HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3212, 6 October 1915, Page 14

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gebp.ie,

PRUNING FLOWERING SHRUBS. Judging by the shrubs seen in some gardens the idea seems to bo to trim them into shape at the time hedges are trimmed, without any regard for their natural purpose —producing flowers. It often happens that the wood which should, eventually ripen and produce flower buds is ruthlessly cut away. The proper routine to follow with regard to the pruning of flowering trees and shrubs is to do the main pruning directly after the tree or shrub has flowered, and in the winter to cut away only dead or weak wood. If a shrub is to flower freely it must produce young growths the previous season to produce blossoms tho next. Thus, if these growths are clipped in summer, or unduly shortened in the winter, the very growths are removed that are essential for flowering next season In the case of deciduous trees and, shrubs the main pruning consists of removing tho shoots that have just borne flowers. Cut back to tho nearest young shoots that have begun to develop, Evergreen shrubs are treated slightly different, pruning in October slightly to encourage a good shape Clematises, of the Jackmanii type should have tho previous season’s growth cut back in autumn to within 6in of their origin, as the flowers arc produced on the current growth. Those of the Lanuginosa type bear flowers on summer laterals that grow out of tho old wood. Tho main shoots must not be shortened, only cut away dead or weak wood. Wistarias are best pruned in winter, shortening lateral shoots to lin and removing tho soft points of the leading shoots.

HISTORY OF A FEW WELL-KNOWN APPLES.

Ribston Pippin : About 1709 the pips of a finely-flavoured apple were sent from Rouen ho the owner of Ribston Hall, near Knaresborough, Yorkshire. From one of these seeds this apple originated. _ The original tree was thrown down in a violent galo in 1810, and in 1815 was bearing fruit though lying on the ground. Alfnston, one of our best late keeping cookers, was raised in Sussex and called Shephard’s Seedling or Pippin, afterwards renamed Alfriston. Reinctto du Canada is an American apple. Its early history is unknown, but under this name was known in France as early as 1771. Emperor Alexander is a. native of the Southern Provinces of Russia, introduced into England in 1805. American Spy is of American origin, raised about, the year 1800, at East Bloomfield, New York State. London Pippin, a popular apple, largely grown in Australia for export to England, has been in cultivation since 1580. Dutch Mignonnc, Gloria Mundi, Gravenstein, King of Tomkins County, and Scarlet Ncnpariol are all good varieties, and have been in cultivation for over a century. FRUIT PROSPECTS.

Throughout South Canterbury and North. Otago plums and* pears nro in full bloom, making a great display, the trees being literally covered with blossoms. The apple trees aro rapidly approaching- the_ blooming period, a few of the earliest showing- colour If frosts keep awav there are indications of a heavy crop of fruit —too heavy for trees to mature, —and if they are not thinned by late frosts, the gardener should thin to secure a good sample. It is a groat mistake to leave too many fruits on a tree, since the harm the tree suffers will ho evident next season as well as this. Nothing tends more to keep fruit trees in good health than a regularity in their crops, and this thinning should be done some time before they aro fully grown, for, if delayed till nearly full grown, the mischief is in a great measure done both to the tree and the fruit that is loft. WATERING SEEDS.

A correspondent asks if it is right to water vegetable seeds when and after they aro sown. —It is a bad. practice, and docs more harm than good. The top soil, when watered, forms a hard crust, through which

the seedlings cannot push until it is softened by rain. The host method is to water the drills before tho seeds aro sown, then cover them with dry soil, and if tho weather is very dr 3- shade tho bed with scrim or a few branches. These will do more good than watering. The seeds will germinate better and stronger plants will result. SPRING snow. _ Tho spring show of the North Otago Horticultural Society was held in the Drill Hall on Thursday, the 23rd September. Considering tho dry and unfavourable climatic conditions which have existed for a considerable time in North Otago tho exhibits staged wore of a high order of merit. Competition was not so keen as usual, and several of our leading growers were unable to compete owing to tho blooms being either past their best or not far enough advanced. 'I ho main feature of the show was the narcissi, of which there was a magnificent display both in point of numbers and in individual quality of blooms. Foremost arnongst exhibitors was enthusiastic grower from Taranaki, Mr Robert Gibson, who staged some 50 varieties. Other exhibitors of collections wore W. D. Burns and Mrs J. Maclean. In these collections were several new varieties staged for tho first time. In the single-bloom classes Mrs J. Maclean, W, I>. Burns, R. Dick, W. Strachan, Mrs J. S. Bee, Miss Anderson, C. Sievwright, W. J. Pygall, sen., W. J. Pygall, jun., and W. Robertson carried off awards. For nine hyacinths W. Robertson, J. Tonkin, and C. Sievwright secured prizes. Mrs W. Strachan secured first for four tulips. Four wallflowers brought out only one exhibitor, Mrs J. M'Larcn. For six wallflowers Mr J. Ironside secured first and Miss May O’Brien second prize. Mrs Douglas secured first place for six yellow and cream polyanthuses, and for 12 polyanthuses Mrs J. M'Larcn was first; for six primroses Mrs J. M'Larcn was first and C. A. W. Irvine second; violets, Miss May O’Brien first; six pansies, R. Dick first and Mrs J. A. Sutton second. These polyanthuses and primroses were very fine, Mrs M‘L aren’s being especially good. The wallflowers, hyacinths, tulips, and pansies wore very good. The decorative classes wore, as usual, an attractive feature of tho show. A number of attractive arrangements were contributed by Mcsdames Douglas, C. Grant, and W. Pygall, jun, and Misses May Paterson, Bessie Brown, E. M. Hill, May O’Brien, and Minnie Bee. Mr G. S. Jones staged a fine lot of pot plants, which added greatly to the appearance of the tables. A fine lot of cut blooms was sent in for exhibition and sale by Messrs G. S. Jones, J. Mitchell, J. M'Larcn. and from the Public Gardens. Mr E. A. Hamel judged tho pot plants and out blooms, and Miss Howdon the decorations.