NURSERY NOTES.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4243, 26 November 1881, Page 3

NURSERY NOTES.

♦ [by oub spbcial bepobtbb J NAIRN AND 80N8. Of the two thousand people who visited the Horticultural Exhibition, held on Nov. 9, in the grounds of the Agricultural and Pastural Association, there wero probably verj few who recognised the fact that to one of the Nursery firms exhibiting, no fewer than twenty prizes had fallen. The firm in question is that of Messrs Nairn k Sons, whose nursery at Addington, on the Lincoln road, is about as unpromising a spot for horticultural purposes as could well be imagined. The soil is a hard clay, and tho situation is bo exposed that all the winds that blow have an uninterrupted sweep; and on tho occasion of my visit I had experience of the amount of wind force which tender-looking plants will withstand, and gain new vigour from the struggle. Three years ago the Jfursery site was part of a large, open paddook. Now, it is fairly crowded with "good" things; the selection in every department having been mado with judgment; whilst any novelties, worth having, are Beeured at the earliest possible moment. On this account the Addington Nursery will afford much of interest for visitors; and at the . same time some useful hinte may be gained as to the beet modes of treating some of the gems of the gard eD. It will, no doubt, be remembered that, at a recent meeting of the Horticultural Society, Professor Bickerton showed some sprays of a white-flowering clematis (0. Montana), and gave some details showing that the growth was extraordinarily vigorous, and that the plants produced every year an almost incredible number of blooms. Atthe last Horticultural Exhibition, Messrß Nairn exhibited a selection from some 24 varieties of clematis grown by them; and they certainly managed to excite astonishment as well as admiration. There were fWers of a rich mauve, that had a diameter of from seven to eight inches ; " Beauty of Surrey " and " Sensation " being of this type. Others had an appearance so entiroly distinct that they seemed almost to belong to another family. If I were asked to seleot the two varieties which I considered most beautiful, in all probability two of the double flowering kindß would be chosen— "Fortunii," double white, and "John Gould Veitch," double mauve. So far as can be judged, many of the lovely plants in this class are perfectly hardy ; and it may be pointed out that tho more vigorous varieties are specially suitable for training as verandah screens, or for oovering unsightly walls or fences. I said, in commencing the series of Nursery Notes, that I should take my subjects very much at random 5 therefore I paßß from the clematis gioup to bulbs and tubers. Everybody nowadays is keenly alive to the fact that in any permanent flower garden bulbß must be freely used ; and it may be added that in New Zealand a highly satisfactory effect might be secured, during tb.e greater part of the year, by establishing what would be termed in England a Dutoh garden. Perhapß no flower Ib more widely popular than the narcissus; and 1 have no slight pleasure in calling attention to one or two of the new«r sorts. These are, a double, puro white, of fine form, atid delightfully fragrant; and tho poet's or pheasant-eye narcissus. The last mentioned has a oarmine edge to its cup, and seems to mo to be tho queen of the trib?. Then there are the babanias. The name, which comes to us from the Dutoh, signifies a bnboon ; but this seeming anomaly only has referenoe to the fact that baboons do not object to uso the bulbs for a dinner. Like other bulbous plants obtained from the Cape, the babaniaa present a great diversity of co'ouring, though shades of purple predominate. Any ordinary garden soil will euit them. Another charming group, also from the Cape, is the sparaxes. These are allied to the better known ixias, but are nevertheless very dhtinct. They are of dwarf habit, very hardy, and free flowering ; and they afford a wide range of colour, gome are yellow, some purple, Bomo white; and there are others which present combinatiois of these colours, and of rioh brown, red, orange, and lemon tints. I saw some that were extremely rich, and that will certainly bo in eager demand bo soon as their beauti* s become known. The clammy-juiced ixias a c being addod to, and it can be confidently asserted that the recent importatiori are decided improvements. Qhcre is a good double variety of the crimson ixia, which affords a wea'th of gloriom colouring, and when planted in clumps has perhaps a richer effect than any other garden plant. You may, nowadays, get ixias of this vivid crimson, of metallic green, of snowy white, of clear yellow, or glowing orange ; and you niety have combinations that are both quaint and striking. Then there ere those stately flowors, the hardy herbaceous paeanies, globular masses of white, or of various shades of roso and crimson. These things will grow anywhere ; and thoir effectiveness is as certain as the return of tho seasons. One other charming class of bulbous plants must not be overlooked. 9 here aro tho gracefully drooping hells of tho scillas, some of which aro moro generally known as blue-bells. But tho members of this family display distinctive habits; and the Pei uvian squill is co robust, and throws up its big spikes of dark blue flowors with such an air of self-assurance, that it would not ordinatily be recognised as a enter of the timid little Siberian exile. Not a few amateur gardeners liave experienced a desire to possess an ornamental pond or tank, and to see floating upon the surface the flagrant flowers of Nyniphea alba, tho white water lily of Great Britain. They can havo their cosire, in a modified degreo, easily enough ; and they may — if they choose —grow tho Aponogeton, that exquisite floating aquatic which comes from tho Oape, and has boen exhibited again and again at our Christchurch shows ; it ie remarkable not only for tho qunint formation of its twinspikei flowers, but also for its rich fragrance. Tho Mossrs Nairn grow such plants in perfection by Bimply digging holes in tho line of water distribution from their artesian, and planting the aquatics therein. It may be stated that the Arum, treated in the eamo way, will produce a fino effect. Thero is another source of pleasuro whioh anyone may enjoy. Those hanging baskets, which liavo lately beon made a prominent and most pleading feature at exhibitions and conversaziones, are bocoming so popular that thoy are boing manufactured in dozens at the Addington Nursery. You nisj eeo them thero of all sizes, and with the most diversified contents. The mossy Selagniolla geaorally forms tho groundwork, and through this vivid greon carpoting ferns and variegated foliago spring up. In the windows of drawing room?, in conservatories, under rcranduhe, thes*. baskets impart an aspect of elegauco. There is no reason why they should not bo home irade, and indeed, a lady recently tent 1110 a charming plant cradle, if I may so term it, in making which Bho had simply ÜBed email pieces of driftwood, picked upon the Sumner beach. Perhaps the bost war, for thoso who can afford it (and thoso baskots aro being sold at very modcrato prices), is to buy one from tho Nursery, and then mako others on the same principle, tho dosign being, of courso, capable of almost endless variation. Thoro aro hundreds of other things to bo seen at Nairn's, but spaco will not admit even of niero mention. Thoso who visit the plaro will observo that a variety of tho olive is making good progress ; that magnolias aro growit g us freely us cabhiigos commonly do ; that tho now peutst onions havo flowers equalling tlioso of the gloxinia in beauty ; and thut somo of the new geraniums, notably I hoso in the '" regal " section, uro marvels of form und colour.