DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3804, 8 February 1927, Page 17

DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB.

Tlie Gardening Club met for -the first time this year on Tuesday evening, when there was a good attendance, the president (Mr F. H. Hollingworth) being in the chair. The subject for discussion was “Carnations,” and Mr J. Rennie gave a very practical talk on their cultivation, dealing with the propagation, by seed, by layering, and by cuttings and their after-cultivation. Cuttings, he said, under most circumstances, were hard to strike but if inserted in boxes at this time of the year, in about 2in of good sandy soil and the boxes were covered with panes, of glass and placed in a suitable -situation, a good percentage would strike. He had on view some good varieties which were grown from seed. Plants grown from seech were vigorous and very floriferous and splendid plants and varieties could be easily obtained in that way.' Mr J. W. MTntyre exhibited from the garden of Dr Hunter some very fine specimens in bloom of our native plants, including “Notospartium Carmichaeliae and Forulosum,’’ “Cordispartium Stevensoni,” “Carmichaelia Odorata,” “Arthropodium cirrhatam,” Cyathodes robusta from the Chatham Islands. “Callistemon speciosus” (Australian bottle brush), and also white Scotch heather (calluna. valganus alba), bell heather (Menziesia poliefolia alba), and sea holly . (eryngium gigantium). Mr MTntyre explained . their various characteristics, especially in their propagation. There were also . exhibited some fine flowers, amongst which were pelargoniums by Miss Cutten, sweet peas by Messrs C. Beal and J. Roy, violas by Mr W. W. Holmes; clematis, Miss Sinton; carnations, Miss Nelson, Mr Blackburn, and Mr Hollingworth. On the motion of Mr J. Nelson, a hearty vote of thanks was passed to Mr Rennie and Mr MTntyre for their interesting and valuable instructions. Reference was made to the club’s fine display at'the late show, which was a credit to the members, and a vote of thanks was passed to those who had assisted by giving flowers, and also to those who had-assisteo on show day.