CARDEN & ORCHARD.

Otago Witness, Issue 3768, 1 June 1926, Page 11

CARDEN & ORCHARD.

WORK FOR TllE WEEK.

By

D. TASNOCK.

TOE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY. Chrysanthemums are deevloping slowly and are going to be later than usual, but will be none the less welcome, for there is usually a slack time before the cinerarias and primulas come in. These will be developing their buds now, and will require careful watering and liquid manure once a week. Fire heat is now necessary, but should be reduced to the minimum required to keep out frost and maintain a growing atmosphere Bedding geraniums should receive a little heat to start them into growth in preparation for boxing or potting up in a few weeks’ time. Continue to pack away tuberous begonias and dahlias in dry soil, and clean and pack away gladioli in a cool shed or cellar. They do not need to be put in soil. Prune and thin all climbers growing on the roof of the houses to admit as much light as possible during the dull winter weather, and if the shading which was put on the glass during the summer has not worn thin, it should be washed off. THE FLOWER GARDEN. As soon as the leaves have fallen, the flower garden can be cleaned and all the herbaceous plants can be cut over and the last of the bedding plants removed. Continue to trench and form new beds and borders and get as much as possible of the planting out completed before winter sets in So far we have not had frost and the soil, though a bit wet in places, is in good condition for planting. A few twiggy branches placed round a doubtfully tender plant will provide protection from frost and possibly bring it through its first winter. THE VEGETABLE AND FRUIT GARDEN. This is a season which indicates the need for drainage and good firm dry paths. To make paths the two essentials are a foundation of rough clinkers or rotten rock and a sufficient crown to run the water of quickly. Continue to prune and plant fruit trees and bushes to trench and dig all vacant land, to plant hedges and shelter trees, and to clear off spent crops. SHRUBBERY IN WINTER.

Generally speaking, the month of June is one of the dullest times in the flower garden, but where there is a fairly extensive and well-planted shrubbery, there should be a certain amount of colour and interest. There are shrubs which flower during the winter, others which hold on to their foliage and provide winter tints, others with ornamental fruits, and again others with brightly-coloured bark and variegated and coloured foliage. The Hamamelis, or witch hazel, is supposed to flower during the winter, but this year it started in the autumn, and is now well past its best. Hamemelis Virginian, the Virginian witch hazel, is a small deciduous tree or shrub, with twiggy branches. The flowers, which are not at all' conspicuous, are golden yellow, but loose much of their effect through appearing while the leaves are still on.

Hamamelis japonica, the Japanese witch hazel, is a much better ornamental plant than the Virginian one. It is a spreading shrub or small tree. The leaves are like the common hazel, and the flowers, which are yellow and slightly scented, are produced on twigs made during the previous summen. The petals are about an inch long, very narrow, strap-shaped, and much crumpled. The witch hazels like a good but not too heavy loam, with a considerable amount of peat or other organic matter.

The winter-flowering jasmines are very useful, and though they are often grown on a wall or fence, they can also be planted to cover a stump or tree root, or they will form hushes in front of the shrubbery. Jasminum nudiflorum is a deciduous rambling shrub, with green stems and bright yellow flowers. Jasminum primulinura is a plant of more recent introduction, having been discovered by Wilson in China, and distributed by Messrs Veitch in 1900. It is evergreen, and thereby differs from nudiflorum. The flowers are also larger, but the colour is the same, and though it is not quite hardy in England, it is quite at home out here, and flowers well during the winter. Rhododendron Nobleanum is the first of thiq large and important family to flower, and our bush is quite bright at present. The flowers are spoilt slightly by the rain, hut otherwise it is quite useful. It is one of the oldest hybrids, having been raised by Messrs Waterer in 1832, by crossing caucasicum with arboreum. The winter sweet is coming into flower owing to the mild season, and quite a number of other trees and shrubs are showing blossom. 1 noted some fully-expanded blossoms on a Clethera arborea.

All the catkin-bearing trees and shrubs are preparing for the early Bpring display. and there are several of the heaths in bloom. The berberis family now occupies a very important position in the shrubbery in winter. Several have bright coloured foliage, and most have very ornamental berries. The common Drisish berberry is quite ornamental, the fruits varying in colour from dark purple to white, but the variety with red coral-like berries is the most desirable. Berberis aristata, from Himalaya* is a stronger grower, with larger fruits than the common barberry. Very hardy, and suitable for exposed situations. The older berberries are, however, completely eclipsed by the more recent introductions from Western China. The plants are neat, elegant, and quick growers, many producing fruits in from three to four years from seed sowing. They are very hardy, and grow in any kind of soil, and transplant easily. B. Wilson® was one of the first to reach us, and it was much admired, when laden with its coral or salmon-red somewhat translucent berries, but there are now many species and hybrids which are superior. We are still raising new species and varieties froAi seed, and I should think that we have now about 80, but os they hybridise very readily there seems to be no limit to their possibilities arf garden plants.

A 'ew which I noted as being ;especially attractive are B. Wilsonui B. aggregati var. Pratii, B. umbellate, B. bervi-

panicuplata, B. Fargesii, B. subcai.data, and such hybrids aa sparkler, ferox, firefly, coral, and a species sent by Farror which has not yet been named. The cotoneaster family is almost as important as the berberis during the winter. Most of them are evergreen, but they have bright and attractive berries, and those which are deciduous have bright r uted leaves just changing now. 1 have frequently recommendec C. horizontal is for large rock gardens and covering banks. It nas bright green glossy leaves, which spread close to the ground, the plant seldom exceeding 2ft or 3ft in height. The flowers are white, suffused with pink, the berries are bright red, and when they drop the leaves change to various shades of orange and red. C. Simonsii is an upright species, growing to a height of from 10ft to 12ft. It is deciduous or semi-evergreen, bearing scarlet fruits about the size of common hews, and when the leaves ripen they change to shades of orange and red. It is a very hardv shrub, which will thrive in any soil and situation.

Like the berberis, this family is increasing at a great rate through new introductions from China, and our collection is becoming very extensive, and so important that they have now a border to themselves in the arboretum. Among those which I noted as being specially attractive at present in addition to J. horizontalis and C. Simonsii, arc C. Henryi, C. acuifolia, C. ambigua, C. salicifolius var. floccosa, C. divaricatus, C. angustifolius, C applanata, and C. Builata. There are two strawberry trees oearmß crops >f fruit at the present time, and both are attractive. Arbutus unedo is the best known and probably the most decorative, for it produces its flowers at the same time as the fruits ripen, and. consequently, is doubly attractive. The other is Cornus capitata, a deciduous or partly evergreen tree. 30ft to 40ft high, of bushy habit, and a native of China and India. It is attractive when in flower, the six sulphur-yellow bracts beiuu the showy part, and in the fruit is a fleshy, strawberry-shaped, agglomerated, crimson mass, in which the seeds are imbedded. Unfortunately, the birds soon destroy them when ripe. Among the tre. i which brighten up the landscape by their coloured bark ne commonest is tli golden widow Sahx viteilina. As the -olour is confined to the young wood, the _e- t effects are obtained when thev are cut ond every spring, and a“ row of golden willows alongside a ditch or stream is very at d " rin ,j-' tl,e .winter when treated m th.s way. There is also a variety with red bark called britzensis. Next to the willows are various species and varieties' o the cornu, or Dogwood family. Cornus alba and -ts variety sibirica have both red stems, and. like the willow, it is better to cut the plants right back in the Thf, °ikt UC ° UraK f atr ° ng Voun * Snaths. litey like a good, moi.-t, rich soil which !l' L e "i'“ ra * e growth, and when the old plants become stunted through oeing cut back so often it is better to take them out and replant with young ones which are easily raised from cuttings. Other tree* and shrubs with coloured bark are Ber bene virejeens, Rubus bifiorus (white' Golden ash (yellow), Betula alba anil Betu.a papyrifera, and Acer Hookerianum and Acer pennsylvamcum are attractive. an .abundance of trees ana shrubs with variegated or coloured ever green foliage, but probably none is more ' han holly. The common green holly when bearing heavy crops of berries is very decorative, and we have the silver and golden variegated forms which make fine lawn specimens when reason ably pruned. There are several of the conifers with ornamental foliage, such a, the golden yew, golden macrocarpa, variegated Lawsomana. the red Crvn tomeria elegans. and the various kinds of retimspora Acnba japonica is well known and widely planted, and so also are the various forms of the euonymus, box and ratsia japonica. Among the native plants we have quite a number of kinds with variegated and coloured foliage. The different kinds of fla\ and cabbage tr.-.es make quite a tronicol looking border, and there is a variegated karaka. two forms of rarie gated broadleaf, variegated Senerio rountdifolms, and 0 Olearia nit it! a. Both Broehyglattis rangiora and B ropanda are handsome nlantß. and there is a variegated variety which colours best in tin shade, a Hi a iP urp e ‘ variety wh : ch is prob ably the handsomest native foliage plant, rhe bra'-hvHotth mav be a bit tender in eome d'rtncts. hrt where they will thrive they should K» In '-“nprous groups.