CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 305, 26 December 1936, Page 13

CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Dear Members, — Once again Christmas is here! The year is near its close, and will soon be but a memory, but that memory, however, will retain much of the fragrance and beauty of our gardens, and all of us will be< the better, and the happier for its teaching. To all the members of our great Circle, and those associated with it, I greet each and everyone of you everywhere, and trust that you will all have a Merry Xmas, and that the New Year will bring you Health, Joy, and Happiness. Yours sincerely, A. WEBEIi-TODMAN, F.R.H.S.

Dear Members, I know all o£ yo : are in a happy mood to-day and s , we all should be. Christmas time i to all ol us, the most joyous time o our lives. Presents, holidays, am kind wishes fire freely exchange: and to us all, even the grown ups Christmas time is a very happy one Now members, before sending you m; New Year greetings, may I drav your attention to those little job that are sometimes forgotten in th: hustle and bustle of holiday making Before leaving for your holiday may I remind you of the little act: you can do to make your pets, etc. the more comfortable while you ar: away from home. Be sure and mak: arrangements for some one to feet your cat while away, or to see tha your many other pets receive tin same attention as they would it yoi were home. Also, if you are awa; for a few days, it will be necessar; to give your pot plants a good water ing before leaving. A good soakin; overnight in a tub of water will carr; them on for two or three weeks. I is very disappointing to come homi and find your pot plants suffering foi want of water. Now dears, to yoi all I wish a very happy New Yea: and may the joys of gardening alway: remain with you all. A happy 1937 tc you all.—Your gardening friend, “CARNATIC.” C.G.C. PICNIC AND GARDEN PARTY. The committee report that arrangements are well in hand for the C.G.C. picnic and garden party to be held in the Wanganui Racecourse on January 22, Anniversary Day. I am sure ail members are looking forward to this “day o£ days,” and, as usual, with all C.G.C. activities the picnic should be a great success. Arrangements have been made to hold our gladioli display in conjuction with the picnic of course, children’s events have been left in the capable hands of Mr. C. Goldsbury, who will give them the time of their lives. “Are you Aunty?” competition promises to give the many members many anxious moments. Given a fine day many hundreds o£ people should find their way to the racecourse grounds on January 22. Games for young and old will be the order of the day. letterland “Rangi-Ora.”—l was very surprised and pleased to hear from you again. I think our rally day could have been a wonderful event, if more of the older members had remembered the circle. Yes, we now have quite a number of members from Parikino and district. As you were the first to join from this district, I am doubly glad to hear from you again. We will gladly welcome your little boy when he is old enough.

Margaret Brooker.—l am sure you could not receive a more useful gift for Xmas. I am posting your parcel right away. “Sunny Crest.—Suggest you exhibit your sweet peas at the W.S.H.S. show. Ring Mr. Guilford for a schedule. I will leave the parcel as you wish. “Wood Violet.—Did you enjoy your day in town? The shops this year have a splendid assortment of nice things and our wishes they had many pounds to spend. Perhaps you will be able to come again sometime when we are holding a show. Margaret Bostock.—Your letter was very interesting and I see you take quite an interest in your garden. Mr. Larsen of 41 Alma Road, is quite an expert on gladiola and I will arrange for him to give you a little talk. Unfortunately the green fly has been very bad this year; spraying is the only cure. Thank you for your kind wishes.

June Baron.—We are very happy indeed to have you with us and we hope to give you many interesting talks. Daffodils are at present at rest, and now is a suitable time to lift them if you want to. I will be sending all members at your home a new collection of daffodils in January. Jean Bryant.—The little green insects suck the juice (which is tile food of the plant) and so weaken it. Spraying is the only cure. I hope to arrange a talk for you shortly. Thank you for your kind wishes.

Jack Healey.—Well Jack if you don’t post the letter I can hardly receive it. However, I am glad you thought of Letterland before Xmas. It is advisable to lift your daffodils and put in some fresh soil, but if they have only been planted one year they need not be lifted.

Ragged Robin.—lt is too late this year for chrysanthemums. The plants would be too big to shift. I see you are very fond of terns, and why should we all not love them. They make pretty little dish-gardens. “Pink Heather.—Your letters are always so interesting. I do enjoy them. I am afraid I cannot suggest any remedy for your wild raspberries except constant digging. Thank you for your kind wishes. “Red Tiger.”—Sorry I overlooked your parcel. I will arrange to have it send on to you. Hope you have a Merry Christmas.

SPECIAL THANKS I wish to thank Crocus, Norma and 1 Miriam Luty, Sunny Crest, Miss New J Zealand, Margreta, Aussie, Tom Mix, s Box Thorn, Petunia, and Shirley f Polly for their kind wishes and cards. 1 | I I CHRISTMAS CHEER FUND , i “Tom Mix” 6d. "Box Thorn” 6d. “Petunia" 6d. > Shirley Poppy 6d. i “Aussie” Is. Many thanks dears. Will other > members try and swell our cheer fund i before the New Year. > FLORAL PROCESSION NEW i YEAR’S DAY I ; Will all members taking part in i the floral procession on New Year’s i Day get in touch with “Carnatio.” ■ Special prizes for decorated bikes, ' decoralfcd prams, and best decorated • pony. Watch this paper on Tuesday ; for full particulars. GLADIOLI AND CHRYSANTHEMUM : CULTURE i This week I havf arranged a short ■ talk on the cultivation of the above- ; named flowers. I would like each member to cut these out for future reference. Gladiolus. Cultivation.— An open aspect in soil naturally rich and deep for preference but the “glad” is not over particular, any soil being capable of producing blooms. Well decayed farmyard manure dug in in the autumn will give the best results. Unless thoroughly understood avoid artificial manures. Planting.—Plant 4 to 5 inches deep and 8 to 9 inches apart in rows, two feet apart. Ground should be moderately dry when planting, which can be done between September and December for a succession of blooms. When planting for exhibition see list of times given below. Watering.—A thorough soaking of the soil during hot weather, followed by a light forking of the surface will be found beneficial. Constant tillage, especially in heavy soils, is an important factor. Blooming.—Stake the spikes as soon as they appear through the foliage. At this stage feeding should commence with weak liquid manure and continue at weekly period s until florets show colour. If very hot weather it is advisable to cut spikes after the first flower is open and let them develop indoors. Always cut the spike downwards on the slant. Lifting the Corms.—About six weeks after flowering is the correct time to lift the corms. On no account should corms be left in the ground throughout the winter or even until the foliage dies. Better to lift too early than too late. Cut the stem off close to the [ corm, dry thoroughly, remove the old I corm roots and cormlets and store in I dry airy place. Disease.—lf on examination a corm is found to have a scalded or scabby appearance, it has contracted the only ailment likely to cause annoyance. This is caused generally by wet growing conditions, over-strong fertilisers, or allowing to get damp after lifting. To treat affected corms soak for 30 minutes in formulin, loz. to Igal. of water, or, as recommended by some authorities, a solution of bluestone, 1 [to 100. Chrysanthemums. The culture of the chrysanthemum is undoubtedly one of the most interesting branches of horticulture. Flowering in the autumn they are the last and are a fitting finale to the wonderful gifts Nature has bestowed on man for his enjoyment. Raisers have not confined their activities to exhibit varieties only, the singles and decoratives, both for garden display and cutting, have been considerably improved. The best of them may be procured so cheaply that<io one need be without a few of the better sorts. Some of the rubbish seen round about should not be given garden room.

Cultivation. The “mum” is a hardy subject and no other flower responds so readily to attention and good conditions. Good drainage is most important and witli that they will thrive in almost any class of soil. As they are surface- rooting a top mulch of decayed manure or soil should be given early in January so as to protect the roots from the sun.

Timing—The natural break should appear about the end of November, only three of the strongest leads being retained. The next or first crown break will begin to show between the second and third week in January according to the variety. If first crowd flowers are wanted buds should be taken about February 10 to 14. Four weeks is about the average time between first and second break and all second crown buds should be taken by February 20 to be ready for shows the latter end of April. Feeding.—Almost all feeding is done between bud taking and showing colour and must cease when the bud commences to burst.

Diseases.—Rust is the worst and must be kept in check. Spray with sulphide of aotasium, half ounce to gallon of water, every ten or twelve days. The caterpillar and green fly are a source of annoyance; arsenate of lead powder and black leaf 40 mixed, .each one teaspoon to one gallon of water with sunlight soap or lux added, will keep them in check. Never mix rust sprays with arsenate of lead.