FLOWERING CHERRIES

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 October 1940, Page 9

FLOWERING CHERRIES

SHOULD BE IN EVERY GARDEN.

The flowering cherry group includes some of the most delightful of all the flowering trees and shrubs, beautiful in spring with masses of white, pink and cream flowers and delicate bronzy foliage, and again in autumn when they assume brilliant autumn colouring. . . They are perfectly hardy, but as the blossoms are easily spoiled by the wind they are more satisfactory when sheltered from the cold south-westerly winds. Like the other flowering trees already described in these notes they are most suitable for town gardens. They will submit to pruning when this is necessary, but the most suitable season is when they are in flower, for, then the young wood has time to ripen and, if necessary, set buds for the following spring. They are not very susceptible to the attack of pests, but if black fly should appear syringing with soft soap x and nicotine should be carried out, care being taken to wet. the under sides of the leaves and the young shoots. This spray should be repeated at intervals of a fortnight until the foliage is clean. Should any

fungus pests appear, spraying with lime sulphur while the trees are still at rest should be carried out. Though cherries will thrive in any well-cultivated ground, they prefer a light free loam and an annual top- . dressing of bone dust should be lightly r forked in in the spring. Though planting can be carried out at any time during winter and early spring, aut- ' umn is the most desirable season, for then the damaged roots have an opportunity to heal up before the cold, wet weather sets in. . There are a great many varieties, some upright in growth, some spreading and almost pendulous, and others grow in a horizontal way, the branches growing outwards from an upright stem. For lawn specimens and overgrowth in the shrubbery or rhododendron border there should be a clear stem of about six feet, and it is better when the plants are budded on a high stock, the gean being found suitable. Japanese Cherries. —The Japanese names under which a number of these,

cherries are sent out by nurserymen are very confusing. J.H. Veitch is deservedly popular. It flowers rather later than some, has spreading branches and large rose-pink flowers, and the long stauked drooping corymbs are often half-hidden by the young coppery foliage. P. S. Sekiyama is perhaps the most popular of all the Jap- • anese cherries. It has an upright habit, and its large rosy-red flowers are borne in great profusion. This variety is useful for planting in streets and small gardens. P. S. Yoshino is the most popular variety, and the one most extensively planted in Japan. It is of rapid growth, perfectly hardy, though it flowers early and is very beautiful when every branch is decked with pale pink blossoms. P. S. Ukon is rather a peculiar variety, with large semi-double white flowers suffused with greenish-yellow. P. pseudocerasus, var. Siebboldii, has flowers about two inches across, double * pinkish white or rose-coloured. The ' ... Geanor wild cherry, the double-flower-ing variety of the gean. is a most de- 1 sirable small tree, much stronger in f growth and also more upright than the Japanese cherries. It really grows into ' a shapely tree up to 50 in height, and bears qantities of double-white flowers, ‘ one and a-half inches across. One of the most desirable of flowering trees ’ where it has room to develop. 1 SOWING ASTERS i — t SOME USEFUL HINTS. i t Asters, in actual fact, are very easy f plants to raise from seed, but it is not ( at all uncommon to find that some ( gardeners have trouble with them, ( They are liable to damping oft in the £ seedling stage, but thick sowing and £ overwatering are two contributary £ causes. As a preventive it is a good t plan to water the compost in the boxes with Cheshunt Compound before sow- t ing. c In the North, at any rate, the plants t

can be treated as half hardy annuals £ by sowing out of doors in September r and October where the plants are to t flower. It is surprising to those who j have not tried this method, just how f well the plants will do. But thin sow- ] ing and drastic thinning are first essen- c tials. As to soil, the plants are not over r particular, provided they have good f drainage and a rooting medium which t is not lacking in nutriment. Asters s have little liking for fresh rank f

manure, but they do demand a rather richer soil than most annuals. Work the beds deeply and at the same time incorporate a generous dressing of old manure.