CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 145, 20 June 1936, Page 13

CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Dear Members, — No, I am not going to write about the magician who brings out a lot of white rabbits, eggs, and quite a number of things out of a hat, when I told you last week that I was going to write about magie boxes. Perhaps I should not have called them magic boxes, for. according to the dictionary, magic is “The pretended art of producing marvels,” and in our boxes there is no pretence. Going down the street the other day, something struck my face, and I found that it was a small object shaped very much like a propeller blade; now, can you guess what our magic boxes are? As lam writing, on the table in front of me, I have one of these magie boxes. It does not look like anything wonderful —just a tiny bit of a brown box, packed full of some curious white stuff; but you’ll sec there is something strange about it when I tell you that, closely folded and packed within its shining brown covers, it holds a greater marvel than ever a juggler’s box unfolded—no less than a perfect beauty of a plant, with tender green leaves and rich clusters of fragrant flowers—a thing of inexpressible beauty that will be a joy in the summer time. Yet, if you open this box, you will see nothing remarkably wonderful, only a little powder-like stuff, without a hint of its possible glory. How, then, will I manage to draw the shy beauty out of its little brown covers, and unfold it to our sight? I’ll tell you. By and by, when the sun gets brighter and Mother Earth has got her old bones thoroughly warmed up, I shall carefully prepare a bed for my little brown box. Very carefully 1 shall lav it down, and cover it with a soft, line covering, and then I shall come away and leave it. The first drop of dew or rain that reaches the box will be greedily drunk up, or absorbed into it, the shell will grow softer, a wonderful little live thing, called a germ, .will seem to wake up out of sleep, stretch itself a little, push open the box and step out. When fairly out, part of it will start down into the earth for water and food, and another part will push aside the cover 1 laid over it, and show its pretty green head in the sun. So, my magic box is nothing but a seed! Well, yes, that is what we call it, but it is no less a miracle, and a marvel because it is so common we think nothing of it. Some other time I will tell you how it came to be a seed instead of a few atoms of starch and other materials. You see, wonders are really occurring all around us, if we would only look and see. Yours sincerely, A. WEBEU-TODMAX.

DEMONSTRATION AT WESTMERE > A demonstration took place at the Westmere Hall on Saturday afturnu-un last, the subject being decorative work and presentation boxes. The arrangements for the work were in the capable hands of Mesdames Norrie and Laird and to those ladies and others who assisted the C.G.C. tender their thanks. Westmere is certainly moving. Mrs. .Shanks demonstrated and the ■C.G.C. secretary was also in attendance. At the conclusion the boxes were sent to various sick people iu accordance with the C.G.C. ideals. A pleasing feature was the attendance of several members of the Westmere Cubs, so these boys certainly did their good deed for the day. It may be mentioned in passing that King Edward VII is very proficient in the decorative art, so they, or any other boys, are following a goud example. I am sure all the boys will agree that if they follow our very popular King they won’t go far wrong. MEMBERSHIP 1 have been asked several times about adult membership—can adults join the C.G.C., etc.? Any adult interested in the aims of thy C-G.C. can become an associate member, the subscription being 2s 6d pen annum. This membership helps us greatly financially as of course a movement such as this cannot be carried on efficiently without funds, so we appeal to all those interested to join up. After all, it is only a traction over a ha'fpeuny per week and surely our work in the interests of children is worth that. The a ,r c limit for active members, that is, children, is from eight years to sixteen, and from sixteen to twenty they may become senior members. Any information will be gladly given by “ Cariritio,” C/o. “Chronicle,’’ or by the lion, secretary, Mr. A. Weber-lod-man, 9 Lewis Avenue, Aramoho, ’phone .1433. . TO NUKUMARU. WAITOTARA AND I MAXWELL MEMBERS A demonstration will be held at Mrs. Handley’s residence this afternoon at 2 p.m. Subject, presentation boxes Please bring flowers and boxes if possible.

NEW MEMBERS Norinc Luxford, Utiku. Dorothy White, Taihapc. Mary Corliss, Westmere. Ann O’Reilly, Westmere. Kevin Fifield, Westmere. Ruth Bayne, National Park. LETTERLAND Dear Members, —I am very happy indeed to find so many members still remembering Letterland. Still I just wonder what has happened to many cf our older members. Just a line Or two would be so acceptable. 1 want you all to know that you are still all very dear to me and I do miss those members who have ceased to write. 1 think we will have to- have a “rally day.’’ Now, members, wc need all your help to stage our next big Wonder Show and we want, every member (old and new) to try and come along, so now—Felix the Cat, Flectwing, Cissio, Sunflower, White Butterfly, Little Miss Goldilocks, Blue Bird, Daffodil, Tui, Jenny Wren, Clematis, Konini, Red Admiral, Wisteria, Rio Rita, Tinker Bell, Queenie, Flower Lover, Squib, Goldilocks, White Lavender, Fusuhia, Brownie, Daphne, Sweet Sultan, Porticus, Laughing Lilac, Miss Candytuft, Carinalita, Bell Bird, Jasminuni, Wh'te Violet. Bill, Xmas Bay, Humus, Sunshine Susan, Toni .Mix, Huia, Snowdrop, Xmas Lily, Lincoln Lass, Steer Rider, Blue Bottle, Wattle, Shining Cuckoo, Maid of Taihapc, Scarlet Queen, Sweet William, Sunny Jim, Rangi-ora, Petangi Violet, Sweet Clover, Golden Oak, Sunray and many others. Where arc you all. “ Carnatio” is calling you to prepare for your own big show. Awake all of you. “Carnatio’’ is still captain of the big ship C.G.C. but some of the crew are missing. All hands on deck for our great C.G.C. Shew. — “CARNATIC.” “Red Carnation,” —1 am sorry your district is too far for us to give one of our demonstrations. However, perhaps in the summer a visit may be made. You need nut worry about your wallflowers. Firm the soil very hard around their roots if you want many flowers. We are fast nearing the 100 U mark in our circle. Pleased tu hear you like our stories. “Blue-eyed Daisy,”—l have given your little friend the pen-name of “Kowhai Bloom.” Me are indeed very happy to have her in our circle. Pansies and Iceland poppies would make a nice show in the spring, but you would require to put in plants be in time for early spring flowering, borne varieties of daffodils are shy blooms; the other reason is cutting the foliage off instead of allowing n to die down. Do you know the names of the varieties that are not blooming. ►Sprinkle some wood ash over the sou and lightly fork in. “Snow Sprite,’’ —Providing the punga is not too big it should transplant very easily. Cut off most oi the big fronds and dig well around the roots. Transfer as much soil as possible and give a good watering wflen placed in its new position, ham the soil fairly well and protect the young fronds with some sacking. 1 would be very happy to come to Raeti'hi some time if it can be arranged. “Bleeding Heart,”—Have given you the pen-name of the flower you are so fond of. We are very happy tu enrol you. We now have quite a number of members in your district. A gift of gladioli and seeds will be posted to you later. “Kowhai Bloom,” —A hearty welcome to you to the C.G.C. You have a very keen member in “Blue-eyed Daisy” and 1 hope you will be quite good pals. I will 1 send you a parcel of gladioli and seeds later for your garden. “Japonica,”—Have noted your new address and hope you are successful with your new garden. Glad to hear you appreciate the stories and like our C.G.C. page. We hope you will be able to come along to our big birthday show. “Brittania,” —Hope you are quite well again. We can do so little in the garden at present. However, spring will soon be with us again. Very few daffodils arc above the ground yet. Do not worry, yours will bloom in the spring. Yes, I hope our secretary wib be able to give us a story each week. “Aussie,” —Sorry have not been able to get the berry named. It must

be very rare. Try and raise some , plants from seed. Your collection of I berries must look splendid. Mary Corliss, —A hearty welcome to I you, Mary. I think your sister or I brother joined some time ago. Do they still take an interest in their garden? Wc now have quite an energetic circle at Westmere. I will arrange to have a small gift for your garden sent along to you. Ann O’Reily,—A hearty welcome to you also, Ann. Westmere is going tobe well represented at our spring show and I hope you will be able to help, too. Our* next distribution will be gladioli so I will send some to you as soon as they are ready. Kevin Fifield, —"Will, Kev, you want to be a gardener, too? Well, you have started right by joining the C.G.C. and 1 hope you will enjoy your stay with us. Yes, Kev, a parcel will be sent to you. Mrs. M.B., —Re your enquiry, I believe it is to take place at our next children’s show. Owing to the reorganisation it has had to- be postponed till then. Thank you for the continued interest in the C.G.C. Ruth Becker, —A hearty welcome to you also, Ruth. I suppose gardening is a hard task in the winter time in your district. A parcel will be sent later for spring planting for your garden. MANURES THE USE OF NITROGEN AND NOTASH Although plants arc built up for the greater part of some 1U to 14 elements, most of these arc supplied naturally by the action of air, water and the soil. The gardener himself is responsible for supplying only three or tour of these important elements. Those are nitrogen, phosphates, potash and lime. With these exceptions Nature provides everything necessary for a plant to live its normal life. Nitrogen is concerned mostly with the growth processes. It proves its presence by the development of luxurious leaves and stem development. A plant which is stunted with poor leaves and has a sickly appearance shows signs of the needed nitrogen. However, an excessive supply of nitrogen causes sappy and soft growth, winch causes the plant to be liable to attacks of disease or damage by rains or winds. This excessive supply of nitrogen can be avoided by the use of potash. (See paragraph referring to the use of potash.) Now let us see what are the best and most useful ways of providing the soil with nitrogen. Nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia are the most used. The former is quick acting and is soon lost in the soil with heavy rains. However, to give the plants that extra quick final “push” nothing is better, especially for show blooms if given a couple weeks before they are wanted. Sul phate of ammonia is slower in action and for this reason pe applied somewhat earlier. Blood is also a firs' class nitrogen supplier and is of a more even distribution than cither of above. 1c is valuable to plants in their dormant period when only sma I supplies are needed to keep them moving. Both blood and sulphate of ammonia are found in “complete” manures as usually sold by all seedsmen. Potash.—lt may generally be s'U‘l that where there is any danger ol some till-effect from excessive nitrogen it can be averted by the use of potash. The funtcions of potash are varied and many. It exerts a very beneficial effect'upon the development of young shoots and stems, preventing them from becoming too sappy on the ore hand or too brittle on the other. It is essential in the manufacture of these substances for the development of healthy foliage and has a decided action in improving the colour and qual ity of the flowers. Potash is available either as muriate or sulphate of potash. Tbvre is little to choose between them for most purposes. Both are completely water-soluble and so arc readily available as plant food.