CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 77, Issue 297, 15 December 1934, Page 13

CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Dear Members, —As I write these notes this week the rain is falling and I am just longing to get out and transplant my young seedlings. Isn’t it joyous to watch the rain falling on your garden after such a dry spell? It seems to be singing as it falls and how happy the plants seem. It does not seem to be raining rain; it seems to be raining flowers. Do you now feel that way? I do this morning. I can see the beautiful flowers that will come along after this splendid rain. Now, dears, I know you have all been very busy with your school exams and I do hope you have all done your bestSome of you will be leaving school and your mates and will be facing your life-work. May I ask those of you who may be fortunate enough to secure positions to carry with you in your work the thought of “gratitude”? Go to work feeling that you are grateful to your master for employing you. Give to him the service that you think is right and proper. Take an interest in your work however small a part you may have to play.

IDuring your stay in the C.G.C. I have tried to show you that to grow beautiful flowers you must give your plants care and attention. Little things, perhaps, that seemed small to you have had to be done to have good quality flowers. So it is in life in your daily work. To be successful you must pay attention to the little things. Now, dears next week Uncle Wai is sending along his Xmas letter and I am sure you will all be looking forward to his cheery words. I am also publishing this week the annual report of the C.G.C. and I feel sure you will all agree that it has been a year of success. Thank you, dears, one and all.— “CARNATIC).” LETTERLAND. “Old Gumboot,” —Have noted your new address, so all gifts in future will be sent to your new address. Give your aster plants a good watering with liquid cow manure. The following week work a little lime into the soil round about the roots. Thank you for the kind greetings. Mrs. W.G.B.—Many thanks, for the aster plants. They were splendid plants and any member who called for them must be well pleased. These little gifts help our circle considerably. “Early Worm,” —Thanks, Neil, for refunding the postage. Pleased to hear about your garden. Transplant your lupins as socn as big enough. “Bird of Paradise,”—Yes, I quite understand how busy all my little friends have been with the school examinations and I am pleased to see you managed to send along a few lines. Thank you, Eileen, for your kind greetings. Let me know if you are successful with the seed. Mrs. J. P. C. Hammond, —I thank you for the interest you have shown in the circle. Yes, Dorothy is very keen and would fill the position well. Pleased to hear of the success Thelma has had with her plants. It is not too late to sow asters for a late crop. They will not grow into such big bushes as if planted earlier but they will, however, give quite a nice show of late bloom. Zinnias planted now will give you a nice show of bloom. “The Fairy Queen,” Always pleased to have a few lines about your garden. Do not be afraid to ask about any plant or flower that ig not growing as well as you would like it to. Margaret G.—Thanks for your letter. I have selected “Chrysantha” as a pen-name for Ann. C.G.C. ANNUAL REPORT. Ladies and Gentlemen .—ln presenting this, the second annual report of the activities of the Children’s Garden Circle, we, the sub-committee do so feeling that mere words seem inadequate when it comes to describing the wonderful progress the movement has made, particularly during this last year. To instil a love of horticulture in one is to instil a love of all things beautiful, and even if we have only partly done this, we feel that our efforts have not been in vain. The potential good that must emanate from an organisation such as this must have some influence on the future lives of the children and we feel, therefore, that the effort on our part has been well worth while. The membership continues to increase and now stands at 620 members, an increase on last year’s total of approximately 60 per cent. That the members continue to show a keen and active interest in the circle is evidenced by the fact that, during the year we distributed 4000 packets of assorted flower seeds. 400 packets of exhibition pansy seed, 400 packets of exhibition Iceland poppy seed, 650 exhibition gladiolus corms, 600 exhibition narcissi bulbs and 400 chrysanthemum plants. Our aim has been to distribute only quality seeds and plants and the cultural notes in the C.G.C. column of the “ Chronicle, ” together with personal supervision wherever possible, have been the means of making very keen gardeners of these young members. Anyone who has been fortunate enough to see the C.G.C. displays at various shows held during the year, must admit that the children haven’t very much to learn in the art of growing and artistically arranging flowers and other exhibits for exhibition. The C.G.C. section has been one of the outstanding features of each show and we feel that the society will not want exhibitors in future years. We should like to mention, in passing,that the movement is exciting considerable interest in other centres. A similar organisation has recently been formed in Palmerston North, while one is in process of formation in Otaki. Enquiries in regard to our activities have also been received from Wellington and Australia.

Receipts from all sources during the year totalled £62 12s 9d, while expenditure amounted to £4B 4s 4d, leaving a balance in hand for the new year of £l4 8s sd. The chief sources of income are the stalls, etc., held at the various shows, the greatest effort being made at the Spring Show. We should like to place on record our sincere thanks to all those good people who came forward and assisted in various ways to make the stalls such a success, not forgetting, of course, the splendid effort of the country members, who, although not being able to attend the shows personally, sent in gifts for the stalls. No one could help but notice the very artistic arrangement of the C-G.C. section at the last Spring Show, due mainly to the very excellent stands and the novel stall, The building of these stands was in the very capable hands of Mr. A. Weber-Todman and our thanks are extended to that gentleman for his splendid effort- *jd

tion such as this it would be well nigh impossible to thank individually all those who have assisted the circle in various ways during the year and we take this opportunity of doing so now. We should like, however ,to especially thank the following: The “Chronicle” management for their continued cooperation in allowing the weekly cultural notes to appear in their paper; donors of trophies and prizes, who have helped considerably to lessen the expense of running the circle; Mrs. Turner, who very kindly made another birthday cake, this time to celebrate the second birthday of the C.G.C.; “Uncle Wai” for his continued support in donating a considerable quantity of seed for distribution; donors of plants and bulbs for distribution and those good people who helped considerably by supervising the growing of themAt the recent Spring Show we celebrated the second birthday of the C.G.C., and the scene at the cutting of the cake was one that will leave lasting memories. The jdyous, happy abandon in which the children entered into the spirit of the celebration was worth travelling a long way to see. Summed up, the year has been one of wonderful progress and activity, although to run the circle on thoroughly organised lines calls for a lot of careful thought, hard work and not a little expense. In conclusion, may we make an appeal to one and all. To anyone who feels that they would like to assist the movement in some practical way, we extend a hearty welcome at any time. — For the committee, P. J. COX, Organiser. E. O. JACKSON, Hon. Secretary. STAKING Too often is staking put off until gales of wind and rain have more or less wrecked the garden. Staking should be done early rather than late. Almost any form of straight wooden stakes can be used, but for those who have to purchase them bamboo stakes are probably the best. Chrysanthemums, dahlias, delphiniums, coreopsis, gaillardia, liliums, gladioli are all needing stakes and tying just now.