GARDENING HINTS

Press, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22521, 1 October 1938, Page 2

GARDENING HINTS

ADDRESS BY MR J. A.

MCPHERSON

WHEN TO TAKE CU’I TINGS

Members of the Home Economics Association received expert advice on their gardening problems last evening, when Mr J. A. McPherson, Curator of the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, told them .how to pot plants, grow seedlings, and prune shrubs. Mr McPherson spoke of results obtained by persons who planted “by the moon.” He had found that it was not all "moonshine.” Cabbage plants planted two days before the full moon Vnrt bpen bigger in size, and had increased 'as much as 33i Per cent m Quantity. Seeds sown two days after the full moon had not ous, and had not such a high rate of Se, Tho speaker dealt with the problem of raising ordinary garden seeds without the assistance of glasshouses and glass frames. Scrim, old pieces of calico, or hessian could be used' as a frame across ordinary boxes instead of class. Seeds should be placed in a position free from overhanging trees, where they could have plenty of sunlight, and where plenty of air could get to the roots. The, scrim frames should he kept over the seeds until they were well germinated, so that 1 soil did not dry up too temporary frame should be in^j c hj ness to receive the tiny apart should be set at a small distg 0^e( j pgand allowed to become we>{ rowe i. an d fore being lifted out witt*. quarters in placed in the the garden.

. xSeddlng had yet to The amateiy’ take the place of the find a plant; colourful and lasting geranium the formal garden. The was the antirrhinum, and next that would stand up to all conp?a%. The amateur should rememwhen considering the colour .theme of his garden that blends were more difficult to work in than contrasting colours. Spring bedding plants often gave some difficulty, and gardeners made the mistake of expecting blooms from plants that had been in the ground only a few months. * Spring plants had to be sown nine months ahead. Wallflowers should bo treated like cabbages. They should be sown in November in the open ground, and when leaves appeared the plants should be bedded out in the garden six inches apart with a foot between each A good stocky plant was obtained if this was done. Every shoot the plants made in summer should bloom in the spring. Wallflowers impoverished the soil quickly, and should be treated as annuals and dug up when they had finished blooming, said the speaker. The same- procedure should be followed with forget-me-nots and polyanthus. The latter should be planted now if they were to bloom next spring. In Canterbury, and Christchurch particularly, it did not pay to keep polyanthus year after year. The drying winds did not suit them, and they also should be treated as 1 annuals.

When to Take Cuttings Many women preferred striped tulips to the plain colours, said Mr McPherson, who pointed out that the striping in tulips was a virus disease, and was one of the biggest problems the plant doctor had to contend with. The virus disease could be spread by handling a virus infected plant, and then handling a clean plant. Green fly was also responsible for spreading the disease. Potatoes and tomatoes were amongst other plants subject to this' disease, and only guaranteed seed should be used. , , , In the damp season it had been found that ear worm attacked the stems of the chrysanthemums. Last year many plants had been spoilt, and when this happened it was best to get fresh soil and a fresh stock of plants. What type of cuttings to take and when to take them were two of the questions asked by those who had roses and flowering shrubs in their gardens. Most people made the mistake of taking their cuttings, when the trees were being pruned. The correct time was early in autumn at the end of March and not later than the end of April. Fleshy seeds like acorns and chestnuts, if they could not be planted as soon as they fell, should be stored in sand until they were ready for their permanent quarters. To make a successful rock garden it was necessary to avoid the use of concrete-and brick, which gave an artificial appearance. Until a few years ago, far too much rock and not enough soil was used. The soil in the pockets between the rocks should be similar to the soil in the garden to get the best results. . By studying conditions under which plants grew in their' natural habitat and trying to imitate those conditions was-the best way of overcoming gardening problems, said the speaker. Mrs J. Richards, who presided, thanked Mr McPherson for the pleasure and help he had given members.

FLAG “500” PARTY Mrs G. Samms (Tilford street) and Mrs Ellis (Heathcote) were joint hostesses at a card party to augiasnt the funds of the Christchurch women’s branch of the New Zealand Labour Party. The prize winners were Mesdames Harper, James, and Moorfield (cards) and Mrs Buckett (competition). Those present were the Mayoress (Mrs rR. M. Macfarlane), Mesdames Trevella, Roberts, Par lane, Buckett, R. Woodham, L. Tongue, E. Tongue, Priest, Carew, Colquhoun, Baxendall, McCaw, Moorfield, Harper, James; Rothwell, Hobbs, Elliot, Tulley, Cheeseman, Elliot (Patea), Mitchell, ■ Chisholm, Kiddey, Stokes, Ashcroft, Turnbull, Anderson, Walker, Gobbe, Baldwin, and Miss Robinson. 1

Miss Mildred Trent (Rossall street) has returned *to Christchurch after attending the annual meeting of the Dominion executive of the National Council of Women, and visiting Palmerston North and Wanganui in her capacity as Dominion president of the council.

VISIT TO FRANCE AND ENGLAND

MR AND MRS T. H. LOWRY

RETURN

(PUBS* ASSOCIATION TEMtOEAM.)

AUCKLAND, September 30.

Paris was a city of red, white, and blue ddring and after the visit of King George and Queen Elizabeth, said Mr and Mrs T. H. Lowry (Hawke’s Bay), who returned on the Mariposa from a holiday trip abroad. They said that after the departure of the King and Queen, much good feeling was shown towards English people. Mr and Mrs Lowry saw the Italiantrained horse, Nearco, win the far£'; ous French classic, the Grand Egy > “We picked the winner of the P<‘We at least, I did,” said Mrs Lowry£ a ther also had three days of at Ascot.” Lowry

'With Lady Wigram, > f , R e d Cross attended the Conference at tries belonging to ,Jhe and Mr Lowry were represented given by the King attended a recep a t Buckingham Paland Queen Agates were also enterace. The ,fe Lord Mayor of Londo» tained bgrjfish Government at Lanand thfouse, casters - 1 &=.

ENGAGEMENT NOTICE

The engagement is announced of Marjorie (Bunty), younger daughter of Mrs L. Armstrong (Clifton, Sumner), and the late Mr J: H. Armstrong (“Garden House,” Enniscorthy County, Wexford, Ireland), to Bruce Lowther, only son of Mr and Mrs T. B. Absalom, Knowles street. St. Albans.

Notices of engagement for publication in “The Press” must be signed by both parties to the engagement. A charge of five shillings (ss) will be made for each notice.

SCHOOL COMMITTEE’S SOCIAL

• An enjoyable evening social was held under the auspices of the Marshland School Committee. Progressive euchre was played, the prize winners being Mrs Cooper (New Brighton), Mrs A. McFadden, Mr George Chisnall, and Mr J. Robertson. Aggregate prizes were won by Mrs Sliarlick and JS/iv S. Watson, jun., Mrs Hill and Mr E. Cooper being runners-up. Among those present were Mr and Mrs Goode, Mr and Mrs Chisnall, Mr and Mrs S. Watson, Mr and Mrs G. Watson, Mr and Mrs E. Cooper Mr and Mrs F. Kiesanowski, Mr and Mrs Ching, Mesdames D. Boyd, Quaid, Sharlick, Grattan, Robertson, Stewart, Cooper E. Treleaven, Marks, Crozier, Misses ’R. Howard, E. Innes, and P. Kiesanowski.

Are you thinking of selling your business? The quickest route between Buyer and Seller is through “The Press” Classified Advertisements words Is, 3 insertions 2s 6<L 'Phone 33-358. —6

PARENTS’ s UNION

ADDRESS ON JAVA Java, with its 40,000,000 inhabitants, its mountains and volcanoes, its rich fields and beautiful trees, was the subject Of an interesting and informative address given by Mrs Norton Francis at the monthly meeting of the Parents’' National Educational Union, held last night, at the home of Mrs George Weston, Parfc terrace. Mrs Francis has recently returned from a trip to the East, including Java, which she first visited 28 years ago. She contrasted the modern wharves, the fast travelling motor-cars, the good roads leading to big cities, with the canoes and paddle-boats, the canals and waggonettes in general use seen on her last visit. The people of Java, she said, are very air-minded, ana three times a week aeroplanes leavp the big up-to-date aerodromes for la Mrs Francis briefly crops grown in this very —the kapac, tea, coff J£ onuts —an/f sisal, rice, sugar and . clever showed samples of t nese _ They/*; work done by the Carving at celled, she making art**®® °, and brass work ag fine as 6 p^hment leather patterns .R^dyenng a.nd at. wearing . Znl 7J; Javay'has its orchest* ™ u t h£se stlll he us r ed news through Mrs Francis concluded b J^®- a lb t 0 g a tempi? 1200 rfi over and adorned with maty statues of Buddha, to a , as large as Kent, on which were//0,000 employees, to a Sultans na e £?e, to the “Kew Gardens of the and to a house of grey-green garble, built by a Chinese Miss D. Govan thanked Mrs rran Ci Supp« waTSrved by .he hostess, Mrs Weston.