SHRUBS SUITABLE FOR SMALL GARDENS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 19007, 7 May 1924, Page 7

SHRUBS SUITABLE FOR SMALL GARDENS

(By “Alkanet.”) Abutilons.—Several colours of this hybrid are grown—yellow, red, white, etc. They grow anywhere and should be pruned back hard in September each year. Abutilon Vitifolia and Vitifolia Alba are two hardy species, growing from 6 to 8 feet high. These should not be pruned until after flowering period (about end of November). These are very fine shrubs. Acer Polymorpham, (Japanese Maple) —These are some of the most beautiful shrubs known. They are slow growers, but quite hardy. If they are protected a bit from the sun they thrive better and the beauty of the foliage lasts longer. Some of the best varieties are —Atropurpurium, Scolipedendrom, Bubrum, and Osakazuki. Acer Palmatim is the parent variety. It is green, but turns to beautiful colours in autumn. It will grow well in any garden soil. Adenandra Uniflora.—This is a small shrub, growing to from three to four feet high and having pale pink flowers, for six months of the year if doing well. It must not be pruned except to keep in shape. Aloysia Citradore.—A very hardy decidious shrub, with scented foliage and white flowers. This should be pruned well back every winter. Andromneda Japonica.—One of the best winter flowering shrubs in existence; requires a damp place with shade overhead. It is exceedingly handsome and should not be prrned. Azalea Indica.—A range of small showy evergreen shrubs, very hardy and will grow an/zhfrn; in fact will flower best if not supplied with stimulant of any kind. The double flowering varieties are more exacting and require attention to bring into profuse flowering. These should not be pruned except when getting too large for their place. Azalea Mollis.—These varieties are of most gorgeous colours and are not known or grown as much as they should be. They are a most desirable shrub, growing from two to three feet high and thriving when protected from the midday sun. They should not be crowded and should be reduced in size as soon as they are over the flowering

period or else they will become stunted. Boronia.—An exceedingly and justly popular shrub with showy flowers, which are very strongly scented. These are often short lived; but if planted in ordinary garden soil, where they do not get the midday sun, will do much better than usual. They should not be allowed to get too dry in summer and if pruned well back at the end of the flowering season they will make better growth and live longer. They are very much subject to attacks of Aphis. As soon as any sign of this appears they should be sprayed with a weak solution of either lime sulphur or nicotine. The best known varieties of Boronias are— Elateor (Red), Megastigma (brown), Pinnata (pink) and Lutea (yellow). Barberry.—A large number of these shrubs are grown. They are best suited for a cold and wet locality, as their chief beauty lies in their autumn foliage and berries. Cantua.—A warmth-loving shrub suitable only for coastal districts. The flowers, which come in the spring, are very gorgeous and graceful and worthy of a place in any garden. Two varieties are grown locally, namely Depen dens and Hybrida. They should be pruned after the flowering season is over to keep the plant a good shape, as they get rather straggly if left. Callycanthus Praecox.—A winter flowering sweet scented bush, very desirable and very extensively planted. It grows about 4ft. high and should be pruned into shape every spring before the growth starts. Callestemon (Australian Native). — Some of these are very handsome. They will grow in any garden s’oil, and usually flower very freely. They are inclined to be very straggly and should be well pruned after the flowers are over to keep in shape. Salignau, the yellow flowering variety, is noted for the colour of its young growth, which is bright scarlet, and lasts for a considerable time, giving the plant a very fine appearance. • Shoisia Ternata (the Mexican Orange Flower). —A very hardy and ornamental evergreen shrub, which will grow in any garden soil, and should be pruned to keep it in shape only. Cerasus (Japanese Flowering Cherry) —A strong growing tree of various coloured flowers, of which the double varieties are more prized. These are usually too large for a small garden, but one or two would not be out of place and would certainly make a magnificent show them in flower. If they grow too large they should be reduced after the flowering season is over. They are subject to attacks of the leech, but one spraying of arsenate of lead early in November will keep them free all through the summer. The foliage of these in the autumn is very beautiful. Clianthus (New Zealand Native). — A very gorgeous shrub, bearing bright scarlet or white flowers in early spring. This shrub is often allowed, through want of pruning, to grow very unsightly. It should be cut well back to ensure young growth which will flower most profusely the following spring. Cotton Aster.—These shrubs, which are noted for -their berries, will, being very hardy, grow well in almost any locality. They should not be pruned too much as the berries are carried on the old wood, and should not be given any stimulants as they will berry more freely when stunted.

Cupressus.—Evergreen trees or shrubs, very handsome, especially the variegated or yellow varieties. They are very hardy, will grow anywhere, and should not be pruned. Cydonia (Japonica).—An early spring or winter flowering shrub on which the flowers appear before the foliage. There is a large assortment of Colours in these. They will grow almost anywhere and flower best when stunted. They should not be pruned except to keep in shape. Carnations.—Now is the time to plant carnations. They should have a bed or border to themselves. The following points should be kept in mind if you want good flowers:—They do not like shade, they do not like excessive wet, they do not like trees or shrubs overhanging, they do not like fresh manure, they do not like rank weeds growing among them. They do like light sandy soil, they do like plenty of drainage, they do like plenty of sun, they do like a little old lime or rubbish or weak stimulant before coming into flower, but not at any other time. They should be sprayed with lime sulphur in winter, they should be hoed regularly, they should be renewed by layering before they aje more than two years old. When making a bed for them, dig it two spits deep, mixing a little old stable or cow manure or a very little bonedust with the bottom spit and adding a liberal allowance of sand with the top of the spit if your soil is stiff. Raise the bed about eight inches above the surrounding ground unless your land is naturally sandy. Plant them out 9 to 12 inches apart. Do not tread on the bed. Plant fairly deep, but not too firm.