TRIFLES IN GARDENING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 17, 26 October 1910, Page 41

TRIFLES IN GARDENING.

Jn the year 1556, when told that his work was composed of trifles, Michael Angelo, the greatest sculptor this world ever saw, made answer that “trifles tnake perfection,” and perfection is no trifle; and to-day, more than three hundred years after Angelo’s time, trifles {re still making perfection, and it can 0 seen more prominent in the various Walks of gardening every day we rise to resume the duties that our calling sets before us. A well-sharpened knife or scythe-blade : j Only a trifle in gardening, but ft leads 0 most perfect results In the end of a i Swathe or the cutting of a piece of mating on the soft shoot of some tender plant, A sharp knife has very fine influence, Or very detrimental effects, on the ehoots of various classes of plants, pushes, trees, etc., on which it may bo employed at pruning time—i.e., a rose bush shoot crushed through by the Squeezing influence of a pair of eeeateurs, or broken over between the thumb and the blade or a blunt knife, fnust always retain its rough and tattered surface, a sponge retaining in its every little crevice moisture, insects, and the latter’s eggs, to aay nothing of the larvae of many moths that associate in the vicinity of the rose and other bushes, trees, etc. It will thus be seen that (one of the Jittle trifles in gardening) a good hone is essential in every establishment where the trifles are to be brought to perfection, all contributing their trifling part to that great state of perfection that fan be admired at the various flower Shows. The trifles that lead to perfection in gardening are limitless in number, but we will confine ourselves to the everyday trifles that, by being neglected, lead to failure, uncomfortable situations, and, lastly, dismissal. Washing pots is a trifle in gardening, ft trifle that seems too arduous employfiient for some, by the appearance of {he green surface that the pots under heir charge always bear. Invariably *we hear the theory of saving labour put forward—i.e., green-surfaced pots need Jess water, but the saving of labour in ivater is never equivalent to the neat, tidy appearance presented by a stage of jiice plants in fine, clean pots. Again, we have all seen during our earthly journey plants in clean pots equivalent jn size and beauty to those in unclean bnes. A trifle in gardening that always leads fo perfection or failure is th* proper method of crocking pots to suit the various subjects that are eventually to take up their abode therein. More or jess every plant that grows in a pot jnusb have drainage. The Begonia, Gloxinia, Fuchsia, Carnation, Schizanihus, and various others of the greenhouse class should have one large piece Of broken pot placed over the hole and Surrounded by smaller pieces. Some Cover tliis with moss, but the writer prefers half-rotten leaves, or rough soil, Considering that there is more feeding in any of the latter, and finds that those Clements leave the pot cleaner than the inoss, thus the ball is perfectly intact when turned out. There is yet another class of plants ■which do not require such elaborate preparation in drainage. One small broken piece of pot placed over the hole, with the usual leaves or broken turf covering jt, will suffice any of the Fern family, as they generally and dearly love moisture at the roots. Panicum, Spiraea, Aspidistra, Francoa, Grevillea. and many more well known amongst gardeners will flourish under the same conditions. The most unique trifle in gardening lias the greatest detrimental or beneficial influence on the subject in whose company it will spend a long or short period of its life, i.e., the placing of a crock in the bottom of a pot with its Tight side up. We too often see the drainage thrown in without care, and too Often the plants feel the effect of this reckless method. If the pieces of broken pot used for drainage are flat, a small piece should be placed underneath the one end of the larger one that covers the hole, thus braking a free waterway; 'but the best inethod is to obtain hollow pieces from the sides of broken pots and place them Over the hole aperture downwards J 'his leaves plenty of room for the wafer o pass out, ami, when complete, has the appearance of a man’s half-shut hand severing, say, a golf ball. By this trifling

little operation being done correctly perfection is not abridged. How many onlookers consider the gardener’s methods trifling, and condemn his epdeavours to reach that state of perfection that can only be attained through the broad way of trifles which, combined in one, become something that is no trifle. The pricking off of tiny seedlings appears very trifling, but see those tiny subjects twelve or even two months

later. While engaged in this branch many will have noticed the unbelieving surprise on the face of the onlooker when they have been told that that trifling-looking morsel of begonia seed will one day fill a 10-ineh pot with roots, _and rear a head on high perhaps measuring 3 feet in circumference, and bear anywhere from one hundred to two hundred blooms in the short space of one season (of course, at different times). In a vinery where bug has made its appearance, it seems trifling to stop the insect on its travels; it looks so nice, white, and harmless, but if this little creature be allowed to rove at its own sweet will then it will not be a trifling job to rid the house of his offspring. The same may be said about green fly, thrip, and all the other inhabitants which infest plants, and worry the gardener’s life out because he neglected the trifling operation of killing the Adam of the flock. As the writer opened this article with Michael Angelo, let us close it in the company of him who proved to this world that trifles were the forerunner of perfection, and, as his trifles still live in perfection at Rome, so may the trifles I have set forth find that by attention to trifles now will make gardening reach that state of perfection .to which Luther Burbank is leading us on.