PLANT LOVERS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 19986, 29 June 1920, Page 7

PLANT LOVERS.

TO TIIK EDITOn. Tho recent visit of the Prince ot Wales has recalled many pleasant recollections of various interests in horticulture. A moment's thought, and wo are reminded of tho wonderful influence which Quen Victoria had in encouraging a taste for plants and flowers. In looking bade seventy years I have a clear recollection of tho plants and flowers winch pleased the people. Jho most popular flowers wore, roses carnations, gold laced polyanthus, auriculas, pansies, violets, primroses and tulips. It was considered a groat luxury to have a greenhouse, or u“hotte Se, Pi«-V ,l ’*^ tcr tho Exhibition of tool, there was a mighty movement tor the collection ami distribution of new plants, and the builders of cheap greenhouse's vied with cue another in building tho cheapest, until ono proposed cheap greenhouses lor flin million. Then about 1870 there bemm the new plant fashion, when the whole v.rnld of plant lovers was awaitiim the discovery and distribution of new or i rare plants Up to this time ih e most wonderful plant was the Victoria Rena water lily, with leaves six feet across, Mowers rose wmte, and in IBoM I «n v d m flower in the hothouse at the Roval hMff enS Ti K °' V ’ JllS , fc bof 9 r « 1 ,tJ ft Engaud. Iho new plant fashion in Ermand soon spread to New Zealand, until there was quite a. rivalry as to who got the hist new plant. It was ploadng lo see the lively interest in hcnicultuu- flio doraaml for new plants giev, .both stove and greenhouse being .m high lavor.r. Then lino foliage and i anegated waved plants were in gr oa t demand, and tho most notable thinewas teat our most beautiful kind rif fa. w« l„ml T t7 !t “ ual othei Kinds were discovered, and one could find many plants of vanegated cocksfoot grass, and many other plants with variegated leaves. One might lancy it a ,-atdu'ng complai i (luring that time. It was not expected tha. tho demand for .new plants would be great, so alter a, time tho interest mit began to decline. | (]o not tlioio is ball the enthusiasm to-day among the gardeners as there was tlftv years ago About this time there was a demand for terns, till it was thoimlit the proper tiling to be fernist. °l n every homo might be scon nice pots of terns, _ and many backyard corners were nice ferneries. 1 hope there will lie a revival or an miererest in ferns and better cottage gardening i n Canterbury, lor _ where there is a, will there is a, way to erect in anything. There is muchppea.j ea . sure in doing and achieving, and ibis also applies to our young '"folk 1v ] l() might find new joys from the ’as vet undiscovered beautiful in Nature. Lot them acquire tiio habit of observation and see the many various forms of fern leaves and flowers. They will always find pleasure in their walks abroad even in seeing the wa-jddo gardens’ Then there is much vdcßsufe in learning how to make up collections of dried pressed ferns, leaves and flowers for fern albums. Then learn how to make leaf impressions or Nature printing of fern leaves and flowers.—l am, etc. , JOHN DUTTON. 1 Jubilee Heim;, Vuolslcu.