HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3215, 27 October 1915, Page 8

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gebbib.

DECIDUOUS FLOWERING TREES. Trees of a floriferous character add much to the pictorial effect of the estate or

pleasure ground, whether planted in parks as isolated specimens or as forming a portion of group, or in mixed ornamental plantations. Deciduous flowering trees_ deserve more attention than has been given to ♦•hem. The most of them flower during spring and early summer. Quite a large number of varieties are now in bloom, conspicuous among them being the horse chestnut. There is not a more _ striking tree, beautiful at any time, when in loaf, but its beauty is much enhanced by the prominent upright spikes of handsome sweet-scented flowers that adorn it at this time. It is more suited for single specimens than for groups. It is good also for avenue planting. The double white flowered also the red flowered, varieties are highly ornamental trees suitable for large borders, drives, or plantations. The common hawthorn is too well known to dilate upon its merits here. It is beautiful even when ceremoniously trimmed, as in our hedges, or allowed to take the tree form move in accordance with Nature. The hawthorn is a long-lived tree. Some of the oldest specimens in England were saplings in the time of Queen Elizabeth. The double forms of the common hawthorn are very beautiful free-flowering trees, producing white, red, pink, and crimson blossoms. Tho single scarlet is very showy, and by some preferred to the double forms. Of other species, there is a great variety. They have not only graceful and varied forms, but they are adorned with beautiful flowers in late spring, and a profusion of berries—red and yellow and black, and of the various intermediate shades in autumn. As a highly ornamental tree with pendulous racemes of golden flowers the laburnum is well known. The tulip tree attracts tho attention of many by its curious-shaped leaves. The flowers are tulip-shaped, of a greenish-yellow colour, and although not as showy as some of the others mentioned, deserves a place among flowering trees. In the double-flowering plums and cherries wo have some of the finest dwarf flowering trees in cultivation, and no garden, however small, should be without a collection. One of tho showiest of all spring-flowering trees is Pyrus mains florabunda. Its long, flexilrlo shoots are covered from end to end with blossoms, which are of a rich crimson outside, and in the bud state resemble ropes of cherries, while, being white within, they show, when expanded, a beautiful contrast of colour. TRAINING AND SUPPORTING PLANTS. 'Climbing plants and shrubs should be regularly gnd neatly nailed or tied to the walls, palings, or supports upon which they are to be trained, and all herbaceous and annual plants should also be supported where they require it. Nothing looks more slovenly than plants rambling into confusion or blown about and broken by high winds or hoavv rains. The pruning knife should be freely used in the arrangement or disposal of them, and such branches as may bo broken or injured, as well as a portion of them where they grow too thick, should bo removed. In supporting plants in tho flower borders much ingenuity may be displayed by selecting supports suited to tho habits' of the plants. The rambling-growing kinds may bo judiciously supported by using branches of trees with many twigs upon them, and the more crooked and rustic branches will form excellent supports for sweet peas and such-like rapid-growing plants. Strong-growing plants require more substantial supports. Whatever supports are used, care should be taken to hide them as much as possible, and in tying the plant to its support it should be done so as to leave it in its natural form as far as practicable. This can never be well done if the plants bo once. allowed to attain too groat a size or ago. The supports should bo placed to them before they really want them, and as the plants advance in growth they should be neatly and securely trained to them. Climbing plants, from their profusion of blossom and their utility in covering- disagreeable objects, as well as the assistance which they afford us in producing something of picturesque or natural appearance in gardens and shrubberies, are frequently too much excluded from our gardens in consequence of the great confusion into which they are too often allowed to run from a want of training and support when young; whereas, when properly attended'to, they even of themselves give a degree of well-kept appearance to tho other parts of the grounds, and afford both shelter and shade. i STREPTOCARPUS. Many greenhouses and conservatories attached to dwellings are partially shaded, and in such structures many kinds of plants will only bloom sparsely. The streptooarpus will, however, grow andl flower freely m partial shade. Tncio has been a great improvement in tho strains during tho past fow years which is an inducement to grow a batch of plants. From seeds sown in early spring the resultant seedlings should now bo well advanced, and they must bo given pot culture. It is not wise to disturb tho seedlings too soon, because, as a rule, they form ono largo leaf first, and it

is immediately under this loaf that the strongest roots grow. If lifted from tho seed-pon too soon the growth of tho large leaf and tho roots is arrested for a time. Those plants will flower during January, Feruary, and March, but by pinching off tho flower-sterns from a certain number of plants, extra fine flowering specimens will bo secured next year. The best compost to use for the cultivation of those plants is ono composed of fibrous loam, two parts leaf-mould, ono part sand, and rotted manure ono part. Use clean pots, and drainage, and press tho soil gently around the roots of tho young plants so as not to bruise them. Give water at once, then place tho plants on a bed of sand or gravel on the stage of a greenhouse. After tho first watering be very careful not to apply too much, but on every fine day syringe the pots on the outside twice; this treatment induces quick root action. Repot the plants as required, and those denuded of their flower-stems for next season’s display must bo grown in a cool frame during tho months of January, February, and August.