HORTICULTURAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2892, 18 August 1909, Page 9

HORTICULTURAL N OTES

By J. Gebbib.

FLOWER SEED NOVELTIES. Looking '.frrough the novelties and specialties in the various seed catalogues, *c note a numbei as being worthy of a triai. \butilon maximum, the giant abutilon, 'heade the list, and from the description •riven should prove worthy oi cultivation.. The old varieties arc pretty flowering shrubs, rather tender for out-door cultivation in the southern parts of the Dominion, except in favoured localities, but greenhouse protection during 'Winter is air they require. These" new varieties are distinguished by a vigorous growth, withlarge and strong foliage. They are very free-flowering, the branches being, thickly covered with buds and bloom* to the number of 15 or 20. These do not hang down like the old varieties, but keep upright, and when fully expanded pass from the bell-like to an almost open form, attaining a diameter of 3£in and more. lne colours range from white to delicate rose and from cream to golden orange, fceedlin<rs commence to bloom in five or six months, and develop the first year into highly-decorative plants: „,,,,. Rhemania angulata is a beautiful plant, introduced from Central China a few years ago. The plant grows atioul 3ft higfc, and! from the axils of the leaves spring the nodding flowers, with funnel-shaped tube and expanded corolla about 3in across. The colour 'of the' flowere is a ehade of rosy purple, with rich yellow throat. There is also a pink variety, and both are well worth growing. These plants are best treated as biennials, and if sown during! January or August the seedlings should" be' potted off in small pote as soon as they are large enough to handle, using a mixture of sandy loam and leaf mould. During; winter they should be kept near the glass, and when they begin' to grow in the spring) the plants should be potted on, and if intended to flower in pote they should be shifted into the flowering size by the end* of October or beginning of November A 6in or 7ra pot is large enough in which to flower them, unites larger specimens are

required. They should be in flower during December.

Myosotis. — Ruth Fisher is a new forget-me-not of a neat and compact habit. The flower* are about £5n across, and are produced in large clusters. The colour is a pure forget-me-not blue. It can be grown in pots, hanging baskets, or in the open borders, and it is particularly good for cutting. Primulas are a lovely class of plants, and additions of new species are being continually made. One of the latest is Primula veitohi, Irom Western China, where it is found growing on cliffs, and dry banks at an elevation of 8000 ft. It is a robust species, producing umbels of from 10 to 20 blooms of a deep rose colour, with an orange ring surrounding the yellow mouth of tihe tube. The blooms are about^lin In diameter, so that when the trusses are open they are* very showy. Another ehowy species of primula from the same region is P. Ooekburmana. This is one of the most striking and remarkable of all primulas. The flowers are about lin in diameter, of a bright orange-scarlet colour. Primula rewensis is a late introduction, and may be classed with the novelties. It originated in. the Royal Gardens, Kcw, and is a valuable winter-flowering plant, producing bright yellow flowers about lin in diameter, and fragrant. A wre and extremely showy annual_comes from South Africa under the name of Dimorphotheca auxantiaca. This is likely to become a favourite on account of its easy culture and ite beautiful-coloured flowers. It forms bushy plants a foot or more in height, covered with flowers up to 3in across of a rich golden yellow colour with black disc. Sown in a cold frame and planted out in a sunny situation, it will bloom early and continuously. A more easily-pronounced name for this lovely annual would be welcome.

MOSS ROSES.

The moss "roses appear to be a neglected class, and are seldom met with in our gardens. When given good treatment they will amply repay for the attention bestowed upon them. The moss rose requires rich soil and a warm jMisition, sheltered from strong winds. They are generally best when growiiig upon their own roots, therefore are best propagated from layers. They require rather close pruning, cutting the weak shoots back to the base of the plant, and leaving the strongest shoots about 9m in length. Some of the moss roses are perpetual bloomeo-s, and produce their bloseoms until late autumn. Among th« bast a.re Blanche Morau, -with pure white flowers produced in clusters, ami fresly furnished with deep green moss. Crested moss — rcss colour, with beautiful crested "buds. Little gem— crimson., beautifully massed, small double flowers, valuable for bouquets. Zaneii— rosy crimson, tinted with purple and the common inos*, which nas been in cultivation for a oentxtry — should not bi omitted -from the list of varieties worth cultivating.

CHINESE PRIMP.OSE.

Tc keep up a succession of - plants in flower fiom April onwards through the winter se^ds of these primulas should be 80-svn at intervale during October._ Nc-vein-foer, and December. The seed sliould be sown thinly in pot= or seed-pans filled with fight loam, leaf coil, and sand. Eill the pot or pan to within of 'the top. Well •water Through a fine rose an hour or two before sowing. Sow evenly, abd cover the seeds lightly with fine soil, gently press the surface, and leave quite level. Place the seeds in a greenhouse near trie glass, an 3 cover them with pieces of glass and }»per until germination takes place, when the paper must be taken off and the glass gradually removed as the plants advance in growth. When the seedlings are large enough to' handle transfer them to 3-inch pots, using two parts good fibrous loam, one of leaf soil, and some coarse sand. The pots should be well drained and perfectly clean. As 6oon as the pots become filled with root«, shift on into 4-inch pots; the final potting should be int< those of 6in in diametei. The soil for the final pottng should consist of goodj fibrous loam brole- v) .ather roughly, leaf soil, arellrottOc": manure, and sufficient eand to keep the soil open. When ihe pots are filled with- Toots the plants may receive a watering with liquid cow manui\ .once or twice a w»ek. The best place fov growing them is n garden- frame, and dui-ing the warm nigl<ts of summer the lights of the frame may be removed altogether so as to keep the plants as robust and sturdy as possible. Watering, ventilation, and shading are the prinaipal points in their management to ensure siMX-ess. As they come into bloom they can be removed : nto the greenhouse.

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