THE GARDEN

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 236, 24 December 1927, Page 24

THE GARDEN

BY LEONARD A. GRIFFITHS, F.R.H.S.. F.N.Z. Inst.

INQUIRIES FROM PUZZLED GARDENERS. Any inquiries by our readers on the subject of gardening will be answered in our “Puzzled Gardeners’ Column" in the following Saturday's issue. All letters must be addressed to the Garden Editor and forwarded to THE SUN Office on or before every Wednesday. Any specimen to be named must be packed securely in a strong box to prevent crushing in transit.

“May your Xmas be a happy one, Your New Year a prosperous one And your garden a joy.” CHRISTMAS FLOWER DECORATIONS “Flowers are Nature’s Jewels.’ 3 Flowers and Christmas are inseparable. They are the silent, ever-welcome guests at the table, the ambassadors of brightness and joy. Nothing pleases, refines or enthuses more than these harbingers of happiness. They radiate sunshine, beauty and good-fellowship wherever displayed. At this time of year the shops and gardens abound with choice blooms of carnation, cornflowers, gladioli, lilies, roses, pansies, gerberas, in great variety, and the decorators are sometimes at a loss to choose between these subjects. Christmas lilies bring with them the spirit of the festive season and every home should endeavour to obtain one flower at least of this exquisite bulb. This year they are much earlier and a shortage at this period may occur. Sweet peas are now plentiful and are exquisite for table decoration, but do not keep well if the weather is hot and often fade indoors. Gather them in the early morning and they will keep much better.

Gladioli are most imposing if arranged in large vases or bowls. The local florists are now offering many new and pleasing shades which tone in with any colour scheme. Gladioli are best picked in the late afternoon, choosing those spikes with four or five blooms open. If,the spikes are allowed to lie for a few minutes in the sun they will keep much better in water. Gerberas are beautiful and are to be had in dainty tints. They lend themselves to artistic arrangement and are graceful in every position. One could not gowrong to choose them for cut glass or silver bowls.

CHRISTMAS MISTLETOE A SACRED BUSH Of all seasons, Christmas is the most gleeful in the happy homes of Old England and, of all her ancient customs, the one that appears least likely to be forgotten is the very pleasant kissing under the mistletoe bough. Long may it last in all its jollity. The Druids in early ages held the tree in great awe and it was looked upon as most sacred. The mistletoe is a parasite and the seed grows on branches of other trees. Early in the New Year the Druids went in solemn procession to the woods seeking the sacred mistletoe, and, when discovered, an altar was built round the tree on which the plant grew. On the sixth day of the moon the head Druid climbed the tree and cut off with a golden sickle the mistletoe, which dropped into a white cloth. Two white

A mistletoe bough in the making. The seed is often “sown” by a misselthrush (1). Later a single pair of leaves appears (2), which, the following year, becomes two pairs (3), then

bulls were then offered as a sacrifice and the plant blessed by the priest and distributed amongst the populace to prevent disease and witchcraft. In Holmstem, the country people called the mistletoe the “Spectre Wand,” from the supersition that if a person holds the branch it will enable them to see and speak with ghosts. The Scandinavian Apollo, Balder, was charmed by his beautiful mother Friga against all injuries from the elements, but Loke, the evil spirit, made an arrow of mistletoe which grew upon a tree and with this the handsome Balder was killed. The gods were very angry and by their combined efforts Balder was restored to life and the mistletoe plant was dedicated to his mother Friga, who was the Scandinavian equivalent for Venus. From the fact of its being protected by sjjich a godlike person, arose the quaint custom of kissing under it at Christmas. On that eventful eve the young folk gather with great solemnity and under the sacred bush hanging in the hall the girls are all kissed with great rejoicing. Under the mistletoe, pearly and green, Meet the hind Ups of the young and old , Under the mistletoe hearts may be seen Glowing as though they had never been cold.

CHRISTMAS LILIES AND THEIR CULTIVATION Consider the lilies how they grow, they toil not , neither do they spin. Nothing can equal the Christmas or Madonna Lily (Lilium Candidum) for altar and church decoration. These hardy bulbs are easily grown under normal conditions, if the following instructions are observed: — Plant the bulbs during the months of July and August in a partially shaded

position. They require some sun, but do better if shaded from the hot rays during the mid-day. One cannot lay down fast rules as to their planting situation, as the same lily may flourish equally well under a totally different aspect; but when found in their native state, are always growing within the shade of trees and on wooded hillsides. Any good garden soil will suit L. Candidum providing it is well dug, and has good drainage. Place the bulb about three times its own depth, in a mixture of leafy soil and sand. The

sand often prevents the attack of worms and insects. Once the bulbs begin to show above the ground, continual hoeing of the surface will prevent the soil from becoming hard and set. Sometimes canker disease attacks the bulbs. This is generally caused through too much wet. As soon as they begin to throw up the flower spikes, care should be taken to protect them from spvere winds, and occasional staking may be required. The flowers may be picked when in bud, and will open up in water. The buds open from the bottom, and the stem may be kept for weeks with repeatedly changing the water and picking off the withered blooms, thus allowing the buds to fully mature.

CHRISTMAS INSTRUCTIONS Now that school holiday time is here and everybody is rushing about from place to place, indoor plants suffer more than at any period of the year. With the house shut up and the windows closed all day and the sun beating down on the iron roof, many deaths are caused in the plant life. Perhaps the most popular of drawing-room plants are the palms and aspidistras. These are really not hard to grow, although many complaints are often made by people who do not understand their treatment, and invariably neglect accounts for many palms dying off. A few short hints on the principal facts of indoor pot culture may prove helpful. The most important thing to remember when buying a new palm is to be sure that you procure it from a reliable shop or nursery man; beware of hawkers or auction rooms, as invariably palms and plants picked up cheaply are

four pairs (4), the mistletoe plant exactly doubling in size each year. At (5) is shown how the roots of the plant work their way into the heart of the branch of the parent tree.

diseased and not properly established. . Every three or four months an application of liquid manure or Clay fertiliser, weak solutions, could be used with advantage. This should be sufficient to give the foliage a nice green, healthy appearance. Palms require fairly small pots and with the help of a little manure they should not need repotting for at least two years. Pot plants should not be allowed to become dry or caked hard. The best way is to plunge the pot in a pail at least twice a week and leave to soak for half an hour.

Scale often takes its toll on palms, attacking the foliage. A weekly sponging of water will keep the leaves clean and reduce the likelihood of disease. Never expose the foliage to the sunlight, as the warmth turns the leaves yellow and often scorches them. If these few simple hints are remembered the loss of palms should be

THE LEGEND OF THE HOLLY MEANS FORESIGHT Of the many evergreens used by the English at Christmas, none is so popular as the holly. It is emblematic of that festive season, and the writers of antiquity ascribe many wonderful properties to the holly. The disciples of Zoroaster, the fire worshippers, believed that the sun never shadowed the bush and followers of that great philosopher still remaining in Persia, and India are said to throw water impregnated with holly bark in the face of a new-born baby so that the sun shall always shine on the child. During the festivals of Saturnalia, which occur about Christmas time, the Romans sent holly sprays tfO their friends as a mark of their good wishes. During winter in some countries, it is customary to beat the feet with holly branches when affected by chilblains, as the pricks are supposed to have marvellous curative powers. ITolly also goes by the name of Aunt Mary's Tree, Christmas tree holly, holm, hull, prick hollin, liulver and he and she holly. The latter are names given to the trees with and without prickles. In the time of Pliny, holly was planted near the houses to ward off lightning. The name so resembles holy that it was said to cause witches to be afraid of the tree. It was also supposed to possess virtues as a dream plant and was used on Christmas Eve and Hallowe'en. An anxious lover would place three pails of water in her bedroom and pin three leaves of holly to her night dress, near the heart and then go to sleep. As the story goes, she will be awakehed by three yells and three hoarse laughs.

When they have died away her future husband will appear. . Wreaths of holly were sent for congratulation at a wedding in Rome. According to an old tradition, if a holly stick is thrown at an animal, even without hitting it, the dog would return and lie down by it. Bird lime is made from holly. In the Black Forest the natives make a tea from it. Apart from its beautiful scarlet berries and lovely foliage, the holly has other ’connections which render it, at least in England, the most beloved of plants. The rose nor modest violet do not produce such tender feelings in the Briton’s heart. Long, long may Christmas, crowned with this emblem, knit in bonds of loving brotherhood, man to fellow man. FIGHTING INSECT PESTS The following insects are increasing in numbers, viz:—White Mussel Scale, Mealy Bug, Fern Aphids, Thrips on Ferns. Woodlice, Slaters and Slugs Continue to use the calcium arsenate poison baits. These baits will soon destroy all these destructive pests. Light-brown Apple Moth The small, green, active caterpillars of this moth are now to be found destroying the leaves of begonia (Rex) and other glasshouse plants. Spray with arsenate of lead. Painted Apple Moth. Keep a look-out for the wooly tufted caterpillars of this destructive moth, which are now to be found on begonia, aspidistra, ferns, orchids, and other plants. Spray same as for light-brown apple moth. Oleander Scale. This is a very common, round, whitish, or light-coloured yellow scale, often covering the leaves of palms, aspidistras, orchids, and other plants grown in the glasshouse or fernery. When the scales are removed the leaves are all blotched and unsightly. Spray with starch spray. The starch should be allowed to remain on the leaves for a few days before being washed or hosed off. Ants on Orchids These troublesome insects often congregate in numbers on the flowers, especially young flowers, of orchids, and make the plants look unsightly. Spray with black leaf 40.