HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3034, 8 May 1912, Page 14

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Br J. Gebbik. As the planting season is now on, inquiries are being made as to the most suitable plants for certain positions. Many plants are quite different as to shade or 6un, or \v/?t or d'ry soils. With regard to plants grown in shady places, success or failure depends not a little upon the amount or the intensity of the shade, the near proximity of tree roots, and other things. Herbaceous plants are not the best for making a show in dry, sunny borders, but by deep digging and working in some cow manure about 18in below the surfacethe following would probably do well, and are showy plants:—Kniphofias (red-hot poker), which arc handsome plants for the back of a border; perennial sunflowers, showy plants, which delight in & rich soil and give little trouble in growing; GvpsophiJa pamculata. although not a showy plant, is extremely elegant, the tiny white flowers being borne in myriads on such slender stems that they appear as clouds floating in the air; gaillardias, splendid border plants, which produce a succession of bright flowers for months; delphiniums ore glorious summer flowers, being among the finest of perennials, and continue bloom over a long period, and if the spikes are cut close to the ground as the flowers begin to wither, a fresh crop of flower spikes wili soon appear, and 1 a second display of bloom will result. Perennial asters are useful autumn-flowering plants of easy culture, and should not be omitted from the flower garden. Carnations, especialy the tree varieties, which are principally of American origin, bloom for a long time. Oarr.oanula persicasfolia, the peach-leaved campanula, with its large. bell-shaped flowers in blue and white, are grand border plants. Shasta daisies are highly recommended as border plants. The habit is fairly dwarf and not straggling, and the pure white flowers borne upon straight stems are large and handsome. Coreopsis lanoeolata bears a rich profusion of showy golden-yellow blooms, extremely useful and lasting" for cutting. Scabiosa Caucasia, with its pale blue flowers, also the double and single pyrethrums. are indispensable !x>rder flowers. The above, with the addition of a few lilies and gladiolias, would make a border gay for a considerable period, cspr-cialv if a good water supply were available during the hot, dry months of summer.

PLANTS FOR A SHADY BORDER. A dozen good perennials for a shady border would be Aconitum chineuse (monk's hood), bearing handsome spikes of- blue Rowers. Anemone japonica in varieties are beautiful autumn-flowering plants. Aquilcgias are elegant plants, and,the longspurred varieties are very popular. Troliius europ;eus (yellow flowers) and Spiraea astilboides and its varieties are shade and moisture loving plants, which should find a place in every garden. Solomon's seal, doronicum, perennial phlox, pentstemons hele-bore®, Orienial poppies, peonies, and the following varieties of lilies like shade: — Aliuin oandidum, tigrinum, U-etaeeum, and

l>ardalinum. These are but a few of the many plants available. SHOWY CLIMBERS. Two of the showiest climbers for a sunny wall are Wisteria sinensis, bearing racemes of large bluish-lilac flowers, and Tocoma radicans, bearing showy scarlet corymbs of bioom during summer. The most useful of all climbers is the clematis, which flowers freely in sunshine or in shade, and in almost any soil; but deep rich loam and plenty of manure is preferable. For a shady wall tho everlasting peas are 6howy-flowering plants, doing well in the shade. Two varieties of derratis —a white and a purple—which would flower at the same time would make the most lasting display. A WONDERFUL ROSE. Rose-growers will hail with delight the advent of a new rose, which is described in the Australian Journal of Horticulture by Mr A. Moore, of New South Wales. The writer says that in looking through a 1910 catalogue of an English nurseryman he noticed in the rcee-list the bare announcement, "Yellow Frau Karl Druschki," identical in every respect with F.R.D., except colour, which is primrose-yellow. The article goes om to state that Mr Moore drew the attention of a. local nurseryman to tlie rose, and both decided to import it. On arrival one lot was dead, but the other was all right, and the nurseryman has succeeded in propagating some 250 plants. Both gentlemen were anxious about the rose, as there was no word of it in any oi the English papers The plants have flowered, and proved to be in every respect identical with Frau Karl Druschki except in colour, which is primrose-yellow. Tho writer further states that a. visit to the nursery disclosed the most magnificent sight he had ever seen in a rose garden, for the blooms to be seen were simply glorious in every lespect. The colour wa? that of a good Hugo Roller, and the shape of the flower was. if anything, an improvement on Druschki, the centre being fuller and higher, whilst the fioriferousness of the rose was exemplified when I say that three plants, and those not oneyear old, earned no fewer than 43 buds. This rose is considered to be tho finest new rose introduced into Australia for many years. The stock at present is very limited, as it is unlikely any other grower in Australia hits it. Rosarians will be eagerly looking for its introduction into this Dominion. GENERAL. The approach of winter is changing the aspect, of our gardens, fallen leaves, and faded flowers reminding us that desolation will soon reign supreme, with all the gardener's care. But it is not yet entirely bare of flowers. In Oamaru Public Gardens, under the watchful care of the curator (Mr M'Kenzie) many plants are yet in bloom, and on the rock garden, which was only formed about 12 months ago, quite a number of plants are yet in bloom. This rock garden, by the way, is more in accordance with Nature than many of the rock gardens we see in other parte. It is so constructed that there is ample room for the roots of the plants to run, the result . being that nearly all the plants contained in it are thoroughly established. Large colonies of Primula japonica are thriving amazingly, and are now sending up numerous spikes of bloom. This is not their usual season to bloom, but, having been raised from .seeds, some of the*.a are blooming now. Clumps of Irish heath, both white and blue \arieties, are in full bloom, and look charming. Ooronilla emerus, a shrub with yellow flowers, and nearly always in bloom, is very conspicuous. Ornamental grasses, ferns, flax, celmisias. and other native and exotic plants find a congenial home in this rook garden. Dahlias, antirrhinums, and several other flowering plants rejoice the eye of the visitor. The arbutus in full berry is very conspicuous, while the autumnal tinte remaining on many of the trees are very attractive. Tho well-kept lawns, smooth as velvet, with the neatness and good order which prevails in all parts of the grounds, make: tho Oamaru Public Gardens are attractive resort.