THE GARDEN

Evening Star, Issue 22146, 28 September 1935, Page 25

THE GARDEN

SEASONABLE WORK

FLOWERING TREES AND SHRUBS . If a walk is taken around Dunedin at intervals it will be easy to make a selection for future planting of flowering trees and shrubs. From now cn and for a number of weeks the different varieties will be 'blooming. One will also be able to notice the most suitable positions for the different species, and by making a note for future reference one will beosaved a lot of trouble in finding out the various details which mean success, or otherwise. There is HO doubt, that we have not had such it glorious display for many years, and w.e are being more than repaid for the inconvenience of the drought last summer, which was a blessing in disguise, for there is every sign of a splendid season, not only in the flowering trees and shrubs, but also with the fruit trees and bushes. I noticed' as I paid visits to the various gardens for tho pruning demonstrations, that the wood and buds were in a well ripened condition through tho action of the sun on it last summer. Sometimes we hear a remark like this: “ Do you notice what I have done to this tree or that bush?” Yes; man can assist in many ways by manuring and (pruning, but we must nob forget that Nature has the first, say, and is the gardener. So m.y advice is—to be successful do n6t interfere with Nature. I notice that- there arc trees and shrubs that are flowering just now the first time for years. . Rhododendron Grandee has been , a glorious sight. When opening it has a beautiful pink shading with a yellow ground which fades away when developed to nearly white’ .All the other varieties which are not so free in blooming are also showing signs for a great display. Another flowering tree which has not > been a great success in Dunedin and district is the Acacia baileyana, sometimes called the silver wattle. The largo yellow balls have been very beautiful. I have not seen this acacia so finp before. Some people who may read these notes may have seen the same variety of wattle flowering in the South of France and many‘parts of Devon and Cornwall, where considerable quantities are grown for the market. -All the varieties of the prunus family are and have been wonderful. Prunus triloba has even flowered this season. This variety is not so free flowering as other members of the family—not in the South Island at any rate. Daphne Indica and Mezereum, with their lovely perfume, have also bloomed freely. The camellias are just now a wonderful sight. All the varieties are flowering abundantly. ; Tho varieties of Pyrus Japonica are simply covered with glorious bracts of flowers. L have never seen those delightful shrubs in better order. What a wonderful difference these shrubs when in flower make to the surroundings. The forsythias also just now are one mass o'f yellow pendulous flowers. These make a delightful shrub for walls or fences. The native tree, the kowhai, Sophora tetraptera, with its panicles of yellow flowers, must not he left out. It deserves a place in any garden, large of small. < The lilacs also are showing signs of a great flowering season, also the cherries. The double peaches have never been better. Of course, there aro many mdre varieties of trees and shrubs too numerous to mention, but this list has been given for a guide to .those who perhaps are intending to plant at some future date. If the trees and shrubs aro to be a success care must bo taken that they ate planted, into suitable positions. How often do we find that' trees, both flowering and otherwise, are planted where it is impossible for them to grow well, when in a short space of time they should be things of beauty. Instead we find after several years that they have either died out altogether, or are smaller than when they were planted. I have been watching some quercus, or oaks, as I travel to and from the city, and they are smaller to : day than when they were planted into unsuitable positions. THE VINERY Those who have vines planted inside tho house can now commence to start their vines by giving a good watering with clean water only. This applies, of course, to those who have given their borders a top-dressing as advised in earlier notes. Give plenty of air at the commencement, when weather permits only, closing on cold nights. When watering for the first time it is advisable to mark down the date. Y T ou will then know when the next watering is required. F.S.P. THE VEGETABLE BARREN No time should be in completing the planting of potatoes, artichokes, cabbages-, cauliflowers, and lettuce. Where potatoes are showing through the ground it is advisable to pull tho soil when dry up around the growth, so as to protect from late frosts, or if one has any dry litter this should be laid over the young growth. Continue to plant out onions that were sown in the autumn, but be careful not to plant when the surface is wet. It is better to wait until the soil is workable. Tho bed should be made firm before transplanting, and new linf© worked into the surface a few days prior to planting. Peas and beans that are growing away should have assistance by working in around the young plants a dressing of a _ Plant life, like the human body, enjoys a change of diet. Continue to make sowings of peas and beans (all varieties). Those who have a wooden fence should certainly sow a packet of the taller growing peas such as Alderman or Lord Chancellor. These.peas have the rich morrow fat flavour, which is lacking in the dwarf-growing peas. If a piece of wire-netting is fixed to the fence there is no trouble in training the peas, and no damage is caused by the wind. All varieties of vegetables may now be sown with safety. Sowings in boxes should be made of vegetable marrows. I wonder how many have 'grown the bush marrow? These are a great advance on the trailing marrows, and are much better for cooking purposes; also the plants do not take up so.much room, and the marrows set more freely. No sticks or supports are needed. Pumpkins also should be sown from now on. Turkseap. is an ideal pump-

WORK FOR THE WEEK

Our contributor, a well-known gardener, will be glad to answer questions, which must be received not later than Thursday of each week. (Advertisements for this column must be handed in to the office before 2 p.m. on Thursday.)

kin for culinary and other purposes; if tho seed is sown in a box and a piece of glass is placed over it, germination will take place very quickly, and plants will soon be ready to plant out. Keep the hoe at work between all growing crops, and you will be surprised at , the growth that they will make when treated in this way.

The size o! a pond for one root should be at least sft across the smaller diameter to be really satisfactory. A very good size is about sft by Bft at the top. This gives the water lily plenty of room to expand, but not more than it wants. If one, has the room and the time a much bigger one will bo appreciated in the Jong run. The best shape is a round or oval. This gives the greatest .capacity for a given amount of material, and is the strongest shape. There are many unexpected stresses to be borne by the walls of a pond, sutSh as subsidence in wot weather, cracking and receding of tin; soil in dry weather, and frost, and it is best to have a good margin of safety. Tbe advantages of a strong pond are most apparent when one is in the middle of repairing a weak one. An excellent shape for a pond is that of a mussel shell. It will always add to the appearance of jyiy pond to have part divided off and filled with earth and peat to form a boggy margin in which to grow marsh marigolds and aquatic iris. Such a bog is best arranged on the north side of the pond to avoid shading the lily. The walls that divide this boggy margin from the rest of the pond need not be watertight. If the sides are flared out birds will soon come down to bathe, additional advantages are that any worm or slug entering the water at such a place has time to turn round and retire, whereas with a straightsided pond it generally goes too far and falls into deep water, where it will die -"and probably spoil the water—dead slugs are a common cause of tho fungus disease that fatal to many fish. The fry of fish can take refuge from the bigger ones in the shallow water, and the over-hanging lip of concrete keeps the soil from drying up and receding from the pond walls, leaving them unsupported. Most types of water lilies will do in 9in of soil, and the present is a most favourable time to build and plant.

FORTUNE, THE KING OF DAFFODILS [Contributed by Dunedin Horticultural Society.] Of all the beautiful daffodils that have in. recent years been raised by noted British hybridists there is no flower which has had so much admiration bestowed on it as the incomparable daffodil, Fortune. Strange to say, the pedigree of this wonderful flower is not known, as it was found in the year 1915 by the late Walter T. Ware growing in a miscellaneous batch of his seedlings. What was the raiser’s delight when he saw this flower greeting the early spring for the first time may be better imagined than described. .In the same year in which it first flowered Fortune helped Mr Ware to win the Bourne Challenge Cup for 12 seedlings raised by the exhibitor at the Midland Daffodil Society’s show at Birmingham. It was owing to rather, unfortunate circumstances that a bulb of Fortune left the Ware family soon after it flowered. The ravages of celworm * were decomating the bulbs on the estate to such an extent that, in an attempt to save the. stock, it was decided to part with two bulbs. In the meantime Mr Ware died, and in 1917 one of the bulbs was purchased by the noted Scotch hybridist the Brodie of Brodie. Tho now owner at once realised the .value of Fortune to tho hybridist, and he afterwards used ic successfully, both as a seed and as a pollen parent. The result was that from the rare bulbs in his collection he has been able to raise some of tho most outstanding flowers in the daffodil world. Fortune is indeed a wonderful flower, and in the years 1923 and 1924 tho R.H.S. awarded it a first class certificate (a) as a show flower, (hi as a variety for garden decoration, and (c) as a variety for cutting. Very rarely does one see such intense colour in a very early flower. These two qualities combined with perfect form, a fine flat overlapping perianth of. deep lemon gold colour, good substance, a very long stem, and perfect pose make it an ideal flower for any purpose. There is no doubt that when it increases sufficiently it will be one of* the greatest commercial flowers of the future. Although many beautiful flowers owe their existence to Fortune, strange to say it has not as yet produced a better flower than itself, certainly a very difficult thing to do. Up to 1933 the Brodie’s flowers raised from Fortune had received no fewer than 10 awards of merit, and no doubt the number has increased.since then./Here it is worthy of note that Fortune’s Queen, a very, fine coloured incomparabilis raised by tho late Mrs 11. 0. Backhouse, lias no strain of Fortune in its pedigree. So we may wonder why more Fortune seedlings have not been raised in the past by other famous hybridists, but ■ evidently the high price of the bulb at first would account for that. Happily, as tho price is now within the reach of the •majority of growers, wc may in the near future, even from local enthusiasts, look for some good flowers from their efforts. In referring to the 1933 11.U.S.’s daffodil list wc find, upwards of 40 flowers with Fortune as their first name, a fact which is a great tribute to the subject to our article. Here is a list of a Few of tho best flowers raised from Fortune: Aviemore, Bokhara, Copper Bowl, Coverack Perfection, Fortune’s Gift, Fortune’s Crest, Fortune’s Champion, Fortune’s Pride, Rcwa, Whitelcy Gem, Varaua, Tashkend, and Penwith. From Beacon, Bernardino, Ben Alder, Correggio, Killigrew, Mozart, Mitylene, Red Sea, Seraglio, Tencdos, and Therapia crossed by Fortune pollen many wonderful flowers have been raised, and a similar result has been obtained by using the pollen of such flowers as Hospodar, Galopin. Gulliver, Killigrew, Merkara, Robin Redbreast, Therapia, and Warlock. Although several local enthusiasts have Fortune in their collections, owing to the enrliness it has not often been shown at our spring shows. However, flowers bred from it by overseas hybridists are not uncommon, and at the forthcoming how to be held in the Town Hall we may have the pleasure of admiring some of the famous Fortune crosses, as well as other beautiful narcissi raised by British, Australian, and New /calami hybridists.

BEARDED IRISES

Writing recently in the London * Observer,’ “ G.C.T. ” says:—“ Only comparatively few gardeners ns yet seem to have realised tlic remarkable possibilities of the bearded irises, iris gormanica, for decorative effect in the early summer garden. This year, it is true, in common with many other plants, like the lilies, they suffered severely from tho devastating frosts of mid-May, and the displays in most places were disappointing. But such dire visitations are fortunately rare, and, in most seasons, tho gardener-has few better or more trustworthy plants for colour and flower effects in borders and elsewhere through May and J line (Noveniber-Decembcr) than this group of irises, descended in the main from iris pallida, and I. variegata._ The patient labours of such early pioneers as the late Sir Michael Foster and W. B. Dykes have borne ample fruit. It is not too much to say that their efforts have provided the foundations upon which many other raisers who have succeeded them have rapidly built up the px - osent race of hybrid irises, which are far superior in every way to the old varieties. There has been marked improvement in tho habit of growth and constitution of the plants, in the form of the flowers, and in the range of colouring. Fragrance, too, has not been neglected, and some of the modern varieties have tho quality of scent well developed, but it is the range and colour that has been' most improved. The choice of shades is Iqrge enough to satisfy the most critical, and though there is possibly an excess nowadays of those bizarre colourings in which brown, copper, bronze, and purple are blended together, there is no lack.of the pure, self-coloured blooms, which aro never likely to lose their appeal, “ Apart from their virtues of flower and foliage, which alone entitle them to a place in the front lino of every border, where their handsome, sword-like leaves aro indispensable for giving variety and contrast in the texture of the front line planting, they are amongst the easiest of plants to please. They are'tolerant of any conditions, except dense shade and a badly drained soil,; and can be trusted to flourish as well in chalk as in gravel, in full sun as well as in light shade, and in the town garden as -well as in the country. An open and sunny situation, free from the entangling growths of groundwork plants which shade their rhizones from tho summer sunshine, so necessary to give them a thorough baking, and build up their vitality for next year’s flowering, suits them best. Good drainage is essential to .success, and if the ground is naturally f ree from lime, a dressing should be applied in some form or other, for there 's nothing that the bearded irises appreciate better than lime in their diet. “To plant the fleshy rhizomes too d<fcp is to invito failure, especially where the ground is on tho heavy side, and it is sufficient to cover them with n thin film of soil, but, at the same time, making certain that they are perfectly firm. Authorities differ as to tlic best season for planting, but it is now generally agreed, that tho most favourable time is soon after flowering, or. failing that, during August and September—early autumn. They are an accommodating group of plants, however. and can be moved with safety at almost any season, except the dead of winter, but, if tho gardener wishes to get flowers next summer, ho will be wise to plant during early autumn, when the plants are making fresh foots. “ Thei - © are a hundred ways of using these plants. Invaluable in the herbaceous border, where they can have as their companions the lupins, anchusas, pryethrums, the cool grey clouds of catmint, the green-grey foliage of the artemisias, and the grey cushions of the lavender cotton, they aro equally useful set in colonies, at the edge of a shrub border, where their handsome leaves are always attractive. In less disciplined places, too, and in beds on a lawn, tliqy provide a fine display, if massed in generous colonies, and, if varieties are cai - efully chosen, the flowering season will last for five or six weeks, while, by intcrplanting them with gladioli, which are admirable for the purpose, a further succession of bloom can be obtained in tho later summer.” -r— lirir- . LILY PONDS FOR SMALL GARDENS It is probable that water lilies would be more commonly grown in small gardens if their case of cultivation and the small amount of trouble [they give were more generally appreciated. It is, therefore, in the hope of making the undertaking look less stiff that these few suggestions are made, which may not be altogether in accord witli inuch that lias been written but nevertheless will be found very helpful (writes “ Lorna,” in the ‘ Manawatu Daily Times ’). Making a popcl is a cheap and simple matter, provided one uses concrete and goes about the business. with method. Some have been made of puddled clay, but are not very satisfactory. Mistakes can be avoided by a careful consideration of the following matters before starting with the design and building. In regard to position, the first thing to be-considered is sunlight. It wants as much of.this as .possible. Too near a tree is a bad place, both for the tree and for. the pond. There will be trouble with tjie roots, both while digging and afterwards. There will be trouble through getting the pond full of loaves in tho autumn, and there would be trouble on account of the drips from tho trees on the water lilies. If possible- the neighbourhood of a seam of gi’avel should bo avoided, as such a place makes digging very hard, and it is difficult to keep the sides of the excavation anything like oven. A - pond . looks best when it is brim full and the surrounding soil slopes gently down to its edge. There are certain other advantages besides good appearance in such an arrangement. For one thing, a pond in a slight hollow lias the advantage that Hie soil around it Mould keep more moist, and is, therefore less likely to open out in dry weather and reduce tho support.for the pond sides.

THE FLORA OF WESTERN ABYSSINIA

Abyssinia is in the news just now. It is a vast country, virtually unknown to the white man, and it has been described as the fast stronghold of the savage. Little is known of tho flora of Abyssinia and the few notes below may prove of interest (writes “Lorna,” in the ‘ Manawatu Dailv Times ’). The cool plateau of Western Abyssinia, wholly unexplored botanically, contains a wealth of floral beauty, which is quite remarkable lor a continent such as Africa, where there are vast, arid deserts, relieved by dense tropical forests containing little of floral value to British gardeners. In Abyssinia, however, each' stretch of smiling upland _ contains countless floral treasures, which are equalled but not rivalled by those of fhe southern extremity of the African continent, which has contributed so much or its botanical treasure to our European gardens. In Abyssinia—called Ethiopia by the native inhabitants—Pandora s box of floral gifts remains to be broached. I use tbe word broached as a symbol of physical effort, fox 1 Abyssinia is no country of roads and railways. Its mountain vastness can only be invaded by the pack nude, and specimens collected by the saddle-worn botanist. Each rolling expanse of upland plateau is crowned by mighty mountain masses and separated from the next plateau by terrific ravines, which are survivals of tho cracking of the, earth s surface. In these cool uplands frost is not experienced under 6,000 feet. Northern ‘Abyssinia, with the central mountain mass of the mighty Simien rising to 15,000 _ feet, has from time to time been visited by an occasional botanist, but the vast areas of the Western remain unknown. The floral belt best known consists of the series of Western plateaux at an elevation of. from- 4,000 feet to 6,000 feet, with the mountain masses of Tula Valel and Tula Jergo rising to 11,000, feet. The season of bloom, which presents to travellers an ever-changing kaleidoscope of colour, is at the end of the long monsoon rains (85in) and the dry period from October to March. Flowering shrubs and clematis attract the eye, the air is perfumed by cascades of white jasmine covering the trees in each mountain stream. The torch lilies abound on tho rocky slopes at 0,000 feet, and are of a variety suitable for English summer cultivation, as both red and yellow varieties are accustomed, to‘prolonged cold rains. The newly discovered Trumpet flower is here, with its large orchid-lik© flower with a purple throat. It has large tubers like a dahlia. A shrub which grows from six _to eight feet, is a perennial, blossoming the first year from seed and having large heads of pink mauve flowers like giant antirrhinums and bright green holly-liko serrated leaves armed with sharp spines. Along tho mountain paths this bright green shrub, with its masses of pink flowers, form's dense hedges. Another variety, water loving and found near streams, has dense blue (lowers. The paint brush shrub lias (lowers of mauvo purple, borne in tiny brushes, and blooming the first year from seed. Acidanthera bicolor munelar, a tall cool climate acidanthera, grows four feet, and the bulbs give a great number of spawn cormlets. _ Its fragrance is delightful, and it is a flower becoming very popular with all bulb growers. Orchids, too, are to be found. There are mauve ground orchids with large rhizomes and flowers of capuchin hood, mauve with a deep pink fringed lower lip, at first sight mistaken for clianthus. Another local variety has a spike of yellow and chocolate ffowers. A 'third one —very rare—is a tall yellow swamp-growing orchid, excellent‘for swamp gardens as a bogside plant. Another shrub, name unknown, lias largo white camella-shaped blooms, with a deep yellow stamen cushion in tho centre. The seed is borne in a small yellow ball like a mock orange. There are numerous lilies. The pink striped criminx lily grows, and there are two other local varieties, one snowwhite and the other with brown stripes. The fire-ball lily has heads of vivid scarlet and spikes tipped with gold, which at seed time give place to heads of scarlet berries. Both the flowers and the seeds in autumn make a great blaze of soldiers’ scarlet. In Western Abyssinia is a lilac-like shrub which is such a feature of the landscape’ after the new 'year, being masses of mauve and pink and white. In the cool depths of the mountain forests tho bright pink of the forest Begonia meets the eye. It is a tuberous Begonia like Gloire-de-Tor-raino in flower, but very robust and tall growing, making a mass of pink flowers sft high. There is also a coral creeper which makes a blaze of glory, often climbing and flowering on the tops of forest trees 60ft from tho ground, but at all times, whether making a display along a wall or covering a supporting bush, one of the most beautiful creepers in the world. It is a perennial, with 4ft long sprays of flowers. Some 40 new plants and shrubs have been collected and photographed, and seed and bulbs have been sent to Europe and America to enlarge tho ever-expanding floral treasures of the modern gardens.

NOVELTY CHRYSANTHEMUMS Angela Fink.—Large rich, pure golden yellow, incurved, of dwarf habit. Good for exhibition purposes or cut-flower work. Glen Phillips.—Nice golden bronze of great size and a splendid exhibition variety. Distinct in colour, vigorous in growth and of a good lasting quality. Joseph Bradford.—The colour of this new dwarf incurved, is cf a rich plum and is quite distinct among * Japanese .chrysanthemums. Helena.—This variety, a sport from Mr E. Alston, is of a pale salmon colour with lilac rose reverse. It is of quite good habit, strong in growth, and retains its foliage even under adverse conditions; incurved. Amongst singles, the following have been selected as being tho best of this year’s introductions: — Amaranth.—A variety amaranth in colour, shaded in purple, therefore distinct from any other in its class and a useful, reliable sort for eshibibition purposes or cutting. Margot Grahamo.—ln colour this variety is of a warm terracotta showing scarlet sheen. It is admirable for exhibition purposes, producing flowers five inches in diameter.