HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3197, 23 June 1915, Page 8

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J„ Gebbie.

Now that ground is being turned up to the action of the frost and rain to prepare it for future cropping, a word or two to the amateur about manuring his land may bo valuable. There is no manure so good as stable manure if it be fairly fresh and not burnt and dried out. It should be rotted, and especially so when used for root crops or peas or beans; for cabbages and other members of that family, if it is not so ■well decayed it docs not matter so much. Horse manure is considered valuable for vegetables partly on account of its"heating and warming the soil, and loosening it up or putting it in good mechanical condition. Although horse manure is so valuable it should not be used too continuously or to the exclusion of other fertilisers. Bonedust is an excellent manure, and when those two are properly used together, the finest crops of most kinds of vegetables may be grown on the same soil for many years. Wo are sometimes .asked by the amateur what kind of manure is best for this crop and for that, and it is next to impossible to reply intelligently, not knowing what plant foot happens to he in the soil.

There are three forms of necessary plant foods —nitrogen, phosphoric acid, and potash, but in different proportions. These three ingredients arc what the plants extract from the soil. Different crops use the three above-mentioned plant foods or chemicals in greatly varied quantities. Each season quantifies of existing foods in the soii are rumnv-ofl in f-bo form of flnwnvSj seeds, etc. If these were not removed from the soil, but left to rot and bo turned into the ground again, the soil would remain equally fertile. The soil receives from tho air some little fertilising pronerty. Nitrogen promotes growth of stems and foliage. Potash finishes the filling out of tho foliage, fruit, etc., and hardens die stems or stalks. Phosphoric acid—probably the most important of the three—assists in the maturing of the crop and the sotting of fruit or flowers in greater quantity. MYOSOTIDIUM NOBILE. This is one of the finest herbaceous plants grown. It is a native of tho Chatham Islands, and commonly known as tho Chatham Island lily or forget-me-not. Apart from its blossoms, it is worth growing for its beautiful foliage, which is glossy-green. A strong specimen will produce leaves nearly 2ft long by ]Bin wide. It throws ur> dense, branching flower heads often Bin are about half an inch across. Tho colour of tho flowers is usually of a uniform blue, hut sometimes they aro deep blue in the centre, fading to white at the edge. There Is also a pure white variety. In its native haunts it grows on tho seabeach just above high water mark, and close enough to receive much wind-swept spray. Although it has been in cultivation for over 60 years, it is yet comparatively rare in our gardens.

though common in Cornish and other English gardens. WINTER FLOWERING PLANTS. No garden, however small, need bo destitute of flowers all the winter months. With the first severe frost the summer beauties wither and die; but many plants defy the weather, and give us a few flowers during the dull, cold days of winter. One of the first I would mention is the winter-flowering jasmine, which will grow in almost any situation and in almost any soil. .From the leafless stems the beautiful yellow blossoms are produced in profusion from now on, forming a patch of colour which must be seen to ho fully appreciated. The cut sprays last well in water, thus affording an extra pleasure for the home. Crataegus pyracantha, trained to a wall, makes a splendid show. The brilliant berries with its background of dull green leaves afford a mass of dazzling brightness upon the darkest of days. The Cydonia. (better known as Pyrus japonica) begins to flower about midwinter if in a sunny situation and in favourable soil. Its crimson blossoms can be utilised for indoor decorations. Garrya elliptica is one of the most beautiful hardy shrubs in the winter garden. The greenishyellow catkins arc very attractive, and may bo used for indoor decoration. A few other flowering shrubs also brave the elements of winter, and in plants of humbler growth wo have the Christmas rose (Helloborus niger), which is a welcome treasure in midwinter. Violets in sunny borders are now producing a few blooms. Those and primroses witli a little protection can be coaxed into bloom in midwinter. With the protection of glass Iris stylosa is flowering now, and in some sunny situations in the open a few flowers are now showing. Ihe flowers are very sweet scented. These aro followed by the winter aconite, Glory the Snow, and snowdrops, which flower even when snow is on the ground. With the advent of spring wo have the crocus, Aiabis aubretia, forget-me-not, and primroses, with numerous others to follow, so that tne garden need not bo without flowers from January to December.

GREENHOUSE AND FRAME PLANTS

The floral beauty of the garden is not confined to indoor plants, and a few hints to the owner of the two structures mentioned might not be out of place. During the winter months the plants should receive careful attention as regards watering and the giving of plenty of air when the weather is mild. All dead and decaying foliage should bo removed. No green moss must be allowed to cover the surface of the soil in the pots, but where moss has already accumulated, the best way to remove it i? by using a pointed stick with which the top tbin layer of soil must bo removed with the moss itself. Do not put on top-diessmg soil at this season, as it would not servo any useful purpose. Leave top-dressing and repotting' until spring. Rearranging the plants on the stages will bo of some benefit, as some specimens will bo brought to the lio-ht more'’ fullv. All flower pots must bo kept clean. A* pot well washed and free from all green, slimy substance, so often spen, is not an eyesore, hut a dirty pot is. The leaves of many plants, such as palms, aspidistrias. and some ethers, are greatly benefited bv sponging. This wd keep them free from dust and more healthy. Bulbs "rowing in pots require some stimulating food when they show the flower stem ; this wdl strengthen the stem, and finer flowers ■will result. The best position for the growing of bulbs in the greenhouse is on a shelf near the roof glass at first. Here a sturdy growth of stems, leaves, and flowers will ho encouraged; then the plants will be all the more fit to bo placed on a lower stage, where the flowering should take place. POULTRY MANURE. A correspondent asks if poultry manure is good for roses, and how to apply it. This is a valuable but powerful fertiliser, and must he applied cautiously. About 11b to 21b per square yard is a. safe quantity to use. Fresh hen manure contains about 181 b to 251 b of nitrogen, 121 b to 241 b of phosphate, and 61b to 121 b potash per ton. When allowed to dry tn the air its value is increased twofold. If kept out of the rain and stored in barrels it will bo found a valuable fertiliser. We advise using it mainly as a liquid manure, dissolved in water with some cow manure, and apply when growth is active.

N.Z. APPLES IB ENGLAND. The Hon. T. Mackenzie, High Commissioner, in forwarding a photograph of the dislplay of Now Zealand apnles at tho tr r t;„„u i recent!" held at Westminster, writes: “ There was an enormous' gathering of London to view tho exhibits, and the visitors devoted special attention to our display of apples. I feel sure' that New Zealand has a groat future in connection with her export of fruit. It has been demonstrated that apples can be brought to' this market in excellent condition, and when tho war is over there will be opportunities for

7 ,Ker distribution, especially at Hull. I the government are alive to the impoitance ot the establishment of this in- • / a . nc personally take the keenest mt._lost in It. I realise the suitability of ”\ u i c J in : at f a ! a! °. ur J:u) d for fruit-growing, ree , T lt .- vl f! » ,vc profitable and pleasant occupation to thousands of families after we nate lauiy established our export trade.”

OTAGO APPLES

-AX EXPANDING INDUSTRY. In conversation with Air A. Aloritz.-.on on the 17th a Daily Times reporter gleaned some very interesting particulars in regard to the prospects of the apple industry, V. inch has been so much to the fore of late. Air Moritzson stated that ho has boon communicating with various countries interested in the schemes for the irrigation of orchard lands. Ho has boon for some time m communication with Calcutta, Bornbav, ana Madras with a view to inducing retired army officers from India and the Straits Settlements to settle in Otago and to take up orchard land. Ho has also been in communication during the last 18 months with the High Commissioner, and negotiations have taken practical shape since the war commenced Mr Moritzson continued that he. was inclined to believe that after this unfortunate war there will bo thousands of good, men and women with families only too glad to come out to this country and make it' 11 ' umn° s here. He had supplied the Don. Thomas Alackonzic with plenty of literature in regard to the available fruit lands in Central Otago, and had especially put before him the big enterprise of tho Cromwell Development Party. In order to give better effect to the whole scheme, he got an exhibit of 18 cases of tho choicest Central Otago apples ready and despatched them to London by the s.s. Mamari. The Shaw, Savill, and Albion Company granted space to London free of charge. These imp lee were supplied by orchardists in Ettrick, Roxburgh, and Cromwell districts. Tho collection shipped comprised CJeopatras. Jonathans, Delicious, Esopus, Spitzenberg, Scarlet NonparioJ, Monro s Favourite, Sturmer Pippins, Romo Beauty, Lord Wolsoloy’s,' and Ballarat Seedlings. The Hon. Thomas Mackenzie had been asked to exhibit these apples either in tho High Commissioner’s office or at Covcnt Garden, after which he had suggested that a case each should bo sent his Majesty tho King, tho King of the Belgians, the President of the French Republic, the Admiral of the British Fleet, Earl Kitchener, Generals French and Joffre. Tie hoped next year to get together a larger exhibit of the finest apples Otago can produce, and ho was certain it will prove an excellent advertisement for tho province. In regard to the question of export for the 1915 season from Now Zealand to South America, Air Moritzson stated that the quantity shipped would not bo far short of that for last year. The Athcnic shipment, which would bo leaving in the middle of July, would yet have to bo ascertained” to complete the final statistics. He thought, however, that tho_ quantity exported this year was disappointing owing to tho war, money stringency in South America and the consequent difficulty to finance shipments, and the unavoidable irregularity in the sailings of tho steamers from New Zealand. At any rate, tho last-mentioned trouble was experienced by his firm, which had to drop several thousand oases.

As Now Zealand growers were no doubt mostly interested as to the value of their crop, it was interesting to learn, added Mr Moritzson, that a grower received! from 6s 6d to 7s a case, f.0.b., Wellington, for graded and packed apples. This price, of course, meant a lesser amount to the grower if ho sold his output to the packer rtf all grades, who took delivery in the orchard. Again, the price might mean 5s more or less to the grower. If the grower could reckon on 5s a bushel case over all his apples a good margin of profit could bo relied on from his orchard when in full bearing. Supposing his trees to produce at the low figure of five to six bushel cases per tree, and taking the planted orchard at 134 trees, 18ft apart, to the acre, it did not require a mathematician to estimate the profits which might be derived from the fruit-growing industry.