to pot a specimen having to hunt for and prepare the soil. The principal ingredients in a mixture to suit the potting of all ordinary garden plants is composed of loam, rotten manure, leafmould, and sharp sand. This will suit nine out of ten orditia.ry pot plants. Loam is obtained by cutting sods and stacking them turf side down, one upon the other, till a heap is made. After a few months this turf has rotted 1 down and becomes turfy loam. All the 'green grass has decayed, but the more wiry roots remain, and form what, is known as fibre. For potting young stuff this loam should be nearly a year old, but for the larger plants fre6iher and more fibrous stuff is better. Leaf-mould is simply rotten leaves, and for small pots should be about a year old. Fresher and coarser leaves can be used for larger pots. Composts are formed on the principle that different plants require different kinds of earthy or mineral substances. Heaths and such hair-rooted plants are commonly grown in peat-earth mixed with sand. Pelargoniums thrive best in loam and 1 sand, and to find out the likes and dislikes of plants in this respect ia of the higjhest importance in gardening. The soil being in readiness it is important that. the pots to be used are thoroughly clean. Pots which have been in use should be thoroughly scrubbed out and placed to dry before being used. If the pots a.re new they should 1 be soaked before use. They absorb a good deal of moisture when water is applied' to the roots, and consequently the latter do not derive all the benefit they should 1 do from it. Drainage is the next important operation, and this may consist of pieces of broken flower-pot arranged in this way. Place a flat piece of crock over the hole at the botiom of the pot so as to cover it effectuaJlv. Above this place smaller pieces to & depth of about half an inch. As a rule and general guide, the depth of drainage in a 6in pot should be three-quarters of an inch. This will answer well for all ordinary plants. Over this drainage place a little of the rough, turfy soil from which the small particles have been shaken out so as to prevent the drainage being choked. Then upon this turfy soil place a certain amount of the prepared compost : the quantity will depend on the size of the plant and pot. Taking a 6in pot as an example, the sun-face roots of the plant must be covered with half an inch of soil, and above the surface of the soil there must be a space of rather more than, halt an inch left to hold water wher that is given. Be careful never to give large shifts to your pot plants and' see that the soil is well sanded and the drainage perfect, can be more injurious than a stoppage of the drainage, and to secure immunity from injury in. this respect each plant should be examined at the commencement of the winter, and if the drainage is choked put in some cl^an fresh crocks or broken charcoal so that the water can readily escape.

SHRUBS,

An operation ioo often neg-lccled ie that of prunint, hardy, ornamental ti-ees and shrubs, both deciduous and evcigrcen. Now that she eeriest of the winter is past is a Good time to perform the operation. afe frJf mgirSh have been very ornamental. All trees and shrub 3, whether for utility or >rnament, should have an annual pruning or arrangement of their branches, and this pruning should be performed, more or lese, according (