GARDEN NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVII, Issue 26, 26 June 1912, Page 38

GARDEN NOTES.

PLANTING is now in full swing, and every effort should be put forth to get plants into their places as speedily as possible. Fruit trees and bushes, roses, camellias, and other flowering shrubs claim the attention of planters. W hat hedging plants to go in for is a question which often crops up, and it is one easier asked than answered. Eleagnus was all the rage a few years ago, now it is not much planted, the reasons given being that it requires too much trimming and that a disease has attacked it. W’e are quite prepared to admit that Eleagnus requires a lot of attention, but we cannot have a rampant growing plant unless care is bestowed to keep the shoots within bounds. The trouble with Eleagnus appears to be that the growth is allowed to get too strong before trimming, and then when the pruning knife is applied the long twigs are found to have got matted together and the trimming becomes very tedious. In order to keep this hedge in good form we have

found frequent switching over with a light hedge hook the best means to adopt. Teeoma appears to have found much favour during the past few years, and it certainly makes a very beautiful hedge, but the plant is somewhat tender, and useless where there are heitvy frosts. I’ittosporum Crassifolium is a very popular hedge. It will stand any amount of wind, and if well eared for. by cutting back the first year or two, makes a dense compact hedge. It is not hard to keep in good form.

■Many amateurs are very much afraid of the knife being used on their plants, and some of them contend that gardeners

are too fond of using it, but experience shows that unless hand pruning is resorted to with young plants one cannot get good stocky growth.

Cupressus Lawsoniana is without question one of the best plants to use for hedging. The objection raised against it is that it is of slow growth. This, of course, is only partly correct, for if one secures fair-sized, vigorous plants, they soon make headway. They require very little clipping, are not subject to disease, and animals don't eat them—a verygreat recommendation to those with a horse or a vow.

The good old-fashioned Privet hedge still has its advocates, and much worse plants can be put in. The worst we have heard against it, is its sickly perfume. Laurels are not much used as they don’t stand wind well. Still they make a very handsome hedge in suitable localities.

Laurestinus is useless in the North Island, and holly only does well in rare places.

The Eseallonias are in favour at present. E. Macrantha with its dark green leaves and bright blossoms makes a good

small hedge, but is rather frail. E. Exionensis is one of the best sorts we have tried. It has small leaves and trusses of blush blossom, a most attractive hedge.

Olearia Fosterii, the Golden Ake Ake, makes a splendid fence. It will stand any amount of wind undamaged, grows compactly, and requires little or no trimming. and it is a fast grower. Olearia

Traversii is a fast grower and suitable for sandy soils, but is very subject to the attacks of insects, which kill out the plants, leaving ugly gaps in the fence.