HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2925, 6 April 1910, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gebbib.

BLIGtTT-PROOF APPLES. Two of the Unist insidious p«sts that tho fruitgrowei has tc contend with is tho American blight and scale. Ta& last-named - easily cvercoma by spraying with any

of the usual solutions generally employed for the purpose, but the American blight—which is easily recognised by the woolly substance in which the colonies of insects are embedded—4s not so easily exterminated; in fact, spraying has little, if any, effect upon it. Some varieties of trees are more liable to the woolly aphis than others, and numerous varieties are being introduced into commerce which are absolutely blightproof (aphis-proof), and many of these should soon End their way into general cultivation. Looking through a collection of these aphis-resisting varieties in the orchard at Otanomomo a few days ago, I was struck with the clean, healthy look of these trees as compared with the older sorts, and, thinking that it might be of interest to fruitgrowers in general, I give a few notes on the best varieties.

Springdale: A gcod grower, with clean, hard wood; fruit medium size, very late, hanging well on the tree; the quality is not first-rate; valuable on account of being a good cropper and late keeper; by some growers it is said to be the finest of all long keepers. Christmas Permain: An enormous cropper, fruit small; a good dessert apple.. Mayflower: A first-class apple, and long keeper; said to be nearly equal to Cox's orange in flavour. Charlton pippin: A good cropper; in season now. Sharp's nonsuch is a regular cropper every year; the fruit is from, medium, to large, of good quality, and is in season now; first class. Sharp's 'ate red: A handsome■' dessert apple; very late. To test its blightresisting nature, a few grafts inserted in a hawthorndean infested with aphis is absolutely clean, leaf and branch. Lady Hopetoun: Of'Australian origin; is a handsome apple tree; a good grower; fruit medium to large, brisk ao:*d flavoured. Pomme de' Neige: A good grower and cropper; fruit small, rich crimson, skin, flesh snow-white- and very svveetj in use now. Northern Spy: Us6d extensively as stocks f6r grafting. The fruit is large, and excellent for cooking or dessert. The tree In its young jtate is a poor cropper, but Dears fairly well when it gets older. The Black Northern Spy, which is some-, what similar, is a good cropper, and bears well in a young state. Yarra Bank: A heavy cropper; the fruit large and well coloured, and one that is good jr marketing; a late dessert apple. Taylor Spy • Equal to Northern Spy in quality, but bearing earlier and more regularly. Magg's Seedling: a Heavy cropper and long keeper, and, being blight-proof, is eairl to be a good substitute for French crab. Irish peach: A well-known early variety, and the best flavoured of all the early varieties. A selection from these blight-proof varieties would keep up a supply of fruit all the year round.

Nurserymen as a rule graft all thenapple trees on blight-proof roots, and adyertise this fact in ;heir catalogues. Being on blight-proof roots does not ensure the tree against blight; purchasers should remember this, and not run away 'with the idea that the trees- will be blight-proof by being on blight-proof stocks. If some of our scientists could oniy give .us, a Cox's range pippin, ribston pippin. and a few of our standard varieties- absolutely blightproof, what a boon it would be "to the fruitgrower. We trust that varieties equal in quality to these two well-known standard varieties, bat with ncn-blighting propsnsities, will soon make their appearance. FLOWER BEDS IN AUTUMN The floral beauty of most gardens is now almost past, .but in a few instances their glory has not yet departed. During the past week or two I have visited several gardens, both public and private, where the bedding-out system is practised, ' and the best show of all was in a private garden attached to a gentleman's residence in the country. Several' beds of considerable size on the lawn were gay with an assemblage of bedding plants. These beds are all filled alike, according to the wish of the owner, who desires to have as long a season of floral beauty as possible. The centre of each bed is filled with roses and gladioli of several species, some of which are coming into bloom now. The remainder of the beds is planted with hyacinths, narcissi, and tulips, which create a glorious show during spring. When the bloom of these decay the soil between i-s forked over and bedding plants put in, giant white comet aster being used as a groundwork. Other asters of various sorts, giant tenweek stocks, East Lothian and Brompton stocks are planted amongst them, with a dot plant of scarlet salvia. When at their best these beds are solid with bloom, and are the admiration of numerous visitors. The show of stocks at Easter was grand. The ten-weeks were past, but East Lothians and intermediates were at their best. Between 3000 and 4000 plants were put out in the beds, and, as usual, there is a number of singles, but the majority of these were pulled out as the bloom appeared. Many (v ar de nors advocate the filling of flower beds with one class of plants only. A bed filled with asters alone will not come into bloom before Februarv. and the show will be of short duration. "The same result will follow planting with ten-week stocks aixl others. I have seen a few gardens during the season where the beds planted with only one variety or kind of plant have been unattractive for four months out of tae nine months that they night have been a pleasure to look upon. It may be all very well in the Old Co.vi.ntrv, in large establishments and where plenty of labour if available, to grow sufticient plants iii

pots to replace those going out of bloom; but I think that the amateur will find greater pleasure in his or her garden by filling the flower beds with such material as will give the longest season of bloom. LIGHT AND VENTILATION. To keep room plants in a healthy condition light and ventilation are two matters of much importance. Frequently room plants are placed a long way from the light of the window in a dark- corner, and under these circumstances they must suffer. I seldom pay a visit but what a few plants are brought from some dark corner for my inspection, and I am asked to give the reason for their unhealthy look. In most cases it is the absence of light which causes the plants to become sickly. Removal to a light and airy situation from time to time will help them to recuperate. Even in the coldest weather the' windows should be opened, especially in rooms where gas is used. Unless this is done some of the choice ferns and other plants will suffer. Never allow your plants to stand in saucers of water during the cold months of winter, as some growers do. This causes the roots to rot and the plants to fail.

A specimen of the Chilian pumpkin was exhibited at Oamaru last week. The monster weighs 961 b, and measures sft bin in circumference.