HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3149, 22 July 1914, Page 14

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gebbie.

APPLE TREES WITH ORNAMENTAL

FLOWERS

The planting of apple trees in our shrubberies lor the sake of their bloom is unknown in this Dominion; but in England it is by no means uncommon. There are no trees more beautiful when in flower than some varieties of apples, and when their lovely petals fall they arc succeeded by handsome fruits. A writer in the Garden recommends the following kinds to be planted for their great beauty of flower: Lord Sufficld, a deep pink, one of the most striking; King of the Pippins, pale pink; Cellini, salmon; Beauty of Kent, pink and white; Warner’s King, rosy pink; and Worcester Permain, pale salmon, quite distinct. PREPARING A HOTBED. Those who are anxious to obtain early tomato, cucumber, and other plants should shortly set about the making up of a hotbed in which to raise the young plants. The chief things in the making of a hotbed is the proper preparation of the manure. The quantiy required depends on.the size of the hotbed, and this, again, on the size of the frame to be ■ placed upon it. For a twolight frame, measuring, say, 6ft by Bft, about four good loads of manure would be required, and this should be fairly fresh from the stable The time usually occupied in preparing the manure and making it into a bed is from seven to 10 days. After the manure has lain in a heap for three or four days, it should be turned completely over and every lump or patch which adheres together should be divided. When turning' it over give a good watering. A second turning over is generally necessary in three or four more days, and then the heap should be ready for the making of the hotbed. The bed should be at least Ift wider on each side than the frame. The height of the bed should be at least 3ft—4ft would be much better,—and the back of the bed should be 6m higher than the front. In making the bed the manure must be evenly placed in layers, well shaken and beaten down with the back of the fork. After the frame has been placed in position a day or t>vo a hot steam will arise. To permit of this escaping the sash of "the frame must be tilted a little, and as soon as any danger from over-heating be past, the manure inside the frame should bo covered with a few inches of light, rich soil In a ~f l e wl weeks’ time the heat of the hotbed will decline; but^this must be prevented by applying a lining of hot, fermenting material laid on all round the bed to the whole of its height; and these linings may bo about 18in in thickness.

VARIEGATION IN PLANTS. Variegated plants are, as a general rule less robust than the green-leaved ones. This can be seen in some of our summer beddingout plants. The silver and gold leaved specimens are less robust than those that are quite green. There is scarcely any chlorophyl m the variegated or lighter portion of the leaf, and if the whole plant becomes by some means quite white it would soon die. The white or the golden edges ol leaves are maintained in good health simply because of the chlorophyl contained in the green portion of each leaf; but ail such loaves are rarely as large and robust as the green ones of the same kind of plant. Chlorophyl is the green colouring matter formed by very small, grains lying oosely m the cells of the tissue of the loaves and stems of the plants. When wo see siekly-looking plants; the loaves of which should m a normal condition be of a dense green, we should at once know that the plant is unhealthy, and lacks chlorophyl. Nitrate of soda and iron given in judicious quantities will, if a plant is fairly well rooted, improve the colour of its leaves. . 'MAGNOLIA STELLATA. This magnolia is a pretty flowering shrub. It is the first of the magnolia to” flower. Unlike the evergreen Magnolia grandiflora’ this species is deciduous, and the flowers are borne during the months of September and October, before the leaves are fully developed. The starry flowers are pure whito and sweetly scented. All magnolias show a dislike for certain soils,. A good loamy soil of free and open texture is probably the best; but, above all, it is important to plant in as warm a position as possible. Magnolias, again, are very impatient of removal, a characteristic that seems peculiar to the whole magnolia family. The reason for this is found in the fine fibrous roots that are so easily damaged. Transplanting should be carried out in the spring, just at the time when growth commences. CROPPING YOUNG TREES I .

It is unwise to crop a tree in the first season after planting. One must acknowledge, of course, that the temptation to do it is strong; but it results in stunted growth, and consequent failure to build up a tree that will bear nrofitably for many

years. Amateurs should harden their hearts, and remove any fruits that are seen. A fruit tree cannot properly establish itself and develop crops at tho same tunc, and the former is the particular object for the first season or two. Afterwards the fruit will come. JASMINUM NUDIFLORA.

This winter-flowering jasmine is a native of China, and a most useful subject for growing on walls or trellises. Where the aspect is warm and sheltered it is one of the best and showiest of winter-blooming plants. Although the plant does so well in the wanner aspects, it may be utilised quite successfully in cooler or shady situations. The leafless shoots are now wreathed with dainty yellow blossoms, and when the plant is in full bloom it is indeed a beautiful object. If any pruning is required, it should be done when the flowering season is just past. The pruning is done by cutting away tho shoots or growths that have blossomed, leaving the young green growths to form flowering shoots for next season’s display. Weak and slender shoots are better cut out, thus concentrating all the energies of the roots on the best shoots that are retained. PRUNING ROMNEYA COULTER!.

It is immaterial**whether this shrub is cut down to the ground or not. If the branches are quite healthy, there is no reason for it being so treated. As a rule the flowers are rather smaller from plants which have been left unharmed than from those which have been pruned hard; but a great many more flowers are produced on the unpruned specimen. Any weak side shoots may bo shortened, and the point of shoots which may be dead. A surface dressing of well-decayed manure may be given with advantage. PRUNING DEMONSTRATION. The demonstration of fruit tree pruning and spraying organised by the Dunedin Horticultural Society attracted considerably over 100 people to Mr J. T. Wilson’s orchard at Anderson Bay on Saturday afternoon. Tho attendance, which included several evidently interested ladies, comprised spectators from the city and suburbs, and from as far as Port Chalmers.

Mr A. Youngson, a well-known gardener, in the course of a practical and oral demonstration, gave instruction in the pruning treatment of widely differing trees—young and old apple and pear trees and several varieties of currants and gooseberries. It may safely be said that many amateur gardeners (to whom, of course, the demonstration applied) gained valuable firsthand knowledge concerning the hitherto somewhat mystifying terms of “leaders,” “laterals,” “leaf buds,” and “fruiting spurs.” The chief objects of pruning—the establishment of a proper framework and the curtailing of unduly vigorous shoots to assist the formation of .fruit spurs —were explained. Mr Youngson dealt with the different methods of treating trees according to their particular habits, and how to prune and train at the same time. He first dealt with young trees, showing how to prune so as to lay a foundation, as it wore, for a good shaped tree in after years. Ho also dealt with trees of an upright habit of growth and those of a spreading habit, also trees that were free-breakers and trees that were shy-breakers; also how to treat strong growers and how to treat weak growers. So eager were some of the spectators that they asked to see a branch done of nearly every tree in the place, comprising trees newly imported from Great Britain to old trees 20ft high. Small fruits were not neglected, red and black currants and gooseberries being dealt with.

The demonstrator was piled with questions relating to the intricacies of fruit tree pruning, to which a response was readily and clearly given. Much interest was also taken in the spraying of apple trees with emulsified red oil, a concentrated preparation for the destruction of scale and other orchard pests, which was used in the proportion for winter spraying of one pint to a gallon. Before the proceedings terminated, Mr R. Nichol, on behalf of tho Horticultural Society, proposed votes of thanks to Mr Youngson for tho instructive demonstration given, and to Mr Wilson for his kindness in placing his garden at the disposal of the society and in providing afternoon tea. It was intimated, in response to requests, that a rose pruning demonstration would bo arranged for at Mr Nichol’s orchard next month.