CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 45, 22 February 1936, Page 13

CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Dear Members, — The committee of tihe C.G.C. will be ‘ making a free distribution of daffodils to all members who joined the C.G.C. since last December. Also all the prizes (daffodil bulbs) won at the last two shows will be forwarded to winners. Some splendid exhibition bulbs are being sent as prizes and I hope members will take great care of them. Winners of champion blooms at the C.G.C. spring show have been sent special bulbs and are sure to be rewarded with some splendid blooms. I would like members to join with me in thanking the donors of these special bulbs. If any member who won a prize at either of the last two shows, does not receive their prize before next Saturday, 28th., will they please communi- j cate with me or to Mr. A. Weber-Tod-man, 9 Lewis Avenue, Aramoho, the secretary of the C.G.C. Now, dear members, it has not yet been decided whether we are to have a special show again in September. I sincerely hope we do. However, it is now time to prepare things for your spring display. Pansy, Iceland Poppies and winter flowering sweet peas can now be sown; Ranunculus, anemone, daffodils can also be planted for spring flowers. I hope the terrible storm has not disheartened you. Just think of the terrible time some of the farmers have gone through. Some of our little members are still hemmed in with the slips and I know* of some who were in Wanganui for a holiday and thev cannot reach their homes. Many of our little members will not be able to get to school till after winter. Still, they all have to carry on and so, members, to your i gardens with renewed determination I for a better garden next spring. “CARNATIC.” LETTERLAND. ‘•Golden Marigold.”—lt is very pleasing to find the members of I’utorina so loyal to Letterland. 1 am posting you the special bulb this week and hope it will give you a good flower. “POINSETTIA”.—I am sorry that I have not any anemone or ranuncula bulbs. I will be sending you some daffodil bulbs next week, so I hope these will do instead. Do you sec our notes each week? “Pink Heather.”—Yes, sec this week’s notes on gladioli. The poor dahlias certainly were terribly damaged and I am afraid many of our members’ gardens have been spoilt. Do not Utt your broken gladioli until six week.' after flowering. Yes. L will replace Bernadino for you. The bulb show will be held in September. “Billbird.”—l will arrange to have a little parcel sent to you. I am pleased to see the interest you are taking in your garden. “Shasta.”—You will be sorely disappointed after the storm. However, little gardeners must start again and get things ready for a big spring display. “White Wings.”—T cannot say definitely if wc will be having another children’s special show in September; I sincerely hope we will. However, I want you all to get your plots ready and have a good garden in the spring. ‘•Miss New Zealand.” —What a big surprise to hear you are now in Wellington. I hope you will spread the good nows of our circle amongst your school pals. Do you have gardens at the school? If so T will send down a little package for your garden. Do you see <he notes each week now. \\ e will miss you aA our next spring show. THE TWO WINNING ESSAYS THE BENEFITS WHICH I HAVE GAINED THROUGH JOINING THE C.G.C. I have been a member of the C.G.C. for just over two years and 1 am very pleased I joined the circle, for I have had great benefits bestowed on me since I bcame a member and our garden has also benefited from the seeds and plants have been given to us. It is very interesting working lookin'' - after a garden; sowing the seeds and waiting for them to show through the ground. Keeping the weeds from choking the plants and transplanting rhe. plants to their permanent positions when they arc big enough and where thev are to bloom and make brightness irr the garden. Keeping regular look outs among the young shoots for anv insects which may harm the plants in any way. When the flower bud appears, watching it unfurl to see what kind of a flower it is going to be. i After a. tiring day at school I find ■ a few minutes out among my flowers; very helpful and restful. I think tin , children of the C.G.C. should be very grateful to the convenor who has given his time so willingly to make the circle a sucess and the supervisors who periodically come round and instruct us in the growing of plants; and all who have donated seeds, bulbs, and plants and al] those who have assisted in any wav; but we must not omit the lady who has st; willingly given up her time to instruct us in decorative work for many of us know how to decorate vases, make posies and presentation boxes and other interesting things which we can now enter for in different flower shows. “These, are only a few of the benefits that 1 have received through joining the C.G.C. and T am sure, you will agree with me that it is a great p;.easu re. To me the meanest flower that blows can give Thoughts that do often lie too deep for tears. LILIAN ADAMS (15 years). 34, Ballance Street, Aramoho. THE BENEFITS I HAVE ENJOYED THROUGH JOINING THE GARDENING CIRCLE. When I first joined the C.G.C. J was asked to call at the “Chronicle” office, I where I found a number of packeted seeds waiting for me. I. planted these and a few months later I had the joy of having a garden of my own. What great excitement it was waiting, and watching my first flowers come open and how pleased I was with my first beautiful blooms. My first attempt at growing daffodils was a great pleasure to me and when the blooms came I was very proud of them and had a number of friends to see them. A little later I had to go into hospital but the joy of my garden followed me there for Mother used to bring me bunches and bunches of flowers, especially pansies. At Christmas time I was able to give joy to many others by the beautiful coreopsis,

from my own garden winch did for table decorations. Also another great joy I ha.m ieceived since being a C.G.C. member ?s corresponding and making of new friends. Then the great, day came when I was allowed to go home. My parents and sisters had my garden in good order and there was a wonderful show of asters. It was some time before I- couhl do any gardening outside, so 1. started making dish-gardens. I used to lie on the couch ami busy myself with those miniature gardens. It is a pleasure to go to the shows, especially the children’s part, to see the wonderful work exhibited by our members. We all work hard for these events and 1 am sure all the people who have seen our displays have greatly enjoyel the efforts of the children in their varied floral works. Also demonstrations and lectures given, every fortnight, so kindly by friends of our leaders. ENID JAMES fl:’, years), 31, King's Avenue, GonviJle. WEEKLY TALK ON DISEASES OF POPULAR FLOWERS SECOND SERIES. CARNATIONS. Often described as a “man’s flower,” carnations have always been one of our most popular flowers. Highly scented, of splendid form and to be had in almost every colour those flowers are now to be found in every garden. Fortunately, the carnation is subject to few diseases. Rust is the most troublesome. A r el lo wish-brown spots appear on the leaves am] quickly spread over the whole leaf. This rust is a fungoid disease, falling from Die ; leaves, it remains in the soil, ready 1<; attack o>ther plants sown in the same soil. Rust is easily controlled c u carnation plants. When plants are attacked, the diseased leaves should be pulled off and burnt. A dusting of r.irslacked limo every month for three months will soon put, the plants right. Do not be afraid to thoroughly dusflhe lime all over the plant. Personally. 1 keep the lime in a sugar-bag and shake the bag above the plant, the Ume coming through the bag and thoroughly dusting the plant. This method is quick and no lime is lost. Choose, if possible, early morning when the plants are covered with dew. The lime wi.l then stick in the plants and be more effective. Remember to use “air-slaked lime.” When plants are badly affected dust every month for three months and then once every three months is sufficient. If the foliage is a healthy green colour you have nothing further to fear. Overhead watering on the plant is a cause of this disease. Tae second disease is “stem rot.” This is caused by too-deep planting, nr planting in too wet-soil or allowing weeds to cover the plant in the winder time. When planting carnations make sure that the drainage is sufficient to keep the soil around the plant only reasonably moist. Plant carnations depth so that the first pair of leaves is about an inch above the If the plant has a long stem from the bottom leaves to the root (caused through faulty layering) lay the plant in the soil so as not to have the root too deep. The sun will straighten the plant as it grows.