The Flower Shows and the Late Season.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXIX, Issue XX, 15 November 1902, Page 1261

The Flower Shows and the Late Season.

I am wearing to-day (November S) a buttonhole, of the gardenia flowered narcissus, perhaps the most beautifully perfumed daffodil. The cold wet just suits these blooms, but has had a terrible effect on plants in our gardens. Mr Ernest Yates says the firm cannot show sweet peas by November 21. I never remember in my 17 years' colonial experience such a backward year. Worse still, if any choice specimen does manage to find

its way from mother earth into the air, a paternal or maternal large slug or snail is pretty sure to chip in to a meal in that flower's vicinity. However, I cater liberally in my own garden in powdered tobacco dust, which is most effective. Throw it thickly round your tender plants every few days, and the coroners in snail-land will be kept busy holding inquests. Every day 1 pick up many dead round my sweet peas, carnation and dianthi. Next week the cactus and other dahlias may go in. as we are sure of warm weather from now on to the end of summer. The new cactus dahlias are very aesthetic in their graceful, starry-pointed florets, the richness of colour being equally remarkable with the beauty of outline. The chrysanthemums have too many devoted lovers to need a word from me, but I would just draw attention to the fact that ordinary blooms (not show ones) are easier to grow than cauliflowers, and only want rich soil and protection against- the raids of insects. Here again I find tobacco dust is quite the best friend we have, as it rather helps the foliage of all plants, and, if anything, stimulates growth when washed into the soil. A.V.C.