FLOWER GARDEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLII, Issue 20503, 22 August 1936, Page 15

FLOWER GARDEN

THE DAVIDIA A VERY RARE TREE First discovered as long ago as 1869 by the Abbe David in Central China, it was not introduced to Europe till 1897. In that year Pere Farges sent Maurise de Vilmorin 37 seeds, but only one germinated, and that two years later. This plant grew and flowered in May, 1906, at Les Barres. The next step in the history of Davidia in Europe was Wilson’s first expedition to China for Messrs. Veitch in 1899-1902. when several thousand seeds were sent home. These germinated well, and trees from this seed flowered in May, 1911, at Coombe Wood. It was then noticed that the leaves of Vilmorin’s tree differed from those of the trees raised from Wilson’s seed in that the former were felted with thick, grey down underneath. In 1903-1905 Wilson again went to China for Messrs. Veitch, and this time he saw the two kinds growing together. He sent back seed gathered from the hairy-leaved tree. This germinated well, but it was a long time before the seedlings exhibited the hairy character of the parent trees, the species originally discovered by the Abbe David, and to which the name D. involucrate must be given. Davidia involucrata riana are two of the most remarkable of the many flne trees and shrubs introduced from China. Both are perfectly hardy, and one at least has flowered in a New Zealand garden. D. involucrata, the one which has flowered, has been called the “dove tree.” the remarkable bracts on the drooping stalks resembling a flock of doves hovering in the branches. It is a deciduous tree, reaching a height Of 40 to 65 feet in its native habitat, and resembling a lime tree in general appearance. Its leaves are a vivid green, about three to six inches long and about three-fourths as wide, heart-shaped at the base, with the apex drawn out into a long fine point. Flowers are produced in early summer with the strongly-scented young leaves, from the buds of the previous year’s shoots, and they are crowded in a rounded head and borne on drooping stalks. It is not the flowers which are conspicuous, but the two (rarely three) enormous bracts to which each flower head is suspended. These bracts are white or creamy white, hooded, oblong, pointed, and of unequal size, the lower one being the larger, sometimes nearly six inches long and half as wide. The upper bract is about half as wide. The upper bract is about half the size, and stands above the flower-head like a canopy. This tree can now be supplied by some of the North Island nurserymen. GARDEN HEDGES

Evergreen hedges of Cupressus macrocarpa and C. Lawsoniana, Thuja plicata and T. occidentalis, and Holly, may be planted now in ground which has been well-prepared by trenching and manuring during the winter. Unless an immediate screen is designed, small plants from twelve inches to eighteen inches in height will give the best ultimate result, besides being much less costly than larger specimens. Small plants are also easier to establish. and by judicious tipping of the growths during the first two seasons a good base can be secured, which is a most important matter and one not easy to correct after the young hedge has grown above the four feet mark. The young trees should be set at eighteen inches to two feet apart, and after planting each specimen should be staked to hold it firmly in position. A surface mulch of light strawy material should be laid along each side of the hedge, covering the area so far as the roots extend. Should drying winds prevail, the mulching should be preceded by a thorough watering, while in exposed situations a wind-screen of Wattle hurdles on the north and east sides may be advisable for a few weeks. Young hedges which have been planted during the past two seasons may be pruned now. using a good pair of secateurs to cut back the side growtlis, and tip the leading shoots to ensure a bushy habit. The soil on each side should then be lightly forked up, without disturbing the roots, to a width of two feet on each side of the hedge, to form a tilth for summer cultivation by hoeing, which is of the first importance in maintaining active growth, and neglest of which is a frequent cause of failure.

Old hedges which show signs of deterioration will often respond to treatment consisting of the removal of the loose top soil to a width of two feet on each side, and the application of a good dressing of farmyard manure to the roots, afterwards replacing the top soil over the manure, some good new soil may be applied in similar manner, for which purpose fresh loam, with the addition of bone-meal, soot and wood-ash, is very suitable and should be made quite firm by treading after it has been put in position over the roots.