HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3265, 11 October 1916, Page 6

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. Gertie. TRANSPLANTING PRIMROSES. Primroses and polyanthuses are benefited by being transplanted annually. Thus treated, "the blooms come liner and more plentiful than on plants left in one position for years. The host time to trans; plant is just us they are going out oi bioom. If the plants are large, they can be divided into smaller pieces; and in replanting almost bury the crowns, so that they will not be exposed to drying winds and trying periods of thought. They w;.jl soon strike out fresh roots, which will greatly invigorate them. Where they are grown in the wild garden or under trees where the crowns are buried beneath the fallen leaves and decaying herbage by which they are surrounded, they will last for years undisturbed, and produce bloom in abend; nee. If wo cannot lift, and replant, we should adapt some kind of mulch, and for the purpose leaf-mould spread over the crowns towards winter, will be of th" greatest benefit. These plants like a cool, shady border well enriched with rotten manure. A too sunny site is not advisable, as it is only in cool, moist situations that they thrive best. Firm planting is necessary, well burying the roots, but leaving the foliage free. In dry weather water must bo liberally given, and if weeds arc kept down excellent plants should be available for bedding-out during the autumn. THE LAPAGERIAS. The lapagerias are without doubt the finest of cciol greenhouse climbers, and no collection can be complete without them They are evergreen twining plants, producing shining green leaves and large pendulous, rosy-crimson flowers in great abundance. They are native of Chile, and delight in a cool temperature. The cultivation of these beautiful climbers_ is not difficult. The :nost important item is thorough drainage and healthy plants to start with. Good drainage is essential, as no plant is more adverse to stagnant soil than the lapagerias. They may bo grown in pots, but succeed better when planted out in a prepared bed, and the growths trained on a wire trellis. The soil should consist of three parts good "fibrous peat, one part good loam, with plenty of gritty sand intermixed. They like an abundance of water (if the drainage is good) during the growing season. Frequent syringings are an advantage. Plants grown in the way described will not fail to give the cultivator ample return for the care bestowed on them. I have seen both varieties flowering in the open air in Otago and South Canterbury. INCREASING HUMUS SOIL.

To these who do not understand what humus is, it might be well to state that humus is the dark-coloured mould left after any organic matter or vegetable matter ha 3 decayed Scientists tell us that humus acts as a sponge in '•lie soils, and absorbs toxic poisons which are given off by the plantroots. However this may be, the gardener and farmer must add humus to his soils to make them produce good crops. There are scleral ways in which humus is increased in the soil. Cultivators of the soil will understand that any organic matter turned under and allowed to decay will form humus. Stable manure, straw, weeds, and \egetablc refuse, etc., the ploughing under of green-growing crops, such as clover, peas, or any other crop used generally for green-manuring, will add humus to the soil. SNOWFLAKES. The snowflakes are a valuable class of hardy flowering bulbs, the various members of which produce a succession of bloom from early spring to late autumn and winter. The earliest to bloom (Lcucogum vernum) is perhaps the most_ valuable, on account of flowering so early in the season. Ir, is quite hardy, luxuriating in almost any so:l or situation, the white flowers outrivalling the snowdrop L. clatoir is another spring-flowering variety, the largest and finest ofthe _ snowflakes, producing an abundance of white flowers during spring-. L. testivum is the tallest and most, vigorous of the family, producing an abundance of foliage.- The flower-stems attain a height of 2ft. each bearing clusters of three or more flowers. These' droop prettily, and are white tipped with green. Tin's is a latobiooiring variety. .Ladies' snowflake is a little gem, with pure white flowers, blooming in' autumn—a valuable flower for buttonholes. This was formerly called Acis autumnale, and iji some catalogues this name is retained; but '.t is now included ui.clcr Loucogum BORDER AURICULAS

Auriculas arc now commencing to bloom, and it is very interesting to watch the development and opening cf the blooms, especially of a batch of seedlings. Auriculas i re divided into two sections —the show and alpine. The border auriculas belong to the latter section. They differ from the show varieties in having no meal or paste-like substance surrounding the tube in the centre of the flower. The shew varieties are not suitable for borderculture in the open air These hardyvarieties are of easy culture, preferring a cool situation and siieltcrcd from the heat of the sun. They are {lowering earlier this season than usual, and arc very pretty in the borders, especially when in goodsized clumps. If it is desired to increase any special variety, this can bo done by offsets or division, as young plants are f'.ecly produced round the base of the old plants. The best time to propagate is when the plants .have flowered, or in autumn. When the clumps, are divided, plant their. where they are 10 flower, or they may bo grown in a border shaded from the midday sun. Small offsets with few or iio_ roots should be dibbled in boxeo of sandy soil and placed in a garden frame for a few

days. Raising from seed is interesting work; and if the seeds are saved from good flowers of one's own growing, tho work becomes more interesting. The seed ripens during December, and may be sown when gathered or kept till spring. It should ho town thinly in pots or boxes of light, sandy soil, and placed in a cod frame, co\ering» with a sheet of - paper till the seedlings appear. The soil must never bo allowed to become dry. The seeds germinate very irregularly, so that when the first batch is pricked off don't throw out the soil, as others will most likely germinate in due tima. Auriculas have, been cultivated since 1596,_ and were introduced fi om Switzerland dining that year, eo that thej are old inhabitants of the garden. SEED-SOWING Such subjects as antirrhinums, Canterbury bells, aquilegias, wallflower, ' and many other biennial and perennial plants may be increased by sowing the seeds in November, eo that fine, strong plants may bo obtained for planri ig in their permanent quarters before winter. Such-like subjects ought to be thoroughly established before wirtor, so as to git the- best results tho season following. Where the seeds are to be sown, a special bed should be made up for the purpose. Dig the selected area deeply, then put on a layer of about 3in of leaf-mould, pricking this into the surface with a fork, thus providing a material to which the young roots will cling. Then make the surface level and moderately firm, end sow the seeds as thinly and. evenly as possible either in drills or broadcast. If the soil is moist, no water will be required for some time. Many gardeners ancl amateurs when sowing annuals in spring retain a little of tho seeds in the packets, and if these seeds were sown in December, a fine autumn display of bloom would result, providing the weather proved favourable. Practically all hardy annuals may bo thus treated. It will be necessary to keep the soil moist after sowing and while the plants are small, as it is desirable that tho plants be kept growing right on without a check. Thin the seedlings early, so that they aro able to branch to their fullest extent.