The Garden.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 459, 2 April 1890, Page 3

The Garden.

Moist Weather. The heavy rains which we experienced during the latter portion of last week have made a marked improvement in all classes of vegetation. Shrubs and trees which showed signs of suffering have not only had the dust washed off their foliage, but the roots have also had such a liberal supply that it will enable them to send up fresh nutriment throughout their entire fabrication. Camellias and rhododendrons, especially, have felt the full benefit, and they are now forming buds. To as ist them a little liquid manure would be advisable from time to time. Chrysanthemums should now be swelling their buds rapidly, through the effect of the rains ; disbudding must be general where fine large flowers are required. Early flowered gladiolus bulbs which are ripe should be lifted, dried, and stored past, as the moist state of the soil will be apt to start them again. Where early spring or winter flowers of the above are required a few well-ripened bulbs should at once be planted. Anemones, ranunculus, tulips, ixias, hyacinth, bulbs, etc., can now be planted out, and the cool, moist state of the ground will soon cause them to break and grow'. Watering on the lawns should now' almost come to a close for the season, as the ground has got so thoroughly cooled by the late rains that it is not likely that it will get burned up this season. Where lawns are to be topdressed and are not in use, now is the best time to do it. The soil can easily be disturbed and worked in before the grass has much time to grow. Fresh grass seed can also be sown early next month, and will get well-established before the cold of winter sets in. Cauliflower and cabbage plants should also be put out now, as they will now be a great deal less injured bv the fly. The Chrysanthemum Exhibition. The Chrysanthemum Society will hold their annual exhibition in the Choral Hall on Friday and Saturday, 25th and 26th of April. This exhibition promises to far surpass the one held last autumn. At the present time there are over 4,000 plants being specially grown so as to produce first-class blooms. On each of those plants there will only be about from six to nine flowers allowed to come to maturity, all the rest of the flower buds being thinned off before they begin to expand. Now', this will give my readers a pretty fair estimate of the number of blossoms from which the different growers will be able to choose their flowers for staging. Besides the cut flowers, some of the most enthusiastic growers are also going to compete with chrysanthemum plants in pots. Besides the first schedule issued to members there is a supplementary one in which there are money prizes of £2 10s and £1 ss, offered for a group of pot plants, arranged in a space of 50 square feet. There is also one ton coal for the best four hanging baskets, also prizes of 55,3 s 6d, and 2s 6d, for the best bouquets to be made up with chrysanthemums only, and by children under the age of 14 years. The four silver and two bronze medals of the National Chrysanthemum Society, and also two certificates of the above Society, have arrived and will be competed for at the coming exhibition. I would also specially draw the attention of competitors to the printed conditions 16 and 18. (16) “ The National Chrysanthemum Society’s certificates and medals will not be awarded to any exhibits which are nor, of first-class merit,and the judges will be requested to strictly enforce this regulation.” (18) “ The most recent issue of the National Chrysanthemum Society Catalogue shall be the standard of reference in matters of classification and nomenclature.” The above will clearly indicate what time and trouble the promoters of this exhibition have taken to bring about an excellent exhibition of chrysanthemums, etc., and the public should try and patronise to show their appreciation of the Committee of Management. Prize schedules and all other information required by intending competitors can be obtained from the lion, secretary, Mr A. E. Dewes. In dealing with a Horticultural Exhibition I may also mention that steps are being taken to form a committee to carry out the annual camellia exhibition in Newmarket some time during the winter.