Flower Culture.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 29 November 1912, Page 3

Flower Culture.

(By W. 11. Taylor, Weraroa Experimental Farm, in Journal of .Department of Agriculture.)

Climbing roses provide lor their own renewal by the production of long roils. These are frequently regarded as a nuisance, and cutout. That is wrong. The best flowers are most frequently produced, by these long rods. Due care should therefore lu> taken of them in sufficient numbers to meet the requirements of the different plants. The usual way of dealing with climbing roses is to promote in the first place as strong a growth as possible, so as to secure a sufficiency of rods to lay in and cover the allotted space. These rods the ensuing spring push side shoots from every joint, each terminating in a cluster of flowers. When the next priming-time comes all the side shoots are cut back to short spurs. This process may be continued for another year or two if desired, but it is best to lay in some new rods each year—about half the total number required—and cut out enough of the older rods to make room for them. In this way the rods are seldom spurred more than once, unless it happens that there

are not enon<rh new ones made to continue the practice. This explanation is made as a guide as to what to do with young rod* at tlm present lime: it indicates what number m.'iv be required. If there are more than will be wanted, destroy them at once by cut ling fh.em hard back".

Sprng-floworine shrubs. being m-stly on! of flower. should now he urimed. r sav "pruned" advised!y: (hey should not b:* shorn. Very I'pfolv is it rhiht !••> prune these slirii lis witli tin l hedging shears: tins usually creates a monstrosity. 'I !u- branches should lie thinned and shortened with ;in object in view every tiint». 'I he object should be to term well-shaped hushes, even in contour, yet without the closely clipped appearance we endeavour to .secure in hedges. .Such .subject* as ccaiiothus ,deutzia, weigclia, for.sythin, guelder-roses, mock-roses, etc. come under this head. Others seldom require more than a few branches cut back to keep them to desired limits. Anions the.se are Choisya ternata and lilacs; those naturally for well-shaped bushes, and the stronger they -'row the better they flowr. Those I>uslics that sire pruned should have si ratlins branches cut hack, and if this i-

done in good time the resulting growths will flower well during season. and should not be pruned in any way whatever during winter. Escalonia iiiontevidiensis. formerly known as K. florabunda. flowers about faster iime. It is one of the best flowering .shrubs of that time, but it is satisfactory only when left unrestricted during summer: it- is llien iu due lime clad with a profusion of its pure-white blossoms. Any prunii'_ r re'lll irod should be done imnied'alelv after flowering. WWW! 1