HORTICULTURAL NOTES

Otago Witness, Issue 2894, 1 September 1909, Page 10

HORTICULTURAL NOTES

J .By J. Gebbib. I j j ; I i j : j I

FLOWER WORSHIP IN JAPAN. The worship of flowers in Japan is one of the most charming characteristics of the people. As each,flower in turn bursts into bloom festivals are held in <ts honour, and the people flock in thousands to celebrated places to eip tea and sake and compose impromptu poems-in- 'praise of the glorious colours that adorn the shrubs and trees. Each flower-in turn'has its fetes—the plum, cherry, azalea, peony, wisteria, ;ris, chrysanthemum, and also the maple leaves. All are worshipped in turn and homage paid to -them by all classes of society. There is no festival for the beautiful lotus flower, for it is the flower of death. field sacred in ifte East, because growing, in mud and attaining fo such chaste and blushing, beauty, the lotus typifies .purity rising unsullied from the*-slime oi evil. The intense love of .the people, for flowers has begotten in the Japanese s mastery over them, (ax beyond that attorned in any other land. The beautiful wisteria, one of the finest hardy climbing plants, in its native country, attains extraordinary dimensions. At Rasukape there is an ancient specimen, the trunk of which ;s; s Bft in diameter at the base, j.nd the flowers hang thickly from a trellis covering an eighth of an acre. The purple blooms, which hang in clusters like those of the laburnum, often attain a length of *ft. ROSES IN POTS. For the amateurs greenhouse roses are as satisfactory a class of plant us can be cultivated, growing and flowering; freely undei glass with or without artificial heat. No,pha&e of gardening will give more pleasure to the amateur than <he growth of roses in note. The best plants for pot-cul-ture, :f:f obtainable, arc those rooted from cuttings, as they are generally well furnished with roots, and have several branches. By growing them slowly the firet season they become well established as-pot plants, and flower abundantly the second season. Pots Bin in diameter are large enough for "the strongest plants the first year- In fact, roses do not require extra largo pots at any time. In potting put. back all strong roots to witihin, 4in of their base. ' Drain, the pots carefully, and pot moderately firm in a compost of three parts fibry loam, one part of half-decayed horse manure, with a few handfuls of bonedust to the barrowful of compost Autumn is the best time for potting them, although it ie jaot, top "late to pot up now. When, potted stand the plants m a cold frame and ■prune back to within 4jn of their base, to induce strong tfhoots to 'orm. When placed in the greenhouse give the plaints a position as near the glass as possible, where tboy will get an abundance of light and ■ to induce a etocky growth. Water

must' be liberally supplied to the roots, and a syringing overhead now and ago.in> will keep the foliage clean. , WEIGELAS. Bofanically the weigelas are nearly related to the honeysuckles, but in general appearance they are widely removed from each othei-. They are of quite easy culture, thriving in ordinary garden soil, and -where 6pace is limited they can be readily kept within bounds by being pruned back immediatelj after flowering. They are- deciduous shrubs, with 6howy clusters of bloom * ranging from pure white to dark crimson. There are many varieties in cultivation. The first introduced from China and Japan were Weigelas amabilis, Weigelas rosea, and Weigelas hontensis. The varieties have, been rawed chieflj on the Continent, three of the best being Weigelas Candida (pure white), Abel Carriere (pink), and Wiegelas Eva Rathke (claret crimson). While several of the Weigelas produce a" few scattered blossoms after the regular flowering season is over, the variety Eva Rathfce flowers continuously throughout the summer months. It is less vigorous in growth than the others, so pruning can. to a great extent be dispensed with, except to cut out any old and exhausted wood near the "centre of --the plant. PLANTS" FOR" EDGINGS. Ther.fi jj.re, many handy plants which may be utilised for making edgings to the flowerbeds or'-borders. For -a permanent* edging ther^ is nothing to eqUa] boxwood, but many- prefer a ' flowering plant.' A very pretty edging^ which I saw last season wasformed'oi' London PTide^-an old-fashioned flower, but. good for the- purpose. v Like many other plants usad for edgings, it becomes untidy and ragged through neglect, but if lifted and replanted when the growth has become too dente the flowers are borne with the greatest of freedom— a mass of pink and white, dietirct and pretty. In some gardens at the present time edgings of violets and primroses are looking beautiful. Double daisies' are ?ood plants for edging a- garden path, and at one tim* were frequently seen in Dunedin gardens. They form a perfect mat of growth, and grow in -almost any soil. Few plants -are more easily propagated than the daisy, andthe clumps may be lifted m either spring or autumn and pulled to piecos, putting each little plant into good soil. When planted for edgings they should be fairly close* togetiher, so as quickly to form a dense mat. The common thrift (Armeria vulgaris), or sea pink, makes a. charming edging of bright screen, and when the plants are not permitted to go more than three years without division and replanting a gay display of flowers ;s; s assured each year. There are tTiree varieties of this jfhrift — white, pink, and deep rose, the latter being the most effective when in bloom. Some of the dwarf saxifrages make a eoft green oarpet spangled with flowers in _the proper season. Cerastiums and the white Arabic make neat edgings, and are frequently met with.* The pretty Gentians- acaulis makes a beautiful edging where it thrives. Moist, loamy soil- suits it best; and! when once established it will quickly spread, bearing a profusion of large tubular flowers of an intense blue colour.