Gardening Notes.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume IX, Issue 2592, 7 May 1887, Page 3

Gardening Notes.

Okk of the most important aims of this column is to explain away any dilliculty which may appear to stand in the way of successful floriculture. Nothing, in my opinion, tends to retard or scaro the umiiteur more than burdening and bewildering him with an incubus of minute instructions, causing him to fancy that the culture of flowers is an art relying on a full purse 'to he carried to any degree of success, or tlmt it is a mystery only to lie attempted by the initiated, No doubt a great many authors on Floriculture 'do really think that success depends aololyon the way the amateur gardener ' may hold his mouth when he is sowing his seeds or turning his sod, Fortunately the writer is not one of that class; lie believes a very considerable degreeof success can be attained by any person who is in direct sympathy with his or her subject, and will rofrain from attempting impossibili- • ties. Tlio order of plants reported to . .-.have the most mysterious requirements ■/',, is the " Orchidalthough when the tyro has purchased his first orchid and receives his ■ first lesson in culture from the vendor, lie is surprised at the exheme simplicity of the instructions given, and in a very short time lie has gained that experience which perfectly satisfies him that orchid cul- ■ ■ ture is quite as simple us the prim- • lose culture of his youth provided' he has a heated glass house at command, The' flowers of orchids are, without ' ' exception the most curious and beautiful in nature. Their qualities, taken . separately, would give eminence to 1 ,; ajiyracebf plants; the singularitycf their shapes, their delicate and aro--1 liiftiic .odors, and the richness and 1 .-".variety of their colors, all being different from anything we meet with '•' elsewhere; they are the most remarkable in the world as regards structure habitations, and general phenomena of life and renewal. Orchids accordingly are rapidly taking ut front position in all high class collections of ornamental plants, and deficient indeed should be the bridal bouquet or chaplct that nowadays is without a Dendrobe,. an ■ Oncid, a Calanthe, or a Cfelogyne. Oyer and above their intrinsic loveliness, there is always a sound and hearty reality about them. An orchid ■ flower means what it says. It does not fall to pieces like a lily ; there is no shedding of petals; no dropping away from the peduncle; 110 self decapitation, like that of a fuchsia no collapsing and dissolving, like a ■ Bpidenvort ; the orchid flower h neither superficial or -fugitive, 1101 insecure; it may be worn for a whole .night at a ball, and be as l'rosh at the" close as - when newly gathered. :• Orchids as a rule are not more costly than other select plants; the culture .of them is as simple as that of .: hyacinths, and there is no reason why wr.flvery'-man who has a glasshouse, and s"ffho will lay ou| a little money Mjpjfiuply, ami treat his plants .Kindly, may not render it as gay and .- uniquo as it is possible' for plant life , to make it. Plants are marvellously docile.' When they die prematurely it is of excessive maltreatment, and with orchids especially, as with women and .. chamelions, their life is the reflection 'of what'is around them.

Hiovk. " Slrikjp.culliugs of Coleus, as they winter much better than old plants, ' and do not requiro so much room, Orchids are so generally at rest now " that this is a more convenient season for a general examination of the stock, arid the renewal of blocks, baskets, efc. Eepot any that require it, and ~ lejt every plant undergo an examina.v tion, during which the surface material >sl)(juld be-wholly or partially removed. Greenhouse, 'Tuberous Begonias losing their .'vigor,.must be gradually put to rest by ' witholding water and placing tbera in " position fully exposed jo sun.' Varieties of.E'rythrina, soft ded lieatlis, Epacrises; and salvias

which are depended'upon for bloorji at this season must not be neglected; they must bo well watered and :ept clean. A few seeds of Oalceoliria, Cineraria, and Primula may skill bo sown for late blooming. =lieep those already growing vigorous by keeping them near the glass, and as ccjol as possible' without getting them jErostbitten. i

. Flower Garden. i( The Pansey is certainly one of the prettiest and easiest grown of all flowers for the " Cottager's Garden." It requires no delicate nursing; the plants do just as well if they never receive the shelter of a glasshouse. The fancy varieties are undoubtedly the best. Seeds can still be sown, or named sorts propagated by cuttings. The seeds must be sown thinly on a piece of fine soil in the open ground; as soon as they are largo enough to handlo, thoy may be pricked out about three inches apart, In four or six weeks the plants will be ready to plant out where they are to flower. Cuttings or sido-growths taken off with a portion of root attached, may be put in in a shady border, and will require shelter from wind and sun until when rooted. Potentillas and Carnations can be propagated by division. Prepare spring floworing plants by pricking of seedlings, splitting up Polyanthus, Primroses, Forget-me-nots, and similar plants, Plant Anemones and Ranunculus tubers. While Chrysanthemums are in bloom make up the list of what you intend to grow next season; and for specimens in pots, begin to insert cuttings early this month,

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