THE GARDEN

Southland Times, Issue 25692, 29 June 1943, Page 6

THE GARDEN

A NEW PUBLICATION

By

RIWHI

I have just had forwarded to me an advance copy of Whitcombe’s Complete New Zealand Gardener by J. A. McPherson, N.D.H. The author will be well remembered by many readers as a former writer of this column and at one time superintendent of parks and reserves in Invercargill. At present he is on war service; he occupies the position of Director of the Botanic Gardens, Christchurch. Numbers of New Zealand publications have dealt with different aspects of gardening practice, several have embraced all aspects of the art, but none has so successfully placed before the amateur gardener a concise, practical, yet comprehensive review of the whole subject. Few writers have the wide experience which enables them to speak with authority on so many different topics as are presented chapter by chapter in this book. The lay-out of the chapters is on the whole unorthodox, but one comes to a chapter on lawns in which there are five pages of practical information clearly and logically set out and including such headings as “tender grasses,” “plants other than grasses,” “lawns and lime,” “sod-bound lawns,” “lawn pests.” Again among the most informative and valuable chapters are two on propagation which will enable every amateur to grapple successfully with the various procedures in growing stocks of young plants not only of flowers and herbs, but of trees, fruit trees and shrubs. Along with the text goes a set of excellent diagrams which indeed are a feature of the whole book. NATIVE PLANTS Other chapters deal with “gardening under glass,” “climbing plants,” “water lilies and bog gardens,” “house plants and window boxes,” “hardy trees and shrubs,” “tree surgery,” “ferns and ferneries,” “the rock garden,” and “orchilds.” Chapter XVI on “native plants” is a goldmine of information; eleven pages packed full of lists of species suitable for different purposes with brief notes as to their cultural needs and preferences. The publication of such a chapter in a book of this kind should lead to a greater appreciation of the use of the native flora in home gardens everywhere.

Many gardeners will have read “Vegetable Growing in New Zealand,” written by the present author and A. C. Pye. N.DJi. The section in “The Com-

plete New Zealand Gardener” follows a similar, but more restricted plan and gives sound and up-to-date information on the growing of all vegetables; dependable varieties are recommended, and once again a series of clear and helpful diagrams is interspersed with the letterpress. FRUIT GARDEN The chapter on the “Fruit Garden” is one that many a careless gardener might read with great profit. The fruit garden, especially in the Southland Province, which is not so suited as many other areas to the growing of fruit, is often neglected. The specific instructions given, of which that on “raspberries” is typical, should be followed closely and systematically and good results and harvests are certain to follow. The volume closes with a most useful exposition on garden pests and diseases containing much that will be new to many, and useful to all. For the benefit of those with short memories or brief experience, a gardening calendar for both the North and the South Islands is included. The whole production, apart from the war-time board cover, is one that the publishers may well be proud to place on the market for the very reasonable sum of six shillings and sixpence.