Life in the Graden

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 6, 10 August 1910, Page 38

Life in the Graden

Official Organ of rhe Rev/Zealand Z <sv/eet Pea Society and Auckland //i Horticultural Society.

By

Veronica.

Ji Ji

Lupin Polyphyllus.

All communications for “Veronica” should be addressed to “Graphic” Office, Auckland. Secretaries of Horticultural. Societies are invited to send us short reports of their proceedings, and also any items of interest to Horticulturists. Photographs of Flowers, Fruits or New Vegetables, or Garden Scenes, will be welcomed.

SHOW DATES. Schedules may be obtained on application to the secretaries. Auckland Horticultural Society Daffodil Show, Choral Hail. September I and 2. W. W. Bruce, Secretary. Rose and Carnation Club's Show, Wellington, at Town Hall, November 16. National Sweet Pea Society of New Zealand, Palmerston North, December 7 ami 8. E. A. Osmond, Secretary. Stratford. Auckland Sweet Pea and Carnation Show, Choral Hall, December 1 and 2. W. W. Bruce, Secretary. Wellington Rose and Carnation Club. —The Summer Show will be held in the Town Hall, Wellington, on Wednesday, December 14. & SEEDS TO SOW THIS MONTH. Vegetable.— Asparagus, Broad Beans, Beet (Crimson Globe, or Egyptian turnip rooted), Carrot, Cabbage, Cauliflower, t ress, Lettuce, Mustard, Onions. Parsnips, Peas, Radish, Turnip. Sow under glass — Cucumber, Celery, Capegooseberry, Tomato, Vegetable Marrow. Flower (under glass). Asters, Antirrhinums. In the open: Linarias. Lupins, Poppies, Sweet Peas. Bulbs. Amaryllis, ( alias, Gladioli, Lilies, Tuberoses. Plant Out bruit trees and bushes, Roses, Shrubs. Hedging Plants, Edgings, Ihu bs, Rhubarb. Horseradish, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Lettuce, Onions, Potatoes. Elowering plants —- Such as Antirrhinums, Carnations, Pansies, Penstemons, etc. J* GARDEN WORK IN BRIEF. Planting operations must be pushed ahead with all possible speed whenever the soil is dry enough to dig. bruit trees, roses, shrubs, etc., must be set out at the earliest opport unity. The pruning of rose bushes should be fini-hed during this month, and the beds manured. Plant potatoes during the month, new land gives the best return, both as to quality and quantity, and a liberal quantity of manure should be used. W hen lifting young lettuce plants for transplanting, care should be exercised not to break the tap root. Ijettuce does best on la ml which has been heavily manured for the previous crop; fresh manure should not be used. Eor early beet, the Crimson Globe is one of the very best to grow, as it matures (piickly, is tender when cooked, and much easier handled in cooking than the long growing sorts. Some people still prefer the old Egyptian turnip rooted, but though it comes in early the quality is not equal to the Crimson Globe. Several rows of peas should be sown at intervals during the month. \\ e recommo nd William Huist, English Wonder, Stanley, ami Daisy as being good dwarf growing sorts for successful crops. Autumn sown onions will bp ready for transplanting during this month. Dibble them out on clean land which has been well worked ami manured: the soil should be fined or trainped when dry, otherwise the onion bulbs are inclined to grow coarse necks.

Those who desire early cucumbers, marrows, and such like, should sow some seed in pots or pans in heat, and when the seedlings have made a rough leaf, pick them oil into 3 or 4 inch pots, 1 to

3 plants in each pot. Care should be taken not to give them too much water, as they very readily damp off. Celery may be sown under glass, a small packet of seed will produce hundreds of plants. It is advisable to make several sowings, and the seed should not be sown too thickly; this will give stronger plants. Aquilegia clumps may now be lifted and transplanted, or sub-divided if required. Attend to carnation beds by stirring the soil, keep free from weeds and slugs. Any plants not yet put out should be got into their flowering quarters as soon as possible. Plant out sweet peas, which have been started in pots or boxes, and can be sown in the open this month. Red lead the seed before sowing to prevent birds and mice from taking it. Gladioli, lilies, paeonies, tuberoses, amaryllis, etc, should be got in this

month. It is rather late for paeonies, but as a rule they do not give much bloom the first season, so they may be safely planted. Gladioli and amaryllis are being more largely planted than hitherto, both are well worthy of attention. Attend to spring flowering bulbs; hyacinths, anemones, and narcissus are now in flower, and they are a very pleasing display. Cyclamens are also doing well this season, the salmon shade —a new variety sent out by Messrs. Hugh Low and Co.—is a very fine flower. Considerable difference of opinion exists in regard to suitable plants for edgings, many contend that the box is unsuitable and a harbour for slugs, but for a permanent edging there is nothing to equal it, excepting the very dwarf growing veronicas, and where these succeed. they are excellent. Of course there are plenty of other things which make good edgings, violets, golden thyme, silver edged geraniums, lobelia, echevarias,

etc. After all an edging is very much a matter of taste, and attention to keeping same in good condition.

Bouvardias have given a fine display of bloom during the past season. They are just finished flowering, and should be pruned; most of them do best if pruned or (put back fairly ihari|. 11 umboldii Corymbiflora and its varieties are exceptions which should only be trimmed, and some branches thinned out; a dressing of well rotted manure should be given these plants.

This lupin is perennial and herbaceous, extremely hardy, and will grow in almost any soil or situation, and they are -specially adapted for wet places. The flower spikes are long and pea shaped. There are several colours, mostly blue and white, and the recently introduced

novelty is pink, a very handsome thing. All sorts of lupins grow readily from weed, and if sown early enough will bloom the same season. Being nitrogen gathering plants, they improve the land on which they have been grown.

Carnation Notes.

The Perpetual-flowering Carnation Society held their Bth exhibition at Westminster on June 9. Entries were onethird more than last year. One of the features was a group of carnations of not less than 12 varieties arranged on a table 10 x 3. There were six competitors, Mr Lancashire, of Guernsey, taking premier place. The stalks were extra long and wiry, asparagus foliage was utilised, and the best varieties were Mikado, Enchantress, Windsor, Black Chief, Mrs. H. Burnett, President Beacon, Rose Dore, and Afterglow. The president’s cup for three vases each of 12 blooms, British novelties, was also won by Mr. Lancashire, with Black Chief, Rose Dore, and Empress. For American novelties, Mr. Wallace, Dunstable, scored

with May Day, Afterglow, and Pink Delight. Mr. Lancashire again won in the class for two varieties, 60 blooms of each; his varieties being Ma rm ion and White Perfection. Mr. A. Smith, Enfield, secured the special prize for the best novelty not in commerce (12 blooms), the variety being Empire Day, which is reported to be much richer in colour and superior to Enchantress. White Perfection won in both classes for white; Beacon and Brittania in scarlet; Caiola, President, and Crimson Glow in class for crimson or clove; Rose Dore and Mikado in “any other self”; Bay State and Jessica in fancy. The Society awarded a first-class certificate to May Day, and awards of merit to the American-raised varieties Pink Delight and Superior. J* Lilium Auratum. THE GOLDEN RAYED LILY OE JAPAN. This fine lily succeeds best in somewhat light or sandy soil; where the soil is heavier good drainage is necessary and the addition of sand is of great assistance to the bulbs. August and September are suitable months for planting. This lily makes a very handsome pot plant, and, when in full bloom, is most useful for decorations. The perfume is strong, one plant being sufficient to fill a large building witli its delightful odour. Large numbers of these bulbs are im-

ported from Japan into the Dominion yearly, and these we advise amateurs to leave alone. No doubt they are very much cheaper than acclimatised bulbs, but our experience has been that the Dominion-grown bulbs are much better in every way, and in the end they are certainly the less costly.

Lilium Speciosum.

This lily succeeds admirably in most gardens in the Dominion, especially on light soils. The Speciosum lily is often called Lancifolium. There are several varieties of 'this hardy lily, one of the best known being Speciosum rubrum, which is crimson colour on a white ground and spotted crimson. It is a profuse flowering variety. Other good sorts: S. rosium, rose spotted; S. Album, snowy white; S. Kraetzeri, large white Howers with orange an thus, produces large bulbs. S. Melpomerie, crimson, spotted purple and edged white, is also considered by many one of the best. Dominion-grown bulbs are much superior to the importer!.

New Climbing Roses. ARIEL AND SHOWER OF GOLD. Rambler Ariel. A.M., R.ILS. -Paul and Son have a really beautiful new Single Rose in Ariel; large flowers of bright rosy-pink with very dark coloured stems. The buds are cop-pery-coloured, the growth 2ft in a [Paul and Son are the famous English Rose Hybridists, and we have no doubt this new rose will be on sale in New Zealand next season.— Veronica.] Hybrid Winchiiriana, Shower of Gold A.M.. R.H.S., ('. of (’., N.R.S. A Wichuriana of brighter colour than Wm. Allan Richardson. All who have seen it will give the premier place to Shower of Gold. It is certainly the best yellow up to date. Roses and Rose Growers. (Hl.) Samuel APGredy and Sons, Portadown. Ireland, have made great stride* lately in the raising of unique varieties in Hybrid Teas. In 190 G they introduced a Countess of Gosford, hybrid tea. a charming variety, which was awarded the gold medal by

the National Rose Society. It is a salmon pink, with base of the petal* suffused saffron yellow, has large flowers and is perfection in shape. His Majesty, H.T., is a line dark crim son shaded deep vermilion crimson towards the edge, and frequently overlaid with a rich velvety shading, the whole flower resembling that beautiful colour seen in the Duchess of Bedford. When seen at its best, this is a noble flower, and by many expert rose growers it has been called the crimson Frau Karl Din-

schki, because of its strong resemblance both in size, shape, and form of flower and freedom of growth to that gran 1 Rose. It is a iso one of the sweetest rose* in cultivation. Awarded gold medal by National Rose Society, I’.HJS. Lady Alice Stanley, hybrid tea, will we predict, become very popular, both as an exhibition and a garden variety: it is without doubt a magnificent rose; the blooms are very large. very full, and full of great substance. The petals are shell shape, slightly round, coming to a point.

funning a perfect Hower, which retains its shape and form in a marvellous man ner in tin* holiest weather, an 1 a flower that can be relied upon by the exhibitor. The colour on outside of petals is tieep (oral rose, inside [Nile flesh, slightly Hushed deeper flesh, a remarkably attractive and pleasing ‘combination n>i colouring, and quite distinct in every wax. It is a stout, vigorous grower, xvhli free branching habit and beautiful foliage. Every -hoot is crowned with a Hower bud; a superb, ideal, hybrid tta rose blooming throughout the entire season; deliciously fragrant. Awarded gold medal by National Rose Society, I‘.iOS. Among all MMlredy’s 40,000 seedling rose* during the past season, Mrs. Alfred late, hybrid tea. was probably the most admin d, the colour bring so fascinating and the form of the bloom so distinctly perfect and exquisite in shape. lhe colour is coppery red shaded fawn, with a distinct ochre shading the base of Hower, a yvonderful. long, perfect, pointed bloom with grand petal, and, although not too full it retains its shape and form for a considerable time. Seen in the bud, and half expanded, it is most delightful; its blooms are upstanding, and its habit of growth, free and branching; in floxver throughout the whole season: sweetly scented and quite distinct from anything

in cultivation; lor bedding, massing and cut Hoyver purposes should prove one o» the best and most popular roses yet raised. Award of merit, Royal Hortic iitural Society, London, October, 1908. In Mrs. Edward J. Holland, hybrid tea, yve have what We consider the finest variety of the Kaiserin Augusta Victoria type yet seen. The colour is a beautiful deep salmon rose, shaded lighter towards the edges, perfect both in shape and form, xvith an unusually high-pointed centre; the petals are of great substance and are beautifully arranged, forming a model flower of exquisite beauty. A bloom that comes perfect under the most adverse climatic conditions, we have never seen an ill-formed or quartered Hower in all the time yve have had ii under test. The habit of growth is upright and perfectly uniform; the foliage is mildew-proof, and the Hower is syveetly fragrant. It is a perfect exhibition rose, and because of the marvellous freedom with which it produces its blooms throughout the yvhole season will prove one of the finest and most striking garden roses yet raised. Award of merit. Royal Horticultural Society, London, 1908; gold medal. Royal Rose Society, 1909. Mrs. Wakefield Christie-Miller, hybrid tea, is a charming variety, the colour inside of soft petal pearly blush shade I

saljnon, outside of petal clear vermilion rose a marvellous and delightful scheme of colouring which makes it quite the most remarkable variety in its class yet raised; there is no such attractive piece of colouring among all the roses in cultivation. When known, we predict this variety will be grown in vast quantities for massing and bedding. The blooms are of enormous size, quite full, xvith petals of great size and substance, retaining their yvonderful bright colouring in the hottest sun. The habit of the plant is perfect, being stout, yet free and perfectly uniform, holding every bloom up right. Its foliage is mildew-proof. Altogether we look upon this exquisite free-blooming ruse as tilling a jgreat want; it is bound to become a famous garden rose. Award of merit-, Royal Horticultural Society, London, October, 1908. M’Gredy’s successes of 1909 have been (piite unique. For Ethel Malcolm, a hybrid tea of great beauty at the National Rose Society, London, they were awarded a gold medal. The Howers are large and ot great depth, the colour being creamywhite, with peach shading in the centre. This was undoubtedly the best novelty in the show. Mrs. Maynard Sinton hybrid tea, is a

new rose, possessing a very pronounced and delightful fragrance, the colouring being white tinted flesh. Awarded gold medal. Mrs. Edward J. Holland, gold medal, and at the same show they were awarded first prize for the best hybrid tea rose. Of this rose, exhibited by them, Her Majesty Queen Alexandra said it was, in her opinion, the finest Rose in the show. (To be continued.) A Decade of Carnations. EXHIBITIONS OF THE CARNATION SOCIETY OF NEW SOOTH WALES. (By A. S. E. PEIR.) 1 lie year 1900, during November, the initial display eventuated, and may be termed the Goodwin ami Morris Show, on account of the beautiful non-competi-tive exhibits staged by the gentlemen named. Never before in New South Wales was such a grand lot of flowers of the carnation placed on view to the public. They comprised all shades of colour quite new to Sydney earnation growers, the most prominent being Lord Kitchener, a scarlet bloom with rich metallic bars, Golden Eagle, a deep yellow with scarlet markings, Duchess of York, blush pink, Daimis that gaudy bizarre raised by the late Mr. Wentworth, Britannia, yellow self, and Annie Douglas, a very handsome yellow ground heavily striped with rose; under the old English standard called a picotee, but now relegated to the rank called "fancies’ —all spring bloomers. But the champion of the show in the "annual” class was the white self Mrs. Eric Hambro, the shell petals of which caused a lot of deserters from the ranks of the perpetual growers as soon as Hambro was iseen. Mrs. Eric was an eveopener to most of us, and was a lovelycarnation without doubt, having an artificial rather than a natural appearance. Determination on a great number of the members to grow the shell-petalised varieties was the result of the Morris and Goodwin exhibit. The champion tree variety was Clarrie Fraser, staged by A. Peir—a grand bloom of a most exquisite combination of cream and blush colours, but doomed to pass out of existence on account of a weak habit of growth. The second or 1901 show introduced the coming champion exhibitor in Mr. W. C. Fripp, who, as is well known, exhibited some of his blooms at a later date in Melbourne. The three "big” prizes given were won by Messrs. Morris, Fripp, and A. Peir, viz., Searl’s 12 carnations 60/, Searl’s 24 carnations 40/, and Knaus’ 6 perpetuals 21/. The champion bloom of the show was Amarantus, a dull purple self shown by Mr. Morris, but most of the onlookers thought it should have been Mrs. E. Hambro again. Messrs. Dobbie and Son, Scotland, gave a silver gift medal for the most successful exhibitor, which turned out to be Mr. J. D. Goodwin, who put up some grand blooms, Airs, terry and Lorna Doone being the nu?st prominent. Mr. John Hill, of St. Peter’s, was also very conspicuous with his blooms, as was also Messrs. H. J. Peir, Musgrove, and Ruse. lhe third exhibition (1902) was aagin responsible for the prominence of Mr. Morris’ blooms, “ Mephisto,” that dark shapely self, making its debut, but the king of the blooms which created a great furore, was the satin scarlet self “Martinique” (Peir) —a glorious bloom, winning the single bloom class, silver medal and champion self, beating Mrs. Erie Hambro. It was without doubt the principal topic of the exhibition, but, like many other good things, was doomed to failure, and burst as badly as the place it was named after that year. Australian raised annuals also come into prominence that year, the most conspicuous being “White Perle” (Fripp), that is. other than “Martinique,” but the “ Perle” has also vanished by this in the good compinv of “ Mary Anderson,” " Dandy,” and “ Reggie Reid,” also premiers then. The first of the Society’s certificates were awarded to “Martinique,” “Fairy Bower,” and “ Gertie Reid,” none of which are grown for exhibition now. The fourth show (1903) had not Messrs. Morris and Goodwin as exhibitors. although the first-named gentleman staged another grand non-competdtive

lot. The champion flower of the show was ‘'Redcap,” raised by Mr. Fripp, and >one of us will forget the lovely six of that variety—for form, colour, and freshness, they were never before equalled, and seldom since. Mr. C. N. Richardson, Another of our now champion growers, made his debut, and closely chased Mrs. fripp, and at the present time is quite his equal, with Mr. Ruse upsetting both of them occasionally, and they are carnations now that are put up by the Society’s three champion exhibitors. Mr. H, J, Pier shone out this show with his Australian-raised annuals, viz. “Robert Boyce,” “Colo,” “Tamworth,” " Hawkesbury”—all winning as premier bloms—f* Alice,” “Highlander,” and “Redcap” being the balance. “Arthur Fripp,” Buttercup,” “ Enid,” and “ William I*ratt” won as premier perpetual s, and a first-class certificate was given to “RedCap,” but with the exception of “Alice ” hnd “ Highlander,” they have almost disappeared from the show trays.

The 1904 Show (the fifth) was the Lest held by the Society, and a class for 24 blooms put on for the first time that year attracted five competitors, and was won by Mr. Richardson from Messrs. Fripp and Ruse. Throughout the exhibits were seen numerous now varieties, principally English importations and Australian seedlings. Mr. Ruse’s 24 contained almost all new English champions. In the class for Bizarres, Flakes and Ticotees, all the foremost English champions were on view. The English blooms of great repute were at last, thanks to Messrs. Morris, Ruse, Goodwin, and Richardson, seen, and great was the criticism Evoked. Both Australian seedling classes f(2) were won by the Brothers Peir, and at this show Rossie (Bizarre), Anona [(Picotee), Marie (Fancy), Marge (G. Picotee), raised by Mr. A. Peir, won as premier blooms, as also did Mrs. Byass [(Sport), “Lady Tarletan,” “Moldavia,” and Ravenswood.” It was a grand show, and set members going with an increased enthusiasm for the next, which came on in due course.

The sixth show (1905) was again interfered with by adverse weather conditions, Messrs. Richardson and Fripp having the large classes at their mercy, and severe was the competition between them. The premier blooms were “Ron Carlos, Alice, Silver Rose, W. Skirving, Merton, J. B. Bryant, Mont Blanc, and Jlavenswood. Most members thought far Letter blooms than Ron Carlos and J. B. Bryant were staged, but the judges’ decision is final. The seventh show '(190fl) was another excellent one, and quite the equal of the 1904 exhibition. Mr. Richardson again won the 24 class, Messrs. Fripp, Ruse, and Musgrove filling the places. Mr. Ruse beat the two champions in the 12 class. It was at this show we saw the famous Daffodil, but 1 don’t think it was the champion it was supposed to be. A grand bloom was Mrs. W. Heriot, also The Rawn. Mr. Fripp’s Pearl was a grand flake,'and both Marge and Anona kept up their premier reputation by win-