HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLVIII, Issue 7, 14 August 1912, Page 37

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

O 1 V PRESS telegram states that the J I National Sweet Pea Society JI has appointed a paid secretary. There has been a big run on Teeoma Capensis for hedging this season. Many nurseries have sold out of all their plants. There is no doubt this plant makes a line hedge in suitable localities, but it won't stand heavy frosts. Poor Man orange trees have been in great demand this season, and are hard to procure. Apart altogether from its usefulness as a preserving fruit, a specimen tree is highly ornamental, and well worthy of a place in the garden. Roses have been selling freely. Many choice sorts are sold out. ami, as usual, late buyers are left lamenting that they can’t get the varieties they want. There does not appear to b:‘ such a great extent of land being planted in fruit trees as one would expect in a growing country like New Zealand. Many are deterred from planting owing ■to tlie labour entailed in spraying and working land. Probably, also, the low prices obtained for peaches in the past season induced intending planters to “hang lire.” Daffodils are now in bloom. The early varieties are doing well, and with good weather the spring shows ought to be good. Many of the choice varieties are now to bo found in the collections of amateurs in the Dominion. ■Sweet pea plants are doing well, and we would remind growers for exhibition not to overnianure their plants. If we are to grow healthy, vigorous vines the plants must not be overfed. There eav be little doubt that any disease we may have had here has been 'eanserT through overfeeding the plants. Seed germination has 'been most satisfactory this season. We have, so far, not heard a single complaint on this

head; a good augury for a good crop of bloom. We were rather dismayed to learn from an esteemed correspondent that an English expert predicted a big percentage of rogues for this year. It is to he hoped the prediction won’t come true, for rogues are jnost vexatious, especially when a grower only has half a-dozen plants. Expanding trellis work for training sweet peas and other plants is now being manufactured in Auckland. It h light and portable*, and made in 10 and 12ft lengths by if roan 2 to Bft high. 2| •to 34-inch mesh. The trellis work can be folded up. It is not expensive, and appears durable. Exhibition Sweet Peas. W.H., Wanganui.—Three or four shoots are sufficient if you desire firstclass blooms. It is not advisable to give your plants any more manure until later in the season. When they are in hud apply a good fertiliser, which can be obtained from any of the seedsmen ad-

vertisinig in the "Graphic.” Soot is on? of the best remedies against slugs. If your soil is light, watering twice a week during the hot weather will be necessary. Flowers of the Fig. Has anyone ever sought for the Howers of the fig tree? If they have, and failed to find them, the reason is thev are not visible 'to the naked eve. The flowers are really inside the so-sailed fruit, known as the fig. Pull off' a young fig, cut it open, ami inside, attaches! to the fleshy receptacle, the flowers will be seen. The flowers are fertilises! bv a small midge, which enters the eye of the CAMBRIDGE SPRING SHOW. The Spring Flower Show, which is to take place under tile auspices of the Presbyterian Church. will be held in the Cambridge Town Hall on September 20th anil 21st. Entries '.lose on September 18th, with the secretary. Mr. N. C. Mar-

shall. An attractive schedule, provided with classes for narcissi, miscellaneous Howers (anemones, freezias, ranunculi, hyacinths. pansies, camellias, rhododendrons, etc.), a decorative class, another tor pot plants, and also one for juniors.