DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB.

Otago Witness, Issue 3831, 16 August 1927, Page 11

DUNEDIN GARDENING CLUB.

, The Dunedin Gardening Club met on Tuesday evening, there was a good attendance presided over by Mr F. 11. Hollingwoxth. The subjects for the evening were in the hands of Mr F. W. Exler, and, by way of illustration, there were exhibited from the garden of Mr P- W. Shacklock some very fine specimens of cyclamen and primula malacoides of the latest varieties. The varieties of cyclamen included Beauty of Bath, Scarlet King of Blackdon, and Langdon strains, and of Sutton’s strain there were Suttons Giant, Giant Victoria, and several of Mr Exler’s own raising. Primula malacoides were represented by Sutton’s Advance and Sutton’s Achievement.

Mr Exler, in his address on cyclamen, explained that seed should be sown in March, April, or May. The germination was slow, taking about six weeks, but it was capricious. The plants should be potted off into three-inch pots when large enough to be handled, and potted on in December into five-inch flowering pots, and kept growing through the summer. Ihe majority would flower the following spring. They should never want water” and required continual shading from the hot sun They enjoyed syringing twice a day lhe most suitable soil consisted of two parts loam, one part leaf mould, one part, sand and a little wood ashes, or ashes from burned rubbish.

One-year-old corms should be allowed to ripen off after flowering, as it was necessary that they should have a resting period. They should not be dried bone dry but just as much moisture should be left as would keep the corn and roots plump. Plunging the pots in a cold frame was a satisfactory way of keeping t 1 /' n . during their resting period. Primula malacoides were good plants for amateurs to grow. They were easy to cultivate, and hardy seed should be sown in October or November, and the plants pricked off into small pots first and later into four-inch, and finally sixinch pots. Plants flowering in four-inch pots made excellent plants for house decoration Soil suitable for them consisted of three-garts loam, one part leaf mould, and one part sand. They required cool treatment and shade from the hot sun.

Mr J. Tait, in moving a hearty vote of thanfe, congratulated both Mr Exler and Mr Shacklock on the high standard of tlie cultivation of the plants exhibited lie motion was carried by acclamation. there were on . exhibition by Mr L * ra /?r chrysanthemums, and by Mr A. 1. Al Carthy blue primroses.