WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5460, 11 January 1896, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS. Kitchen Gabden. — The work of last week can be continued.

Flower Gabden. — It will soon be time for gardeners and amateurs to order their bulbs for next season's display. Nurserymen, like others, give preference to early orders — it is a case of first come first served — so perhaps a few hints regarding bulbs that are most useful and showy for spring gardening may be useful. The hyacinth is a general favourite owing to its dwarf habit, delicious perfume and various shades of beautiful colours. Amongst the whites there are some grand varieties, such as Snowball, L' Innocence, La Grandesse, La Franchise, Queen Victoria, Voltaire and Baron van Tuyll in the single varieties; and Bouquet Royal, Grand Vainqueur, La Desse and La Virginite in the doubles. Good single red varieties are — Cardinal Wiseman, Charles Dickens, Delicatissiina, General Pelissier, Lord Macaulay, Robert Steiger, Moreus, Sultane Favourite, Solfaterre, Von Schiller and Vuurbaak ; doubles— Grootvorst, Le Grand Concurrent, Lord Wellington and Noble par Merite. Single light blue and porcelain— Amy, Czar Peter, Grand Maitre, Leonidas, Lord Derby, Lord Palmerston, Lord Byron and Regulus. In the dark blues, Bleu Mourant, King of the Blues and William the First are the best. Double porcelain and light blue— Bloksberg, Delicata, Rembrandt and Von Siebold. Double dark blue — Laurens Koster and Prince Albert. Single black' and dark purple — Siam, Sir Henry Barkly, Uncle Tom and Lord Melville. Single mauve — Sir Henry Havelock, Haydn, Jescho, Laura and Tolleus are all good varieties. In the yellows, Alida Jacoba, Duo de Malakoff, Herman, Heroine, La Citroni6re and Stuart Mill are among the best. Tulips are coming very much into favour again, and we cannot understand how they ever lost their charm, for we know of no more beautiful sight than large beds of these, as may be seen at some of our nurseries. Upwards of two hundred varieties are to be had here, so that the most fastidious should have no difficulty in making a nice collection, especially as they are not very expensive. Another point in their f avour is that they are very easily cultivated. The soil they prefer is a light sandy loam, and care should be taken not to plant them too deep -r-one inch and a half below the surface will be deep enough. The early single tulips are. mostly dwarf growing, and. suoh varieties as Cottage Maid, Belle Alliance, Bride of Haarlem, Cerise, Gris-de-lin, Couieur Ponceau, Golden Prince, Joost van den Voudel, Keizerskroom, Pottebakker white, Rembrandt, Rosamunde, and Vermilion Brilliant are really beautiful. Amongst the early double varieties Agnes, Arabella, Cousine, Duke of York, Gris-de-lin, La Candeuß, La Blason, Rose Blanche, Rex Rubrorum and Tourmaol yellow are the best. After the early varieties have done blooming the show varieties or exhibition tulips, which grow taller, keep up a succession of bloom. The named varieties are held in high estimation by florists and others, and are usually very expensive. In Ohristchuroh, hovefer, a very fine collection of them may be had at moderate prices ; we believe the best named sorts may be had at 69 per dozen. Such varieties as Gobertine, La Circassienne, Michael Angelo, Cramoisi, Emperor Nicholas, Henderson, Heillor, La Ohlrie, La Douloureuae, Lewald and La Sultane are all very fine. The parrot tulips are a most singular and picturesque section, with large, attractive and beautiful flowers, of the most striking and brilliant combination of colours. They are exceedingly effective in the flower borders, and are also useful for conservatory baskete, rivalling the richest orchids. ifTwirly all the named Yftrietie9 are proour-

able here. Coleur Cafe', Lutoa Lfrjor, Crainoisi Perfeetn, Constantirop>. Foil Brilliant; and Honrtre J'l-'^.i y~'ov art> amongst the best-. Somv el' ■ '■& tulipa species are also vorv :'J;:e, and most of them an; th? liiv/.r.^sfc ornaments in the garden In ihj yy/.-ing time. Elegaas, fuljran?, c:iri-.r, 4 r; ru'vv., Gregii ir<?.?i:orian: : . (major t\\i-i irr-ia: 1 ), luaeutotor major, Svlveit'-ir. r.ir.jor, or.-. 1 us aolir, l-'ersiea ;md viri'ii::':'?;;' art' ?M vs.-y.'vH varieties. Nams*!. we iMnt, ci>r_s'iin!:e the grandest F.ectw.) oi' all F-;>rhv: ou'iVa, and there are none so easy to cultivate. They have a wonderful constitution, and can be left in the ground for years without disturbing- them. A few varieties, such as incoinparabilis, Mary Anderson, cxpansus and pallidus pwu-co:: require more care, as they are not quite &o robust as the others. The narcissus are divided into three sections, t!:o magni-eoronali representing the Ajax or .vi'umpoi; . section, the crown or trumpet boino: as long or rather longer than the dins'iona of the perianth, ithe best, representatives of those are Countess of Annoslpy. General Gordon, Emperor, Golden Prineo, Golden Speer, Henry Irving, Maximus, Obvallaris, Shirley Hibberd, Bicolor Empress, Grandis, Horsfieldii princeps. White and sulphur varieties — Ceriums, Colleen 3awa, Exquisite, Mrs J. B. M. Cp.mra, RiHi-b? . Praocox, Princess Ida. Bnlbieodhuu also comes under this heading. Tlie lu-.'dio-coronati, with crown half as long as tho divisions of the perianth, comprise some of the most beautiful of this family, Barr's pceiuiss daffodils being the most showy. Bam connpicuns, Orphee, Beatrico . 3lr.?i*.:y, Maurice Vihnorin, Piora Wi'son ond otasation are all beautiful. The Leodoii fair : ly are very chaste; Ainibilis, L'o«ii?ico. Dir/heas of Westminster, Eleg-ans, Katl'.eri*io [•'->v.r---rell and ?ilirinie Hume :v. % e .'ill very i\:ie. Nelsoni major should r.ho hs,\e a place. The incomparabilis varieties are also very fine, especially Autocrat, E^pa«sr.s, Leedsii, Beauty, Sir W.ittin, Cynosure, Lorenzo, Princess Mary, Mary Anderson and Stella, the Parvi-eorouati, the small crowned daffodil or true narcissus, which includes Burbidgei, Poeticus, Bidorus and Polyanthus. The Burbidgei fr.jv.ilv hara some good representatives such hs (Burbidgei type) Palstaff, Edith Bell, John Bain, Model and Robin Hood. Tho bs^t of the Poeticus type is Poetarum, Ornatus, Auguatifoliuß and Poeticus, (type), Schlzanthes orientalis is aleo a good variety. The Polyanthus varieties are the most usefnl for cutting as they bear trusses of Sowers ; Bathurst, Bazelman Major, British Queen, Double Roman, Gloriosa, Grand Monarquo, Grand Primo Citronnico, Grand Soliel dOr, Her Majesty, Jawne Supreme, Newton, Paper White, Snowflake and Pearl White are all very useful.