HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3097, 23 July 1913, Page 12

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gebbib.

THE CORAL TREE. The plant commonly known as coral tree (Erythrina cristagalli) is a very showy plant, and very- ncar'y hardy—that is to say. it will live out of doors if a little trouble is taken with it—namely, to cut the flow or sfceins down after flowering, and protect the crown during winter with some leaves or litter to ward off the frost. When grown in pots and brought along steadily ihe stems on medium-sized plants attain a height of about 30in and in this state it is a beautiful greenhouse plant. The flowers appear in terminal racemes, and arc bright red and very singular in shape. The stems are herbaceous, leafy all the way up, and more or less covered with small prickles Pot plants arc kept driest in the greenhouse during winter. In spring they are started in a hotbed, and as soon as growth commences requires fresh potting. Shake the old soil ail away and pot. them in fresh compost, in pots large enough to allow of their flowering without shifting. After flowering is over the foliage soon begins to lose colour and drops as tills occurs. Gradually diminish the water supply and keep the plants in a light, cool position. They may be placed outside with advantage while going to rest. and allowed almost to take care of themselves. In sheltered gardens this p'ant is sometimes planted out. and when established it flowers abundantly in hot. dry seasons. In winter a good thickness of dry leaves should be placed over the root stock, or the roots mav bo taken up and stored in the greenhouse until planting-out time arrives. MANURING FRUIT TREES. Fruit trees take a certain amount of plant food from the soil, which, if not returned to it in some form or another, will ultimately result in failure or inferior crops. Much, however, depends on the natural fertility of the land, as sonic formations are rich in all the constituents of plants in an available condition. while others are not. so that the number of years the soil will maintain a hca'thv growth wii' depend on its composition. The trees themselves will form the best guide as to requirements. Weak, wirv growth may be taken as an indication of a want of nitrogen ; small fruit and soft wood, a lack of phosphorus, and had colour in flowers and fruit and .a d'sincb’nat ion to branch as a deficiency in potash. Of course, ns to the conditions of growth, flowers and fruits are considerably influenced by seasons. moist ones favouring sappy wood and hot. drv ones wood of a small wirv character. Many kinds of manure are available to select from to supply any deficiency in the soil. The best general manure for fruit crops i= undoubtedly the drainings from the eow byre and farmyard manure heap. I: can be employed to assst growth in the summer months and to enrich the soil in winter. Roth for outdoor and indoor work the dormant period is the proper rime to provide n sufficient supply of plant food to meet ihe demands of crops grown upon it for 12 months at the IcaM Fertilisers can he employed w>:h safety in a much more concentrated form during the winter months than can be done when the trees are in active growth. When farmvan! manure is nor available, then resort must ho had io others, and in these a selection should Vie made of the most economical. nil things considered. The most economical might or might not be the cheapest. Basic slag is the cheapest form

in which phosphorus is obtainable, and is the one to use on heavy soils rich in humus. But on sandy formations deficient in organic matter, it would be simply time and money thrown away to apply it. Kainir is the cheapest source of potash; but the amount of common salt it contains renders it objectionable at certain seasons. If applied in autumn or early winter, when active growth in the trees ceases, there is time for the rains during the dormant period to carry off the obnoxious ingredients. At any other time only a limited quantity— to the square yard—should be employed. Instead of using kainit to supply potash to growing crops, sulphate of potash would be a more desirable manure. One ounce and a-half of this to a square yard would be sufficient. When a nitrogenous manure is necessary, and to have lasting properties, as well as to give immediate results, nitrate of soda mixed with sulphate of ammonia in equal parts and applied at the rate of to tne square yard, is the one to use, while the roots arc active. For winter and early spring sulphate of ammonia alone is best, and can then be used up to a strength of 3oz per square yard. DUTCH bulbs.

Holland, where bulbs are more successfully grown than in any other country, is said to be without any original soil, for light, sandy, alluvial soil is found more than 40ft in depth, and at the bottom of this may bo found whole trees of immense size, which on exposure to the air sometimes fall to pieces. It is in this light, sandy soil that the bulbs flourish exceedingly well. The top bin are always well manured with good, well-rotted cow manure, the bulbs being planted in autumn, covered with straw all the winter, and when the straw is removed watered all over with liquid manure formed of cow diing and water. This settles the surface down, and the wind docs not disturb it ; whereas, if the surface were not run together, but left loose, as it is under the straw, the wind would blow it away in clouds of dust. f This may help us in our cultivation of hyacinths.

BULB FARMS. Bulb-farming is one of the most important industries of Holland, and for centuries has -been noted for the growing of hyacinths, tulips, and other bu’bous plants. S.omo of these farms are over 500 acres in extent. One grower notifies his clients that he has this season 55 "acres under hyacinths, 47 acres under gladioli, also tulips, anemones, and others in large blocks. For a long time Holland has had the lead in bulb-growing; but now. England and the colonics are making rapid strides in bulb-culture, and it has been proved that as good, sound bulbs can be grown in the Dominion as in Holland, so that ere long we may become exporters instead of importers, as at present.