INTERESTING TALK AT COMMUNITY CLUB

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 129, 17 June 1937, Page 11

INTERESTING TALK AT COMMUNITY CLUB

An intere'sting afternoon was spent by the members of the Hastings vvoluen'is Comiuunity Club at their meeting .yesterday afternoon wnen talks vvere given py severai of the club members auout the history of their favourdte flowrnr and when possible detaiis of lts orig-m, Mrs. K. E. Crompton, the cirele leader, opened the programme writh a ' talk about gentian, a xavounte flower of hers whxch she had seen growmg wild on the swiss Alps. fcihe told the members that gentian was a native oi' the Alps in fcjouthern Europe and the Himalayas, and also grew in the fciouthern Alps of JNew Zeaiand. The speaker said that the plant did best in the rock garden and had lovely green leaves and trumpet flowers of line dazzling biue. The varioue species of the gentian were described and also hints given on their growth. Mrs. Hedley Harvey read an article about primroses, there being more than 500 species of wild primula, of which some species can be grown in every garden with reasonable shade and moisture. Mrs. A. J. Foot spoke about the tulip, which was knovra. as far back as 1550. and flret flowered in England in 1577. fcjbe said that the bulbs required a deep fertile soil, well drained and well lined. The speaker read an article whieh said that it had recently been proved that stripiness in tulips was due to avis ot green fly, and that the bulbs should be sprayed to keep them avis free. - . The growing of Violets wras discuseed by Mrs. W. Mackenzie, who said. that these flowers required much cultivation for good results. ' ' Violets inust have shade in summer .and sun in the winter,' ' said Mrs. Mackenzie, "and so are grown best under deciduoue trees. They should be plaated out iin September and October by putting the crowus of the plants into the "ground, about 12 iuches apar t. It is very necess'ary to keep the runners nipped back in . the summer. Cow maniire' or leaf mould should be used, but never wood agh oi lime. and liqiiid ' manure is good in'tho flowering season. Keep the plants damp in the summer and well-picked in the season. " Mrs. J.' Wright spoke about the sweet pea, which was ; first known in Sicily about 200 years ago. Mrs. O. O. Moller read two short ar ' ticles about flowers which had changed' very little through ' the' centuries, tlie Madonna lily. which was ' known in Engiand in Anglo-Saxon times, and also the iris, known as the po'or man 'a orchid, Th'e speaker said that flag irises were very easily grown, being aimost immune from insect pests. She said that they would thrive in soil with sun and good drainage. The last speaker was Mrs. George Davies, who spoke about cacti. She explained their origin in Mexico and gave the exact definition of a cactus. One particular vanety .which she espe eially ddscussed was commonly ■ knowu as Bishop 's Cap. Mrs. Davies said that there were over 1500 species of cacti, apart frOm horticultural varieties and abnorinalities. Afternoon tea' was enjoyed and fol-' lowing this a sale of seedlings, plants •; and cuttin'gs was held to assist the furnishing fund. Among those present were: — Mrs. K. E. Crompton, Mrs. W. Mackenzie, Mrs. George Davies, Mrs. F. L. '

Bonc, Mrs. ii. Lovell Smith, Mrs. W. MacFarlane, Mrs. Hedley Harvey, Mrs. A. L Rainbow, Mrs. F. Twigg, Mrs. H. Toogood, Mrs. O. C. Moller. Mrs. Donald Robertson, Mrs. HL W/ C. Baird, Mrs. D. J. Holder, Mrs. R. Huflett, E. Ballantyne, Mrs. D. N. Hooker, Mrs. E. Riley, Mrs. J, Craig, Mrs. J. Wright, Mrs, D. W. Hursthouse, Miss' H. Ford, Mrs". Foot and Mies Marie Foot, Mrs. J'. Simson, Mrs. L. J. Harvey.