HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 3309, 15 August 1917, Page 6

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

By J. GEBBXE. BLACK WALNUT. \Lhe black iiuuiui i.iiji'ii) is considered 10 do one ox cue iiunuoomest trees, us well u a one ol tuo moat VaiUauie Huuus, -iu tnrougnuut tne United btdtes it l& luiuous lor its tmiuer, ana ill uiauee wnero it uues not jfrow natiuany it Has been piunicu, uotn lor its limber and tor tlio siiade it allorus. On tne ban lis and loiaiieia ui iia? Oil.o JtlVer jt l'eucnca lt» greatest periecuou. (specimens are tuer» ""•'' tvitii measuring liuui Git to Git in. Uianietcr anu ovur ujit m heigiit. Ji.verywncie it is a bcaut.iUl tree, ior m piaces wnere its s.zu is uot remarkable it aiwaya loiins a \\uu-Diiiuiic<-u, axnuaumg lieau of Ueautdul lomyc. Xuougu one Oi tile first Extsua taKen 10 iiia..uiu lrom iSortU America, tne time 01 na niuouuctiun is unknown, tuouga it is certain tuat it was ue.iig about tno m.ouie oi tne aoveiitoentn centUiy. Many Hue specimens aic now co oe ioand tnroug.iout JMlgiaud. xit Jt'Uinain iaiaee tllere 10 a tree wnieh was piaiitea uuout <\,\} years ago. At Kew alio jjjun auo tioes are also to bo seen. as a.n ornamental tree it deserves conaiUerulioii on account oi its Striking appearance vvnen aasociaueU wiln otner trees; tne njuage, ee.iiy ox a lignc given, tnoWS up coii&o.cuousxj in conuaat w.tn tne uarker Hues 01 tnu majority ol suiuniel-ieauilg UiVcs. Aiie timoer wnen properly seasoned js tougn anu strong, anu not iiauio. to Wo-ty u r opxit. xt xs never attacked by worms, anu nas a grain sumcientiy line and comoact to auimt 01 a beautnui polisn. j.t is largely used ior cab.iiet-niaK.ing, iurn.ture, naves ol wneexs, and otner purposes, i'osts made ol tne black vvuxiiul u-vi; Ucen Known to last in tne grounu unuecayeu ior lrom ZO to 30 years. j-l -a u. qUiCJUM, H'uu -grow mg tree Ulan tne common walnut, and is tiauaUy raised lrom tno nuts, Wii.cn require to be planted snortiy alter ripening, as tne vital power is rotauieu ior only a snort time. irees , are cataiogueu oy some ox tne Auckland nurserymen, but as yet tliey are not plenti--lUI. JL>OU'&-TOOiH VIOLET. Uog s-tootn v.oiets are buiuous-rooted Pianuo botan.caliy known as liaytiiromums, anu are among tile prettiest ox sprmgnovvernig piains. Tiiey tnrive in any ordinary gaiuen son, and tnougii some ox tne varieties are not particularly attractive in colour, tne howeis possess a reuned lorm wii.cn .6 mucli admiieu. Tne tiowera are tuiuati-snaped and eicgantJy renexed, u.ua tne j ouage of many ox tnem is beautiltiny mottieu. 'They are easily cultivated in pots, and are uselui lor grcennouso decurat.on. Being dillicuit bulbs to mtrouuce, and taking a long time to acclimatise, tney are yet scarce xn tiie Dominion, only a lew varieties being obtainable. BEAUTIFUL BALMS, ihe finest ox an decorative plants for the enioeiiisiimeiit ox tne greeiinouse, conservatory, anu dweixing-nouse are pauns, and tneir popular.ty is ever on the mcrease. Xxxey are mu.spensabie xor tno uecoration of tne window, uravv.ng room, and dinner UoiO, vvmie many 01 the Hardier varieties inaiie grand specimens lor lawn-planting, -tne xoliowuig are a lew of the best varieties xor general - cultivation, and arc procurable xx om til use nurserymen wlio make a specialty oi tnese beautiiul plants: Branca iiinera (or Wasliingtonia lu.iera, as it is cahed in .americaj is one of tno best uecorative palms with which I am acqua.xited. Ine fan-shaped leaves are dark green, lrxnged wxtix long, thread-like lilameiits along the segments of the leaves. Hie plant is a coxnpact grower, well adapted lor pot culture,' and wdi stand dust and dry air and lack of sunshine. Ihe plants are easily ra.sed lrom seeds, which in a short time lorm uselui specimens, vvnich can be used ior various uecorative purposes. Cocos weddelliana is perhaps the most elegant palm yet introduced, and is a perfect little gem. Ihe plant is dwarf and very neat, the leaves being beautifully arched, dark green on the upper side and whitish green on the under side, with a lew black hairs. Although belonging to the same genus as the coeoanut, and a native of South America, it easily endures the hardsnips usually falling to house plants Kentia baueri (also known aa Areca bauerij is a species of great beauty, attaining a height of 20ft in its native country (Norfolk Island). In its young state it is a Handsome window plant, and well adapted for vases in sitting rooms. When it becomes too large fcr ineide decoration, it makes a splendid object for the subtropical garden during summer. Areca sapida bears some resemblance to the former and is the nikau palm of New Zealand. It is . of more slender growth than A. baueri, and produces a beautiful crown of bright green leaves, which lend a ciiarm to greenhouse or conseiwatory, and is also well adapted for the decoration of apartments. Latania borbonica is one of the most popular palms in cultivation. The leaves are fan shaped, large, and of a cheerful green colour. It is a grand plant for decorative work, as it stands neglect well, and also a considerable amount of cold. This palm is a native of Bourbon, and has been in cultivation since 1816. Chamxerops excelsa belongs to a small genus of palms, all of which succeed in the greenhouse. They are very ornamental and easily grown" and this variety (C. excelsa) is hardy in most situations, and therefore very desirable for outdoor decoration. The dark green loaves aro fan-shaped enclosed at the base in a dense mass of rough fibres, and armed at the edges with small teeth-like spines Kentia fosteriana is an elegant decorativo palm of easy culture. It is robust but compact in its habit and growth. The graceful bright green leaves are broader in all their parts than those of other kentias, and the divisions of the leaves always hang down. Phoenix reelinata belongs to the same genus as the date palm and is a haror, and vigorous grower in time attaining a considerable size. They are always graceful and handsome, with foliage not surpassed. For window culture they are always a success, as they readily adapt themselves to any situation. Few plants can be kept longer in good condition without shifting than palms. The great point is not to allow them to become dry during the growing season, and to give them a liberal supply of liquid manure when thev get into a pot-bound condition.This will prevent the leaves from turning* vellow, but will give them the rich dark hue of perfect health. In a general way palms are shifted tso frequently, and in many instances it would be better to keep them another year in the same pots, at the i*-r"f time feeding them liberally if the pota are full of roots. THE WEATHER AND FLOWERS. The vreather in the ISutha district

has been especially mild this winter. Rather much rain has fallen, but little frost has been experienced. Last week at Pounawea the severest frost of the season was experienced. Owing to the mildness of the season several trees and shrubs are opening their blossoms. I was in a garden last week where the following wore m bloom :—Silver wattle is just past its best. Andromeda japonica, with clusters of ■white lily-of-the-valley-likc flowers, are very pretty. Camellias, white and pink, and elianthus are flowering beautifully. In the native bush adjoining fuchsias and kowhais are also in bloom. In the orchard some of the pears and cherry-plums are in bloom, and in about a fortnight's time other plurns and peaches will be in full flower. The eeasido resort of Pounawoa is beautifully situated on the Catlin's River Estuary,_ and ie an idea] place for spending a holiday. Boating, fishing,- and rambling through the bush or visiting the numerous bays, etc.. on the coast can bo indulged in to the heart's content.