GARDEN NOTES.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 14842, 6 December 1913, Page 9

GARDEN NOTES.

(Br Hoktob? ' .', v ■ .., ■ ■ - v . r , , -■ HiOVfEB SHOWS TO COMET Domain Bo*e Canarel—Dea, tth. ' Loeston Bam Slxnt—Dec ll£h. Kainpai Bo» Sbow—Doa. 13th. ChrutaJwieli Sweet Pβ* SoeJety-e 3S»i third week is Jvl, lflli. ~ s , .; GENERAL KEHARKSL The surprise paciet at the Rose Show 1 ' - held on. Wednesday prenred to Mc ' _ Light, an artieaa ia aaaoof the. city foandrioe. This" eroUeman made a most creditahl© appesaat» as aa-.exhi- | bitor of pot plantß. Not <mly is lie on r amateur grower, and a new fceginner ab that, yet ho lad tho plnok to entor in 7 competition with, the open dws where " the, : professionnls enter for' the place of honoon. Mr Light won 'hancfeonieJy.Jia „ eeveral classes) and where not £xß&3h some sections was by no means die- ,' - graced. Ek ftichsias particahvrtr were . much admired. I hope to ccc this young enthusiast at future ehewa. - Weather conditiona hare not been favourable for gardening. Although, the rain was welcome, and will do much good, yet the coldness of the atmosphere has stopped growth among tropicaf. plants. A heavy frost on the .morningof the let did much damage in eomo places, especially among potatoes, French and runner beans, tomatoes, and marrows. This/frost happily was not general, but limited to certain' {localities. Some time back tie influence of frost on plants was discussed in these - notes, and also, in the leading columns of the Press. Tho uubject was presented from the known points, but could not claim to have been exhausted. An interesting fact worth, noting at this time may add interest to the discussion, viz.: In a field of potatoes growing in the the whole of the crop growing*in the peaty . portion of the paddock was cat black, whereas in the same field' the potatoot growing on the clay were untouched. " To a plant was this experienced, suggesting that the condition of the protoplasm must bo affected by the food supply in which the plant is grown. No doubt plants growing in peat are more sappy, and in consequence liable to bursting of the cells then frosts aaoessc ana also hare less resisting power.'

ABDTILON Via'-FOLICM*. This is a beautiful garden shrub from -"; Chili. Although imported many;, yea*ago into New Zealand yet it is v not known by many, and has not been, freely planted. It has an uncertain constitution, dying auddenly.for.no apparent rex—on. There were several ' plants of it in Mr Rhodes's garden,, at Otahuna, but these.'-died, off: without cause. During the last week ' the writer of theso notes has seen two. splendid specimens of this plant, on© in tho garden of Mr J. C. Helmore, Fendalton, and the other in Mrs WifeonV garden, Sumner. Both have been a mass of bloom for some time. A__e flowers aro, somewhat different to tbe ordinary abutiloti, being flat in form, not "bell-shaped like most abutflons. It grows to a height of ten feet, and when . in bloom is a beautiful object, tbe flowere being in large clusters, saucershaped, four inches across, and are A either a jpale mauve br pure white., ''■ It is partial to a warm site, and although . belonging to the Malvaca*, which famDy.* : is fond of moisture, yet this abutilon must have a well-drained soil, resenting A... at once the presence of stagnant water. It does well in pure sand or in hot dry • situations. a : " a