“SMALL CULTURE” IN SCOTLAND.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XXXIX, Issue 8, 24 August 1907, Page 22

“SMALL CULTURE” IN SCOTLAND.

The “ North British Agriculturist ” calls attention to an interesting proposal by the Duchess of Sutherland to intro duee the “ small culture ” methods of France into Scotland. Her Grace says: “ A little land, a little prudence, an increased knowledge of horticulture, combined with a shrewd study of the needs of the town markets, and we may see villages become richer and happier, the sons and daughters of our yeomen so attached by satisfactory occupation and fascinated interest to their gardens, that they become indifferent to the glittering uncertainties of cities. Cottage gardens may grow to vegetable farms, and strawberry and raspberry farms, which even in our unstable climate are possible paying concerns. 1 know of a large and successful raspberry farm in bleak Perthshire.” The “Agriculturist” says: “We can cordially endorse her Grace’s contention as to the possibility of making strawberry and raspberry culture successful in Perthshire. We are not so sure, however. about Perthshire being a specially "bleak ’ county. At any rate, Perthshire includes some of the most fertile and best farmed land in Scotland, and some of the most successful farmers in Scotland are landowners in that " bleak ’ county. We admit, however, that we are much less sanguine as to the possibility of ‘the sons and dtughters of our yeomen becoming so attached by satisfactory occupation and fascinated interest to their gardens that they become indifferent to the glittering uncertainties of the cities.’ Her Grace of Sutherland has done much to promote and encourage local industries and technical education as applied to those industries. She is the lady of the manor in res’eet of the largest private estate in the kingdom,and it is very gratifying, thrrefoie

to find a lady of quality like her ready to throw her whole" influence in favour of measures designed to benefit the rural labourers, and stem the tide of rural de population. Her Grace has at her disposal the most ample means of putting her theories into practice, and we presume that she is about to design and build a ‘ Garden City in the neighbourhood of Dunrobin Castle, in which case that experiment will be watched with the keenest and most sympathetic interest by statesmen and social reformers of everv grade.”

THE MALLOW - FLOWERED SIDALCEA. (Sidaleea Malvaeflora.) The species of Sidaleea are hardy herbaceous plants from western North America, and are all very closely related. For garden purposes, however, the colour of the flower serves to distinguish a number of them. That under notice is the oldest introduction, having been introduced in 1838. It is also one of the best, though many enthusiastic cultivators lay great stress upon the white one (S. Candida). The species under notice varies in colour, but the best one, and probably the commonest in cultivation, has dai’K rosy purple flowers arranged in an elongated spike and developing successively for some time. The height of the plant varies from lift, to 2Jft„ according to the soil and its condtions. It, therefore, constitutes a border plant of considerable value, both for garden decoration and for cut flowers. It is of the easiest culture in any good well tilled garden soil, and increases with fair rapidity, but never becomes coarse or weedy. Its compact habit makes it a favourite plant even in iottage gardens where space is limited. Propagation may be effected by division, and this will give sufficient plants for the requirements of any private garden. In selecting pieces for new plants the youngest crowns or suceers should be selected. as they form the most vigorous specimens. Clumps do not require renewal very frequently, unless the cultivator wishes to grow them to the largest size possible. REHMANNIA AUGULATA. The few known species of Rehmannia conic from China and Japan. That now under notice is a native of China, from

whence it has been introduced in recent years bv Messrs. Jam>s Veitch and Sons, Ltd.. Chelsea. The plant belongs to the same family ::s the Antirrhinum and Foxglove, io which tin flowers of this species may be roughly compared in g‘neral appearance. The flowers are drooping, irregular, twolipped. and produced singly in the axils of large leafy bracts over the greater part of the stems, which varies in height from IS inches to 3 feet, possibly more, under very liberal conditions of cultivation.

Our illustration shows a whole plant in a small pot, and flowering almost from the base. As the stem continues to lengthen more flowers are produced indefinitely according to the vigour of the plant, or. in other words, to the root room, body of soil and plant food at its command. These flowers are drooping, of large size, and rosy-purple, with a deep red blotch on a yellow ground in the throat of the flower where the tube is so compressed as to close the opening. It can be raised from seeds, and commences to flower in late spring, continuing well into the sum mer. As the plant grows with a single stem, one neat and slender stake will be sufficient to hold up a large plant. When in bloom it can very well be introduced

to the conservatory, where it will serve greatly to keep up an interesting display in spring and early summer. This plant is quite hardy in North New Zealand, and from what we have seen it appears to be a great grower and succors from the roots, this evil tendency had better be carefully observed. AURICULAS FROM SEED. FASCINATING HOBBY. To those wishing to take up the culture of a particular Hower as a hobby the Auricula offers especial attractions, whether it be the show variety, enveloped in its mystic veil of mealy paste, or its less aristocratic sister, the alpine. The range of colour is varied, and the shadings of individual flowers superb. I propose to deal with getting together a “tick from selected seedlings raised from s 'ed saved from named show, fancy, and alpines, which can be purchased from growers of repute at a cost of 1/6 for alpine and 2/6 a packet for show and fancy varieties. To see a batch of seedling Auriculas in bloom is a sight worth beholding, and well repays the trouble and attention lavished on them. September is a very •rood time to sow seed, as it gives the seedling- time to grow into strong plants before the winter. Seed pans or pots well crocked should be three parts filled with a mixture of fine loam and silver sand, watered, left to drain, and the seed sparingly scattered on the surface, afterwards being lightly covered with more fin? soil. Place sheets of glass on top to prevent evaporation, and turn each day. wiping off any beads of moisture which may hang on the glass.

Auricula seed is slow and irregular in germinating; the seedlings should be pricked off into other pots or pans as soon as large enough to shift. The pan should still be preserved, for the seedlings will continue, very often to come up months after the first plants are shifted from the seed-pan. As soon as the seedlings are big enough they should be again transferred into small pots, the compost used consisting of three-parts turfy loam, one part leaf mould, and one part well-deeayed manure. Place them in a frame in the shade. The plants should have plenty of air given them, and water only when the pots are dry. the Auricula being very like the Caranation in the treatment required for

its successful culture, in the following y ar the alpine varieties may be planted out into the flower border. ' Show, fancy and selfs must be kept under cover of greenhouse or frame, but give plenty of air, and when the flowers are coming out they should be kept in the shade, as strong sunlight takes away the beauty of the delicate colours, often giving them a washed-out appearance. The show varieties are divided into four classes—the green edge, grey edge, white edge, and self. There is also a sweetscented yellow variety. A group of Auricula -. say one hundred plants, well arrang'd according to colours, will form a valuable addition to the decoration of the conservatory, especially if Ferns are intermixed. The liking for the Auricula grows deeper and deeper as one gets familiar with its beauty and charms.