CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 80, Issue 78, 2 April 1938, Page 13

CHILDREN’S GARDEN CIRCLE

Dear .Members. This week I have much jijeasure in introducing to our members Mr. 1). Conway, a new contributor to our gardening column. Mr. Conway lias taken a keen interest in our Circle, frequently coming in from Mai ton to attend our meet ings, etc. Besides being a practical gardener, Mr. Conway has a deep love, for children who arc keen little gardeners. He has promised us several “talks” on gardening and 1 know these talks will be most helpful to our many members, also our friends who read our page. Now, children, Mr. Conway is starting right at the Bedrock of gardening and his first “talk” will be on soil. The understanding of soil is the most important step to good gardening. All’. Conway has endeavoured to give his talk in plain language, so that each little member can understand. Now, members, I propose that these special articles should be cut out and pasted in some book, so that you can always refer to them later. lam sure you will have quite a book of garden knowledge if you do so. Last week I made a special appeal to members to send in one penny each to me for a special purpose, the particulars of which 1 wished to remain a secret for a few days. I find 1 shall have a few days left for this appeal and 1 again draw your attention to it. 1 will be very disappointed if members do not respond to my appeal, so please do not disappoint your gardening friend. “CARNATIO.”

C.G.C. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE A meeting of the above committee will be held on Tuesday, April 5, at 7.30 p.m. Business: Presenting bal-ance-sheet and annual report for discussion.— J. M. STEPHENS, Hon. Secretary. P.S.—Will members please note this is not our annual meeting. NEW MEMBERS Junior Division Rosamund Berry, Upper Aramoho. Marjorie Bland, Aramoho Terminus. Dear Marjorie,—A hearty welcome to you, Marjorie. I hear you are very fond of chrysanthemums. Perhaps I can arrange with the Chrysanthemum Club to give you a few lessons next year and send you some plants. A parcel of bulbs and seeds will be posted to you immediately.— “CARNATIO.” i Dear Rosamund,—A hearty welcome to you. dear. I am sure you will have

FORMATION OF SOIL The soil found in any given place• has been produced in one of two ways, either by breaking-up of rocks or by the transport of material from one place to another, mianly through the action of streams, rivers or glaciers. Soils which are produced by the decomposition of rock are said to be sedentary, because they are formed in the place where they are found; whereas soils which have been transported from one place to another, as from a hillside to a valley, are drift soils. The decomposition of rocks is brought about by the action of the weather and by the dissolving power of acids present in the cell-sap of the roots of plants, and under certain conditions in the atmosphere. To realise the influence of weather in the crumbling of rocks, you should visit a quarry. The exposed surface of the quarry will show the distinct stages in the breaking-up of the hard rock. On the surface will be dark brown or black soil, in which vegetation is growing. The roots of trees and other plants will be seen extending through this surface soil for some nine inches to the sub-soil, which is lighter in colour and composed of small pieces of rock, derived from the underlying bed of hard limestone, sandstone, or chalk, etc. The dark colour of the surface soil is due to the decaying vegetation. As the leaves fall they gradually become decomposed and converted into humus, which gives the dark colour. The surface soil is much liner in texture than the subsoil, which closely resembles in colour the underlying rock. If this bed rock is hard limestone, it will be very hard; if chalk, which Is also limestone, it will be softer. The subsoil has, in most cases, been formed from the breaking-up of the rock. Examined closely, lines at more or less regular intervals may be seen in this hard rock. These are the planes of bedding along which the rock can be split. When rain falls the water makes its way along these lines into the rock; then frost comes: the ice, taking up more room than the water, splits the rock. Titus gradually, during the winter, exposed rocks become split up into smaller pieces, in the crevices of which roots can make their way. (To be continued.) Will I you males observations of runner I beans and hope?— D. CONWAY, F.R.H.S. (Eng.) LETTERLAND Dear "Petunia,” —I hope you will look after the bulbs sent to you as I had some difficulty in getting all redcups for you. So pleased to hear you are still an interested member. Could we not have another demonstration? Many thanks for your donation. Dear “Shirley Poppy,”—l think you will have quite a pleasant surprise when your bulbs flower. They are particularly highly coloured cups. Thank you for sending your penny along. Dear “Bonnie Bluebell,” —We are more than delighted to hear from you again and thank you for your donation. How is your garden? Do write a longer letter next time and tell me , all about your garden. Dear Ethne, —We are very happy to enroll your little friend and I am going to put her under your special ■ care. Will you kindly see that she receives her bulbs and seeds safely? Dear Janette, —Thank you for your donation. Have you called at 67 Young Street for your parcel?

quite a good friend in Ethne. She has always been a keen member. I will arrange for a parcel of bulbs to be sent to you. Senior Division I Crcena Griffen, Marton. i Shirley Cuthbertson, Marton. ! A hearty welcome to you both. I ■am hoping to arrange a special visit | to your district within the next few I weeks. I will get in touch with your representative and arrange the visit to take place just as soon as we finalise our annual meeting. SENIOR MEMBERS • 1 I do hope you have responded to I “Carnatio’s” special appeal. This is lone way you can show your interest in the Circle. Just think of the hours “Carnatio” has given to you. Let's rally around him and show in [some practical way our interest.— ’ “ANOTHER SENIOR MEMBER.” AUNTIE’S LETTER Dear Members, —This will be a very | short letter this month. I am sure i you will understand when I tell you >1 am packing up, so I am very busy. I am pleased to say all the kittens have gone to new homes, but not one of you found me a new home, so I am going to the seaside for a few weeks. I must congratulate the Foretell School children. I am told their exhibits at the recent flower show were very good indeed. I am so | pleased. I hope our little members who were ill are well again now. I have some seeds and bulbs for your school plots. I will send them out to you when I return to town. We are hoping to enjoy the beach while this glorious weather lasts. On April 12 'at 7.30 p.m. is the annual meeting. | “Carnatio” and his committee hope your parents will show their interest in the C.G.C. and attend this election of officers and committee and then we will have a social evening so I am sure there will be a good attendance. I hope to be there to meet you all. We all have to take some cakes for supper. Until then good-bye.— “AUNT GARDENIA.” A STORY FOR C.G.C. MEMBERS I Dear C.G.C. Members,-- Would you like to hear a secret? Well last Sunday morning, instead of lying in bed, ' I dressed and went out to greet a very misty dawn. The big gum tree was dripping with moisture and my f , n nd the sun was just peeping over the hill. I am sure it was he who wanted to show me the treasure for if it had not been for his rays. I would never have discovered the diamonds. Yes, diamonds! How I can hear you big family laughing at me. Well, I will have Io tell you where to find them. Look for the spiders’ webs between the branches and shrubs. There were a number of perfect specimens in my garden this .special morning and they were just landed with sparkling diamonds. The moisture from the heavy mist had saturated friend spider’s home, and the sun had transformed the drops along each thread into ropes of jewels. Don’t miss this beautiful sight, boys and girls, and if you belong to the library read a book called Rouf and Moore. You will find in it a quaint character who lives in a world of his own among Nature, who also found these same jewels.— From “ONE WHO LOVES TO READ YOUR PAGE.”