BORONIAS.

Shannon News, 8 July 1924, Page 3

BORONIAS.

CULTIVATION AND MANAGEMENT

When plants are received they 'should be planted without delay, and if at all dry they should be thoroughly watered,, and this is best done by immersing the ball or pot in a vessel of water. If this preliminary watering is necessary,-the. plant should be allowed to stand for, say, 12 hours, so that the surplus water may drain away before planting. . If the plants are “hailed” in scrim, they should be planted with the scrim unremoved, and they must not be planted deeper than the point where til scrim is tied round the collar; if in pots, plant one-half inch, deeper than' soil level in pot. Any soil will give good results if moderately rich and well-cut-, tivated. After flowering is over prune 1 the flowering growths about half back, that is to‘ say about half the’ previous year’s growth should be re-j moved. Watering in dry weather,’ .and other cultural requirements commonly, given to all valuable plants,! must he accorded them if best results are to be expected. - j Perhaps the most important point connected with the successful management of these popular flowers is to' keep them free from the attacks of a; small aphis which invariably infests them. The remedy is simple, and! consists of spraying them with a solu-J tion of black leaf 40 in the proportion of 1 in 400. !

• It is a mistake to believe that Boronias are short-lived plants. If the above instructions are adhered to, the plants will increase in size each year, and. will -ultimately reach. a height of five- feet. Boronias raised from seed are useless, and the buyer should, insist on getting cutting-raised plants. Above all things, be sure you keep your plants ' free from aphis; prune moderately, water in dry weather, and vdu will succeed P