DWARFED TREES

Shannon News, 16 April 1929, Page 2

DWARFED TREES

HOW TO GROW THEM. EXPERIMENTS ON AN ORANGE.Since dwarfed plants have become so popular an adjunct in the home, for decorative purposes, many women nave visited the florists to acquire one o± the miniature gardens which grow in quaint low bowls with sueh -dclightru effect. . ~ There are, however, a number or homes which have to go without these little' gnarled trees flanked by tiny bridges spanning imitation, streams, so to give those an opportunity of making the ‘ ‘ gardens ’ ’ themselves without much expense; here is an old-fash-ioned way of stunting the growth of the tree. Moreover, it should be an interesting experiment for those wio like to try something new and latner ' Ul Take”an' orange, and through a small hole cut in the peel, remove all pulp and juice. Them Jill the empty skm with cocoanut fibre, fine moss and ehaicoal, stiffened slightly with a little Plant in the middle of this a date stone an acorn or the kernel. of any tree preferred. When- this is done place the orange in a glass or vase near the window,- sprinkle the surface with fine wood ashes, and sprinkle occasionally with , a little water through the hole in the top. When it begins to grow the tree will push its way through the compost and the roots will thrust themselves through the orange peel The roots must then be cut flush with the peel, and this process repeater frequently 'for some time. After the tree has grown a little it will become gnarled and stunted like a full-grown tree many years old. Strangely enough, the orange peel does n&t rot, and when the roots have been cut for the last tune, it should be painted black or. varnished. It should be possible to set the tree in a pottery bowl, and support it with a few stones or pieces of wood without crushing it. It must be arranged naturally, of course, to get the proper garden effect, and if little figure® ' ™ wee bridges are liked, clever fingeis should have no difficulty in making them. .