GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 126, Issue 21052, 2 March 1940, Page 14 (Supplement)

GARDEN NOTES

SEASONABLE WORK

(By “Nikau”) VEGETABLES AND FRUIT Plant cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, leek, lettuce and silver beet. Sow turnips (especially yellow-fleshed), swedes, silver beet, winter spinach, spinach-beet, spring cabbage, cauliflower and parsley. Prepare an onion bed; the old onion bed will do well, if the last crop of bulbs was healthy. Spray tomatoes with Bordeaux mixture (loz. to fgal.) to check disease It is years since tomato blights were so destructive as they are just now. Dig potatoes before second growth starts. Burn the tops to kill spores of disease. Every few weeks the tubers in store should be examined so that any disease or animal pest may be detected in good time. As a part of garden hygiene, bum diseased fruit, or bury it below the ordinary digging level —one to two feet deep. Bud fruit trees, also shrubs and ornamental trees. FLOWERS Sow Iceland poppies in boxes which can be sheltered from heavy rain. Recent experiences have proved how destructive such rain can be in battering the ground. Put in cuttings of fuchsia, hydrangea - , pentstemon, border carnation and geranium. Plant daffodils in the next week or two. Anemones, freesias, lachenalias and ranunculi can be planted any time in the next two months. April is a good time to plant tulips and hyacinths, also various lilies. Prepare ground for a new lawn to be sown at the end of March. Sow pansy, viola, polyanthus, delphinium and stock. As soon as annuals pass their best, pull them out and work the soil in order to freshen it before planting bulbs or hardy beddingplants. Spread plenty of rotted compost around rhododendrons, azaleas and kalmias, to keep the roots cool and also to feed them.

THE CENTENNIAL SHOW “Bigger than ever, and as good as ever,” is what a reporter may say truthfully about the recent show held by the Hamilton Horticultural Society. We have not the space to describe all the show but must touch upon some of the main features. The champion dahlias were:—* Champion of champions and champion large dahlia: Duke of Windsor. Champion small: Standard Bearer. Champion large (amateur division): Mrs Stewart. Champion medium: Femie Lodge. The champion gladiolus was Miss New Zealand, a consistent prizewinner. In the chief dahlia class the following twelve won first prize: R. W. Tressider, Leonora, Freda George, Elsie Sutton, Mrs Sowton, Duke of Windsor, Brenda, Sidney, Supremacy, Thomlea, F. W. Beckett, Mrs D. Guy. The winning blooms in the class for six large dahlias were: Pink Daily Mail, Lady Moyra Ponsonby, Mrs D. Guy and Mrs Stewart. In class 7, six varieties of medium dahlias, were perhaps the most beautiful blooms in the show, but the other classes for medium, small, and cactus dahlias were also very beautiful. The following small varieties showed up several times as winners: Doris, Little Jenny (a new one), Beryl, Little Dream, Little Darling, and Standard Bearer. The following medium and cactus dahlias were noticed especially: Mascotte, Landmark, Gretel, Marjory, Joan, Nancy le Comus, Pink Spiral. The winning three “medium” were Fred Law, Angeline, Femie Lodge. Three other winners were: Nagel’s Bijou, Miss Belgium, Mascotte. Amongst the winning gladioli were: Rewi Fallu, Willomead, Samuel Chadwick, Millie Parkes, Milford, Miss New Zealand, Rona, Commander Koehl, Pink Supreme, Pititi, Star of Bethlehem, Pelegrina, and the variety which is said to be the world’s most popular one—Picardy.

CUT FLOWERS A great range of species was found in the many classes for cut flowers. Annuals, biennials and perennials of many types and of nearly all colours made the scene a very gay one. As the show was earlier than in other years, there was an unusual profusion of asters, lilies, and phlox (perennial and an-, nual). The Institute competition brought only two entries, but some very good flowers. The Fairfield exhibit had some splendid gerberas, cannas, dahlias, gladioli, zinnias and Lilium auratum, while the Jubilee Institute showed some very good carnations and gladioli. Decorative work of many kinds reached a high standard; tables, bowls, vases, baskets, posies, and miniature gardens showed skill and imagination. Special mention must be made of a bowl of hydrangeas, and also of a table which represented Cinderella’s triumphal drive. VEGETABLES AND FRUIT Here a very pleasing revival was noticed, and it seemed that the old days of 15 years ago had returned. The entries were numerous, and a high standard was reached by most of the exhibits. The judge left very little to chance, for he cut potatoes, beetroot, and pumpkins, and snapped the beans and the rhubarb. Both in the collections and in the separate classes the cabbages, carrots, potatoes, onions and beetroot were unusually good. In the fruit classes the exhibits reached perhaps the highest standard seen at a local autumn show. Pears, peaches and apples were particularly fine, but there were many other kinds of good fruit on exhibition.