CARDEN & ORCHARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3655, 1 April 1924, Page 11

CARDEN & ORCHARD.

By

D. Tannock.

WORK TOR Til'S WEEK. THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY. Continue to put in geranium cuttings, to pot on cinerarias, and Chinese primulas to their flowering pots, to sow seeds of shrrTbs alpines, and herbaceous perennials, and prick out seedling schizanthus as soon as the seedlings are large enough to handle. Prepare for he using ti.e chrysanthemums, taking them in as the flowers show colour, and shift out the tuberous begonias as they show signs of ripening off: THE FLOWER GARDEN. Asters have done very well in some gardens this season, and they are certainly Very satisfactory. Continue to clear off all annuals as they pass out of flower, plant narcissi and other hard bulbs, and prepare the soil for planting out the primrose polyanthus and wallflower seedlings as soon as we get satisfactory rains. Mow lawns, rake nn leaves, and keep the grass edges trimmed scuffle hoe among roses and herbaceous plants, and keep the flower beds and borders as tidy as possible. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Clear away spent crops, harvest onions, and dig potatoes, earth up celery, and scuffle noe regularly among all growing crops. Sow seeds of turnips, lettuce, shorthorn carrots, onions, and spinach, and prepare the ground for planting spring cabbage as soon as we jjjet rain. Collect and store away apples ana pears as they ripem and prepare the ground for planting fruit trees and bushes. TREES WITH AUTUMN-TINTED FOLIAGE.

At this season we are reminded of the approach of winter bv the change in the colour of the leaves of numbers of the deciduous trees from their natural green to the various shades of yellow, brown, and red. The actual course of the autumn tints is not clearly explained, but it is considered that with the reduction of the temperature in the autumn the plants desire to conserve their heat as much as possible during 'he withdrawal of the starch and other substances from the leaves, to be stored up in the stem or roots. Autumn tints are usually brighter in districts where there is a distinct fall of the temperature at nights with bright sunshine during the day, such as we find in Central Otago, North Otago, and Canterbury. Bright tints are usually associated with thorough ripening of the wood and the development of nice plump resting and flower buds. This season some of the trees growing in dry places started to drop their leaves without changing colour, but they are hanging on better now, and the tints promise to be particularly fine. The following are some of the trees with autumn-tinted foliage which are quite hardy and can be grown in Otago:—Acer cireinatum —Vine Maple This is a lowgrowing tree rarely exceeding- 30ft in height. It is a native of Western North America, and was discovered by Douglas in 1826. This maple has very distinct and ornamental flowers, and in autumn its leaves change to beautiful red and orange shades. It is admirable for a small town garden.

Acer cissifolium is a tree of 30ft or more in height, with a compact rounded head. This is a native of Japan, and in the autumn the foliage turns red and yellow. It is a good lawn tree.

Acer japonicum is a small bushy tree 20ft to 30ft in height, and rarely 40ft to 60ft. It is a native of Japan, where it has been cultivated for a long time, with the result that there are a great many garden varieties. Is foliage turns to rich crimson in autumn.

Acer nikoensis (Nikko maple).—This tree grows to a height of from 40ft to 50ft, with a trunk 12in to 16in in diameter, and a dense rounded head. It is a native of Japan and China, where it is widely distributed, though not common. Compared with most maples this is a slow grower, but this is an advantage in a small garden. Turns a rich red in autumn.

Acer Palmatum (Japanese maple) is a small and graceful tree rarely exceeding 20ft in height. There are numerous varieties, many being valued for their brightcoloured and variegated foliage in spring. The coloured varieties, however, are not so satisfactory for autumn foliagq—they become rusty and withered and go off a dull colour. Many have finely dissected leaves, others a drooping or weeping habit, but the green leaf varieties are the best for autumn tints, the leaves changing to bright red and yellow. Acer rubrum (Red maple) is a tall tree often growing to a height of 100 ft, with a trunk 12ft in girth. It is a native of Eastern North America, is quite hardy here, aud is one of the trees we have used for street planting, but so far it has not coloured very well Acer saecharum (Sugar Maple) is a native or Eastern North America, where it grows to a height of 100 ft, and is the tree from which maple sugar is obtained. In autumn the leaves change to various shades of orange, gold, scarlet, and crimson. Most of the thorns put on autumn tints, even the common hedges becoming quite attractive. A few of the best kinds are Crataegus Crus-gali (Cockspur Thorn). This is a small more or less flat topped tree, native of Eastern North America. Its leaves change to brilliant scarlet in autumn, and its fruits which are also ornamental, persist until spring. Crataegus pinnatifida is a small tree about 15ft or more in height, and a native of China. The leaves change to bronzy red. Crategus pronifolia grows to a height of 20ft, forming a dense round head. It is a native of North America, and the leaves change to red and orange. Ginkgo bilobs (Maidenhair Tree) is a very handsome and striking tree, growing to a height ot ICOft. This tree is probably a native of Western China, but it has never been found in a wild state. As the common name denotes, its leaves are more or less like the maidenhair, and in autumn they change to pale gold. This is a very desirable tree for a town garden, and much more interesting than a monkey puzzle. Liquidamber styraciflua (Sweet Gum) is a tree which grows to a height of 150 ft in a wild state, but not usually more than half the height in cultivation. It is a native of Eastern United States, where it is often found growing in .swamp ground, and it produces a fragrant resin, hence its name, “sweet gum.” Its leaves are somewhat like a maple in appearance, and they change to brilliant shades of crimson and orange in autumn.

Liriodenderon Tulipifers (Tulip-tree) is a tree of great size often attaining a height of 150 ft to 190 ft with a trunk Bft to 9ft in diameter. Its blossoms are somewhat like a tulip in shape, but the colourings are too dull to be interesting. Its leaves are a peculiar shape and they change to bright yellow in (ho autumn Prunus Avium (Gean or Wild Cherry).— All the cherries are more or less valuable for their autumn tints, but the gean is probably the best of them all. It grows to a height of 50ft, and is a native of Europe, including Britain. Its foliage turns red in autumn and a group of wild cherries forms quite a feature in the autumn landscape. Pseudolarix Fortuni (Golden Larch) is a a native of China, where it grows to a height of 100 ft to 130 ft. Its leaves are similar in appearance to the larch, in spring they are a tender yellowish shade of green, and in autumn they turn a rich golden yellow. Practically all the members of the p.yrus family are valuable for their autumn tints, but the best of the lot is Pyrus aucuparia (mountain ash or rowan tree). It is a small tree growing to a height of from 30ft to 60ft, and is widely spread through temperate parts of Europe and Asia. It is valuable alike for its flowers, its fruit, and its leaves, which turn a bright red and yellow in the autumn. A well-grown rowan tree is a feature in the landscape at present, and though not long lived, it is so easily raised from seed, and it grows so quickly that old trees are easily replaced. Pyrus Aria (Wliitebeam) is a small tree rarely attaining a height of 60ft in its native country, and usually about 20ft with us. Its leaves are green above, the under surfaces being coated with a layer of close, white felt underneath. This is a suitable tree for a town section, and the leaves turn red anti yellow in the autumn. Quercus Coccines (Scarlet Oak). —This is one of the most attractive trees in the autumn garden when its foliage turns a brilliant red. It is a native of Eastern North America, where it grows to a neight of 70ft to 80ft, but with us it is a slow grower, and it receives a considerable check when transplanted. Quercus Palustris (Pin Oak). —This tree, which is also a native of Eastern United States, where it grows to a height of 70ft to 100 ft, is one of the most valued of autumn tint trees, the leaves turning to deep scarlet and hanging on the trees for a long time.

Taxodium distichum (deciduous cypressa) is a pyramidal tree growing to a height of 100 ft to 150 ft, and is a native of the Southern United States, where it is found growing in swampy country. This is one of the most interesting and beautiful trees that can be grown in a wet place, its fine feathery foliage of tenderest green in spring dying off a rich brown in autumn. Fagus_ -syi vatica (common or English beech) is a deciduous tree growing to a height of 100 ft to 150 ft, with a trunk of enormous thickness. It is a native of Europe, and thrives in a well-drained, warm position among stones and shingle, and its leaven change to brow'n and red in the autumn. Other trees valuable for their autumn tints are white poplar, Lombardy poplar, trembling poplar, common ash, manna ash, and golden ash, hornbeam, silver birch, and horse chestnut. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. W. W., Oamaru. —Beiladonna lilies are better when left- alone for years, but if the bulbs are coming to the surface they should bo top-dressed with good garden soil to which some bone meal has been added. Banksian roses do not require much pruning, and it will be better for you to pull out your old sweet peas which are attacked by mildew. “Mac,” Tuapeka.—Messrs Wallace, Tunbridge Wells. England; A. Montague, 61 Prospect Hill road, Camberwell, Victoria, Australia; and Messrs Vilmorin Andrieux, 4 Quai do la Megisserie, Paris, are all good bulb merchants. Give your ground a good liming and don’t grow brassicas on it for a year at least. F. H., Otaut.au. —You should certainly cut off the disoasod leaves on your strawberries. Wm. Hurst is a good pea tc sow for the spring.

“Croquet.”—A full-sized croquet lawn is 105 ft by 84ft, but tocre are lawns not more than 90ft r id 36ft.