HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 2817, 4 March 1908, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES.

j Bx J. Gebbie.

A week or two ago I noticed that the Port Chalmers Borough Council contemplate the beautifying of the town and its surrounding reserves by tree-planting. That Port Chalmers is a pretty spot there is no denying, and by a judicious planting of its reserves and waste places its beauty could be considerably enhanced. I think it was about eight years ago that the writer of these notes was asked to inspeot and advise regarding the laying out a reserve adjoining the railway line. This part was to be called Pretoria Gardens, and the work was to be put in hand right away, but for some reason or other it was never carried out. Now that the matter has cropped up again a commencement wiil probably soon bo made to do something' in the way of planting, and if the work is carried out according to the suggtes tions in the report it in a few years would add greatly to the attractions of the Port. STATICES. These are fine annual and perennial plants, growing vigorously in ordinary flower borders, where they throw up their widelybranching flower stems, with hundreds of small blooms covering them, and forming a complete feather of diminutive blossoms, for tho most part white or blue. They are easily raised from seeds, and after planting- out will increase in size, and fl-owor season after season, until they may be taken up and parted to increase them, when they soon spread again and become conspicuous. The genus also contains a few greenhouse evergreen plants, which are very ornamental. The best variety for pot culture is Statice profusa, a dwarf-growing plant, producing in profusion a number of large trusses of bloom. These are white, and after they drop off, the bracts, which are of a beautiful blue colour, remain fresh and effective for a long time, and in a cut state may.be preserved for years. They belong to what are called the everlasting flowers, their peculiar value being the permanent character of their form and colour when dried. Statice oaspia is a smaller growing species, which makes a pretty pot plant, and, like the other, is almost a continuous bloomer. S. bonduelli is a fine yellow, and does well sown as an annual in the borders. S. speciosa, with reddish flowers, and S. suworowi, a free blooming' plant, with spikes of bright rosecoloured flowers, are pretty annuals. . BULBOUS PLANTS. The advent of bulb catalogues for the coming season reminds us that the time to p:ant spring-flowering bulbs is near at hand, and those who wish for a spring display in the garden should place their orders, early so that planting) may be done before the bulbs become too much dried up. It is a great mistake to keep bulbs too long out of the ground. When kept in a dry state for several months it is impossible for them to flower as vigorously as those which were never allowed to undergo the drying process. Early planting mefns early root action, and for spring-flowering bulbs this and the following month is a good time to get them planted. One of the chief difficulties of the amateur gardener is that of making a selection from the many varieties of bulbous plants offered. Ine begini.er in bulb-growing should start with narcissi. There ie no more popular group or family of bulbous plants more satisfactory to srrow. Of cheap, good, and distinct varieties which represent a fairly long season of flowering, I select the following : Golden Spur, Princeps, Horafieldi, Emperor, Barii conspicuous, Empress Albicans. Stella superba, Leedsu amabihs. Poeticuß ornatus, Sulphur Phoenix, and Orange Phoenix— these last two being double and very pretty. These are but a few good, cheap varieties selected from a list of about 300, "ranging in price from £3 3s per bulb down to 3d each. Anemones make a briliiant display, and these are available in many shades of colour, such as rose, crimson, blue, white, and striped the St Bngid varieties being the finest. Hyacinths are a beautiful c l asS of spring-flowermg bulibs which should be grown in every garden, greenhouse, and conservatory- They delieht in rich, deep, and moist soils, and when well grown are highly oranamental. Plant from 3in to +in deep, according* to the size of the bulb. When the flowering period is. over and the foliage has died down the bulbs should be taken up and put away until planting time, which is from now until the end of April. This is the method recommended by several cultivators, but I have found mine to do better if left in for three seasons. I have better spikes of bloom the second and third year after planting than I have the first. They also flower well in pots, boxes or glasses. Double and single varieties in many colours are obtainable. Tulips come next in importance, and as bedding plants or for growing in pots in the greenhouse they are unique. They thrive well under the same culture as the hyacinth, and may remain, in the sime place undisturbed for years A somewhat shadod position, sheltered from' high winds, is the best. Ranunculus, scillas. crocuses, chionodoxa, snowdrops, grape hyacinth. Spanish iris, and early-floworin^ gladioli are among the most important groups of bulbous or tubfc.rous-rcoted plants that shou d be planted with a view to a long-continued sprins display.