HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3218, 17 November 1915, Page 8

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J Gebp.ie.

The best deciduous viburnums, or at least the most showy, are Viburnum opulus. (guelder rose), V. plicatum, and V. macrocophalum. V. opulus (the guelder rose) is a plant that loves good soil and abundant moisture; as, indeed, most of the viburnums do. It is often planted in shrubberies where it has to take its chance with other things, and it is well adapted for the purpose. But, to be seen at its best, it ought to be grown as an isolated specimen. It then makes a rounded bush, well furnished to the base, and grows ultimately to a height of Bft or 10ft. The pure white trusses of flower arc 2in to 3’n across, and appear in October and- November at the ends of the branches. They are scattered over the bush, and have not the regular arrangement of V. plicatum. . Without doubt V. plicatum is one of the very best of hardy shrubs. It is dwarfer in habit than V. opulus, and grows more slowly in height. This character renders it very suitable for planting in beds or borders. Its trusses of flowers are 3in across, and they occur in pairs at each joint along the branches made the previous year. The branches mostly take a horizontal position, and as all the trusses grow upwards, they form two regular rows, and each branch gives a grand wreath of blossoms when at its best. For individual trusses of flower V. macrocephalum surpasses all others in size. The trusses are from bin to Bin across, the flowers are lin to Ijin in d : amoter, and pure white. I have seen but one .plant of this variety in bloom, and, if hardy enough for our climate, will be a decided acquisition to our gardens. It will make a fine pot plant for the conservatory. SAPINDUS UTILIS. The soap tree (Sapindus utilis) is so called from the saponaceous character of its fruits. The composition of the fruit consists in a nut-shaped hull, in which is the seed. In the hull exists the saponaceous matter in the proportion of 30 to 40 per cent, of the bulk ol the hull. The saponaceous principle is set free by the shredding of the hull, and using it with water just as if it were a piece of soap. A beautiful lather is the result, and the cleansing qualities are such that there is no soap made by human process than can compare with them. The seed has a kernel which contains an oil in everv respect preferable to olive oil. The yield in oil of that kernel is .twice the yield of the olive fruit, and the flavour is superior. There are two varieties, the Algerian soap tree and the Florida soap tree. Both varieties came originally from China. The trees reach a height of about 50fc. Trees begin to boar fruit when six years old, and the average crop of a fullgrown tree is about 2001 b of fruit. The average income from a tree is from £2 to £4 a year. In some of the Southern States the tree is being extensively cultivated for commercial purposes, and is likely to become a valuable industry. rhododendrons. Rodbdondron (the Greek for rose tree) is a native evergreen of Europe, Asia, and America. The varieties with which we are most familiar are hybrids, the result of cross fertilisation. These plants thrive with the greatest degree of freedom when planted in a moderately moist position.. They also like a partial shade during the summer season, but under ordinary circumstances they do exceedingly well when planted in a situation fully exposed to the sun •through the year; the planter need only consider their fitness for the situation. As regards soil, there can be no question as to the superiority of peat, though peat is not indispensable, as they both grow and flower beautifully in loam. Rhododendrons, like heaths and 1 azaleas, dislike lime, and where lime is known to exist in the soil it is needless to try the cultivation of these shrubs. These

beautiful hardy evergreen shrubs are the most gorgeous flowering shrubs in cultivation. They are usually large, brilliantly coloured, and produce in great abundance. There is a magnificent display of these shrubs at the present time in the garden at Otanomomo, some of the largest specim_ens being 6ft to Bft high, and from 25ft to 50ft in circumference, the point of every shoot being terminated with a huge cluster of bloom almost h'ding the foliage. The colours range from pure white to deep crimson, light and dark rose pink, lavender and scarlet, and others beaut fully blotched and spotted. Some of those specimens have over 500 trusses of bloom, and are well worth going a long way to see. Their season of flowering is a lengthy one, as some are nearly past their best, others are_ in their prime, and some of the latter varietos arc only beginning to show colour. * THINNING CROPS. One of the greatest mistakes made in the kitchen garden is overcrowding, and this applies to nearly every vegetable grown. It is far better to allow each plant sufficient space to develop, and especially does this apply to peas and beans. These, in nine cases out of. 10, are sown and permitted to grow too thickly together, the - consequence being the plants crowd each other, and the yield is poor and of short duration. Thinning should be done as soon as the seedlings are largo enough to pull out, and all such crops as onions, turnips, carrots, parsnips, beets., etc., should bo thinned out twice. REPOTTING AZALEAS. The right time to repot azaleas that need more space for their roots is just as the flowers are past. The azalea produces great quantities of very small fibrous roots, which thrive in a hard ball of light peaty soil. It is important that the ball of soil be kept moist. If it gets dust dry in the centre, ordinary waterings from a watering-can will not suffice to thoroughly moisten the centre, and if the plants are repotted while the roots are dry they will probably die, as all water afterwards given will run down through the new loose compost and not benefit the roots in the old ball of soil. The best way to treat very dry plants is to plunge the pots to their rims in water, and leave them there for at least 12 hours. In this‘way the hard mass of soil and roots will become saturated with watory'and repotting may be done forthwith. If a plant is growing in a. sin pot, place it in a Tin one. The crocks and insides of the pots should be perfectly clean. The most suitable soil should consist of sandy peat three parts, and light fibrous loam. Both the peat and loam should bo pulled to pieces by hand. If sandy peat cannot be obtained, mix some coarse silver sand with the whole compost. Remove the old crocks from the ball - of soil very carefully before placing it in the new pot. Cover the crocks with some of the roughest portion of the compost, then add some of the mixture .and make it firm with the blunt end of a pot-ting-stick. As the new soil is put in around the old ball, well ram it ‘down with the potting-stick, and leave ample space at the top of the ball for water. Water at once, and afterwards give it judiciously. Syringe the plants at_ least twice daily, and after two months in a warm greenhouse they may be transferred to a position in the open air for the summer months. Horticulturists in Eltham declare that this is a remarkable season for snails. They are said to be present in abnormal numbers in the gardens, where they are playing havoc with every green leaf that comes in their way. The prospects of the fruitgrowing industry generally are reported to be satisfactory (says the Auckland Herald). Present indications point to a heavy crop of apples and of pears. Orchardiste, however, expect that the plum and peach crops will bo light. There has been a steady extension of orchards in the Auckland district during recent years, and much of the planting has been done with a view to the export trade. As the trees which are cultivated for export are primarily apples, and to some extent pears, the prospects at present before fruitgrowers may be regarded as very satisfactory.