June 21—"A tree with inconspicuous flowers' Is' term often found in botanical books and it is used in describing the Raisin Tree (GHovenia Dulcis). This tree is a native of China, Japan and the Himalayas and there is a fine specimen in a garden at the Hungjao-Warren road corner. The tree was a fine sight when we saw it yesterday: it was covered with cymes bearing greenish-white flowers and we felt that the official description is rather misleading. The flowers may be small and perhaps inconspicuous when seen individually, but when seen in mass, as they are on the tree we are referring to, they are far from being inconspicuous: they' make the tree look quite attractive. The tree is a very nice shape and the flowers show to advantage against the handsome foliage. We have never seen such 'a display and we must admit that we have changed our opinion about the usefulness of the tree for general garden decoration; we have always admired it more for its peculiar habit of producing fleshy peduncles, than for {ts decorative value, The flower stalks on most plants support the flowers and fruit, and then they have done their duty; with the Hovenia, it is different. When a flower fails, small berry takes its place at the end of th peduncle; "this berry ripens in the Aue tumn, 'During the Summer, the peduncle begins to swell and by the time' late Autumn comes along, it becomes thick and fleshy. This thick-ied "ower stalk turns brownish and Fipens about October when it becomes edible. When chewed, it has a very sweet taste and this has given the tree its common name of "Raisin tree." Wilson refer to the tree as "Kal. tsze" and in his bock, he confirms that the Mlesky pedunciey are eaten to annul the effects of wine. There should be a good crop on the Warren road corner tree this year, 0 revellers during the Autumn will know where to call for relief from that "morning after" feeling, We are sure that the owner of the garden will not require all his stock and we do not think that he will dispose of his stock for any reason other than what may be called humanitarian, by the National Rove Society of England, has June 21—"The 1041 Rose Annual" published
{ust come to hand and ft is very Interesting to learn that despite the strenuous times through hich the country is passing, growers of the "queen of Flowers" are doing' tele, best to, maintain' public Interest in. rose-growing. An fvticie on the. Ice-serin thatthe South and Western parts of the country experienced january 1940 is. most interesting reading only two previous storms of this nature have been recorded. It would. appear that in some places, rose growths were encased in ico over tone inch in thickness and that some varieties suffered badly. One writer, in relating his ex-Periences, states that "what 1 had thought sleet was rain, which froze immediately it tell. None my gates could be opened until the ice on the latches had been thawed." Another writer fells us that the storm simplified pruning, all that he had to do was to cut all roses down to ground level: all long growths that he left. ied later. The usual annual Rose Analysis appears in the book, voters being asked to place their selections in order of merit and not 0 exceed 24 varieties in each class. In the exhibition class, "Barbara Richards" is placed first, well ahead of "Mrs. Charles Lamplough" and' "Phyllis Gold," which are placed second fand third ively. The "General Garden Cultivation" class interests us most of here we find that "Mrs Sam MeGredy, Gredy's. Yellow" and "Btolle Iande" are the chief favourites in the order named, the last-named receiving 111 less points than the firsnamed. The "Climbing and Rambing" class analysis shows us. that "Albertina" Is the favourite and that Chaplin's "Pink Climber" and "Emily Gray' follow in the order named. The result of the voting in this class makes us wonder whether the analysis is, Jor much use, for that fine climber, "Mme Gregoire Stacchelin," which we described in these notes on May 10, is placed as low as the ]22nd_ position, below "Dorothy Perkins." and Jother roses we all know so well. Perhaps this variety is not so well known as it deserves (0 be, for in the same Annual in which the Janalysis appears, there is an article entitled "Where is my garage?" and in this article, the Jauthor confirms all the good things we said Jabout the rose. We are informed that it was raised by a Spanish gentleman in 1927, its parents being "Frau Karl. Druschi" "and "Chateau de Clos Vougeot," and that it has [been re-named "Spanish Beauty" in America, The writer goes on fo state that it is the best Jand least troublesome of the climbing roses. He planted a tree close to his garage wall in 1930 and after a few years, the place was entirely covered. We are also fold that when he speaks his friends of 600 to 700 flowers being on the tree, they hint that the family doctor should be consulted. The tree has never suf ferrell from disease, despite I¢ being planted facing Bast, which' is supposed to be a bad location for it, Tt is a rather strange comoid. lene, that Mrs. Gande has also planted hee tee! facing East, exposed to bitterly cold: winds: perhaps this is the secret of her success with "Mme Gregoire Staechelin"—w.t-ki June 26.—Red is much in the news at present and from erythros, the Greek term for red, was derived the name Erythrina which was given to Jone of our favourite Summer flowering plants, Jo member of the Leguminosae family, Under its Jcommon name of Coral Bush, this plant is fatrly well "known and valued: for its suitability for Jawn planting. The plant Is native to Brazil, but it has many close relatives which are found in the East Indies, South America and other places, 'The plant beats conspicuous scarlet flowers in abundance on long stems and as they are rather Jodd in shape, they have resulted in the plant being referred' to as "Tigers Claws" in Hawaii The stems die down to ground level in winter, but the fleshy rootstock remains alive and strong new shoots grow rapidly from it the following Spring. When allowed to develop properly, the [Coral Bush makes a fine display on the Tawn, but It is Vable to become overcrowded in the Ishrubbery and then it loses its attractive appearance. A number of plants grown by them. selves in a group are most attractive and we are sure that {ew people have passed the large group jon the East side of McLeod road, about 100 yards or so from the Hunglao rond corner, without admiring the effect produced, These plants are not young: they have remained: undisturbed for years and their rootstocks must [be enormous at present, There is one drawback {fo planting a large bed of Erythrina, and that is the fact that the bed has a very bare appearance all the Winter; but we cannot expect everything. Propagation may be carried out by the seed method, but we prefer fo bury several long and hick stems in the late Autumn: plants. will grow from each node and it is a simple task to Jcut through the stem and thus divide the plants In the Spring. Cuttings may also be taken from growing stems during the Summer, but plant take longer to develop by this method. "Our species of Coral Bush loves moisture, so we expect the plants have thoroughly enjoyed the five and a half inches of rain that has fallen during the past 24 hours: It is nice to think that some things have enjoyed it: plenty of our bedding plants have nolll!—w.rx,
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.