The Week In The Garden

Southland Times, Issue 23180, 22 April 1937, Page 13

The Week In The Garden

(By

J. A. McPherson)

The Greenhouse

Seeds of carnations, pansies, and violas can be sown now. This will provide sturdy plants for setting out in early spring. Once the seedlings are large enough, do not keep them in a very warm house they' will do better in a cool frame. Protection from slugs is essential. * . Pot cineraries and calceolarias into their final pots and fumigate to keep them free from greenfly. Antirrhinums can be sown in boxes in a cool frame. This autumn sowing is not so liable to damping off as is the spring sowing. Last minute work with large-flower-ed chrysanthemums is most essential and here are a few points which will materially assist the many growers of this plant. Half-opened blooms can be assisted with their opening if watered with warm water and placed in a warm atmosphere. If they are in a glasshouse, then increase the heat slightly. Do not feed with any type of liquid manure plants that have the colour of their blooms showing. Flowers that have reached their zenith just a little early for the actual show date can be held back if the blooms are cut and stood in vases in a very cool room. This cutting should take place before the back petals begin to fade. To prevent blooms from collapsing at shows, see that ffie plants have an abundant supply of water a few hours before the blooms are cut. Then the blooms should be stood in water at least two hours before being sent to the show. Leaves on the stems when the blooms are staged are permissable, but remember that an excess of them will often cause flagging. Shrubs with Berries

Though there is much activity in the flower garden with the clearing away of summer plants and the setting out of bulbs and plants for the spring, a moment or two should be given to a consideration of those trees and shrubs which at the present time are a wealth of coloured berries. Of recent years a good number of fine berried shrubs have been introduced from Western China, while some of the older types of Pyrus (crab apple) have been vastly improved. Among the crab apples can be chosen the following: Pyrus malus var. Eleyii, a dark foliaged plant with large winecoloured fruits borne in wonderful profusion. Pyrus malus var. R. Nairn has golden yellow fruits borne in such profusion} as to weigh down the branches. The variety John Downing has very large and elongated fruits of a rich yellow splashed with crimson.. Then there is a variety called gorgeous with rounded fruits of a brilliant orange red. All these crab apples require plenty of sunshine to ripen the wood and must be attended to in the way of spraying for scale and mildew in a similar manner to ordinary apples. From China, most of the cotoneasters come, and these are, along with berberis, the best berry-bearing shrubs for small gardens. They are not fastidious as to soil and will grow equally well on a dry bank as in a well-culti-vated border.

C. horizontalis and C. prostrata are noted dwarf shrubs for the rock garden and the first named is equally at home when trained up a wall or fence. The berries of all cotoneasters, especially C. salicifolia, C. Henryii, and C. pannosa last for a long time on the bushes and the fairly recently introduced C. serotina will hold its berries right into the winter months. C. rotundifolia holds its berries all winter, while C. waterii is the latest introduced variety to New Zealand. Among the berberis, it will be found that B. wilsonae, B. brevipaniculata, and B. pratii never fail to give plenty of richly coloured fleshy berries, while the new hybrids, crosses recently made in England, have colour in the berries that really dazzles the eye, especially when seen under bright nightlight. For something choice, grow a plant or two of rosa moyesii, a species with rampant growth producing single red flowers, followed later by extra large hips or seed-pods. The hips are each over two inches long and dark maroonred in colour. Nothing can surpass this rose for decorative effect where berries and fruits are the chief consideration.

Vitis heterophy 11 a is a vine with porcelain blue berries, and a very hardy climber.' Do not overlook Crataegus mexicana. It is a small tree carrying large yellow fruits right through the winter. Birds do not attempt to eat them. Sometimes berry-bearing shrubs are disappointing in that they fail to set a reasonable supply of berries. This usually is the result of cultivation, the plants making so much growth that the wood cannot ripen sufficiently to produce flowers. This you will note happens with apples and the remedy in both cases is a little judicious pruning of the roots. Many a berry-bearing tree or shrub will give a much finer display when grown on hungry ground. The Lawn At this season of the year when lawns are being top-dressed and others sown down, our attention is directed to their correct feeding. With new lawns (sown with equal parts of Chewings fescue and brown top, at the rate of lioz to the square yard)', a dressing of superphosphate and sulphate of ammonia can be given at sowing time. Mix well together and apply at the rate of half an oz to the square yard. Mixing the manure with equal parts of sand will assist in even distribution. Always bear in mind that both Chewings fescue and brown top are “low fertility” grasses and if we over-manure with phosphates we are only encouraging the coarser grasses. Moss on lawns is best treated by applying sulphate of iron at the rate of half an oz to the square yard (mix it with sand to assist distribution). Where a close turf is required it is wrong to apply lime for it only encourages clover. Finally, no manures or moss remedies are of much use if the lawn is waterlogged, so make sure that drainage is correct before setting out to produce the perfect turf. The Vegetable Garden For the sake of garden cleanliness and to prevent the harbouring and spread of diseases, all refuse and spent crops should be gathered up and burnt. Vacant plots must be turned up rough for the beneficial action of rains, frosts, and sunshine. Blanch celery as it becomes ready, but remember that blanching is for whitening the stems only and is not intended as an essential part of the actual growing of the plants. That is to say, grow the plants first, and then blanch. Often the blanching is done far too early. Ripened crops such as onions, mar-

rows, pumpkins, and potatoes should be stored in a dry airy shed. Light is detrimental to potatoes in store. Land suffering from club-root should be heavily dressed with lime and all plants of the cabbage family kept off it for a year or two.

Flowering Shrubs

No garden can be considered to be complete which does not contain a few of the many beautiful free-flowering trees and shrubs. These provide masses of colour year after year, relieve the flat appearance of the garden, and provide backgrounds against which herbaceous plants are displayed to a greater advantage (says Popular Gardening, London). There is a large number of flowering shrubs from which to choose; but if I could find room to grow only one, I should choose Forsythia intermedia spectabilis. In April, when this shrub is laden with its masses of golden-yel-low, bell-shaped flov/ers it is a beautiful sight. So that the flowers may show to their best advantage, this Forsythia should be planted in front of dark-leaved evergreens. As well as being an excellent shrub to grow in bush form it can be trained over an arch, or pergola, and is also very effective when grown against a wall. My next choice would be made from among the many beautful varieties of Philadelphus or mock orange. These are remarkably hardy, free growing, and flower profusely. There are dwarf kinds which do not exceed sft in height and which are, therefore, ideal for grouping, and tall-growing kinds suitable for the backwf the shrubbery. One of the most popular dwarf sorts is P. virginal, which has white, sweetlyscented double flowers. Of the tall kinds P. norma is one of the best; it forms a bush 10ft to 12ft high and bears white blossoms averaging 2in across. Lilac is a favourite of most people, but inferior sorts are often seen in gardens, although the better kinds cost no more. For a pure white Mont Blanc is hard to beat, while Souv. de L. Spath produces immense spikes of dark red flowers. Charles X is a singleflowered lilac with rose-purple blooms. Deutzias are delightful shrubs when wreathed in their small white bellshaped flowers in early summer. They are amongst the hardiest of shrubs and will thrive in any ordinary garden soil. Deutzia gracilis grows 18in high and D. crenata flore pleno forms a sturdy shrub sft to 6ft in height. The former has white, fringed flowers and the latter double, pink-tinged blooms. The flowering currants (ribes) are delightful spring-flowering plants. They are suitable for a semi-shaded position and flourish in any kind of soil. Ribes sanguineum King Edward VII has deep carmine flowers, and R. delicatum rich pink blooms. Like those of Forsythia, buds of Ribes are often eaten by sparrows in spring; but a few strands of cotton stretched from branch to branch wll protect them. Other indispensable shrubs are the varieties of weigela (bush Honeysuckle). The trumpet-shaped flowers are borne in clusters, and so abundantly are they produced that the bushes are completely covered. Abel Carriere, rich pink; Eva Rathke, red; and Mont Blanc, white, are excellent. If the garden soil is light and well drained plant a few brooms (cytisus), for they provide a beautiful display in spring. Cytisus alba, white, C.Dallimorei, rose and mauve, and C. Firefly, yellow and crimson, are some of the best. Less well known, but very ornamental, is Staphylea colchia (the bladder nut), a beautiful shrub with pinnate leaves and large panicles of white flowers in summer. Pruning Hydrangeas Just as soon as the flowers fade is the best time to prune hydrangeas. Begin by cutting off the flower heads with one, two, or perhaps three pairs of leaves, according to their length, the idea being to make the bushes shapely, in addition to cutting off the faded heads. All weak and crowded shoots should then be cut right out, leaving as far as possible plants with a number of strong branches. After February none of the strong shoots should be shortened or pruned, as the time will be too short for the formation of growths sufficiently strong to yield flower heads the following season. The flower buds form at the ends of the growths during late summer and autumn. This is why it is so important to preserve all strong shoots intact during the winter. ■»

Folklore of Flowers From earliest times the violet seems to have been in requisition. There are frequent allusions to it in Homer and Virgil, while Pliny mentions a liniment of violet roots and vinegar as an excellent cure for gout. It was also considered good for curing ague if the first violet seen in the season were chewed. The flower, too, was always associated with death. This probably arose from the fact that violet blooms came early and were cut off before the summer had come; emblems of those who enjoyed the springtime of life only. There used to be an idea prevalent that if roses and voilets were still flourishing together in autumn, an epidemic would ensue in the following year.

“Garden of Flowers” Lord Craigavon, Prime Minister of Northern Ireland, wants the youth of Ulster to become “flower-minded” and to assist in making the province “the garden of the Empire.” When he distributed prizes to over 200 pupils of the Methodist College in the Ulster Hall, Belfast, he handed to each boy and girl a packet of seeds. “I launch in this historic hall,” he said, “the first adventure to make Ulster a garden of flowers. 1 '

Then he turned to the head master (Mr J. W. Henderson, M.A.) and asked him to give the pupils an extra holiday. When Mr Henderson signified that this would be granted. Lord Craigavon said, “I hope the pupil§ will occupy it sowing the seeds.” “I take tire opportunity of asking a favour of the young people of Ulster,” said the Prime Minister.

Ulster had tremendous potentialities for beauty, and he asked all young people to help him beautify it further. It could be done by the youth of the country. He wanted them all to become flower-minded in the beautifica- : tion of the province. In 1937 he ■ wanted as many as possible to buy a penn’orth of seed and sow it where it would be seen by the public. In time they would all become flowerminded, and Ulster, as well as being ■ called the most loyal part of his Majesty’s dominions, would be called the garden of the Empire. (Applause.) “I have brought with me,” said the Prime Minister, “packets- of seeds to show my sincerity and earnest desire—packets for all the children in the college. Those living in the city can try them in window boxes and in pots; those living in the suburbs have their gardens or their plots. The seeds are guaranteed to grow in Ulster soil and in the Ulster climate; therefore, I launch in this historic Ulster Hall the first adventure to make Ulster a gar- ■ den of flowers.”