6 
THE AUSTRALIAN GARDENER. 
April 1, 1908 
Roses 5 All the leading VES) Tater, 1s. each 
Eri it Kirees 3 Orange, Lemon, Peach, Apple, Pear, ]?lum, etc 
HARDY SHRUBS, Trees, Climbers, etc. 
BULBS, Myacinth, 
Gladiolus. 
Daffodil, Anemone, Tuberose, 
=} = » => p BD) Ss 3 Vegetable and Flower. Agricultural, Horticultural Sundries in great variet.y 
E. & W. HACKETT, 
Seedsmen, Nurserymen, &c., 
73 Rundle Street, Adelaide. 
The Hlower Garden. 
The Tecoma. 
[By J. Cronin. ] 
Tecoma is a genus of evergreen and 
deciduous climbing plants, many of which 
are excellent subjects for the garden. 
The tecoma is found native in many 
parts of the globe, several species being 
indigenous to Australia, It is closely 
allied to Bignonia, a genus containing 
some of the finest climbing plants in 
cultivation, and at present many kinds 
are described in nurserymen’s catalogues 
as synonymous with Bignconia. The 
flowers of most of the species are pro- 
duced during summer and are a feature 
in many gardens. They are borne in 
large bunches, the  individual— flowers 
being large and tubular in form, and 
the color of many kinds bright orange 
or yellow. 
The climbing kinds are useful in mixed 
shrubberies or borders and are particu- 
larly effective when trained on walls or 
fences. The usual plan adopted is to 
treat the deciduous kinds as pillar plants 
ana the larger growing as plants to cover 
a trellis or to mingle with the growth of 
trees. The-shrubs are evergreen and 
although few in number are among the 
most suitable for small garden borders. 
They are sufficiently hardy to endure the 
conditions generally obtaining in cottage 
or villa gardens, and are bright and effec- 
tive for several weeks of summer. 
Florists. have not. effected much. im- 
provement with the tecoma, few hybrids: 
of value being noted. One of the best of 
these is Tecoma Smithii, a variety raised 
in South Australia, and generally con- 
sidered to be one of the finest garden 
shrubs extant. 
The most suitable soil is-a light loam, 
but in this respect the tecomas—or most 
of them—are accommodating, thriving 
satisfactorily in any fair garden soil. Fine 
specimens may be seen in the metro- 
politan district, growing in soils varying 
from a light sandy to a heavy stiff, clay 
loam Like most of our cultivated plants 
they fail under sour soil couditions, re- 
quiring a drained and sweet soil, even if 
poor and rather dry, to produce satisfac- 
tory specimens. In poor soils well rotted 
stable manure should Le incorporated to 
a depth of eighteen inches, but hot forcing 
manures should not be used when setting 
out young plants. 
The autumn is the best time to plant 
the evergreen kinda from pots, affording 
the plants an opportunity of being estab- 
lished before the hot and dry weather 
sets in, In districts where severe frosts 
is the rule, late spring planting is best, 
especially for the grandiflora varieties 
The young plants will require to be 
watered and tended until established, 
when they will endure severe conditions 
without suffering very greatly. Decidu- 
ous kinds are often grown in the open 
ground by nurserymen. Any removal 
direct to the permanent positions for 
such kinds should be-carried out in the 
dormant season. 
Tecomas are propagated from cuttings 
of the matured growths, from roots of 
certain kinds—radicans and its: varieties 
for example—and from seeds. Some kinds 
strike readily in’ winter from: cnttings of 
the matured growths treated in the same: 
manner as_ rose: cuttings, i.e., taken’ with’ 
a “heel” and inserted firmly in’ sandy’ 
soil inithe open ground, while cuttings of! 
others: difficult to: “strike” in the: opens 
are: grafted on: roots of the free growing: 
Most: of. the tecomas’ can: be: 
kinds. 
readily:increased ‘by; layering the branch- 
lets;, a: mode: of: propagation: frequently: 
adopted by nurserymen. Plants are-easily” 
Telephone 350 
raised from seed if available, this being 
the usual means of raising T. Smithii, a 
variety which produces seed freely. 
The kinds and varieties most worthy 
of cultivation that are obtainable here 
include :—Capeusis grandiflora, radicans, 
Jasminioides, stans, Guilfoylei, Madame 
Galen, Manglesii, and Smithii—Journal 
of Agriculture, Victoria. 
Notes for the Month. 
The greatest favourite amongst the- 
flowers ig, beyond all doubt, the Rose, 
and no yarden can be complete without 
a few good kinds. There are numerous 
classes of Roses, some well defined, others. 
difficult to define. but as a rule they can 
be fairly well distinguished. Tho classes. 
more generally known are the Hybrid 
perpetual, the Tea-scented, the Hybrid 
tea-scented, the Bourbon, the Noisette, 
the Polyanthus, the Damask, French or 
Gallica, and the Banksian. Of these the 
best for general purposes are the Tea and 
Hybrid tea-scented, They blossom with 
wonderful profusion, and are exceedingly 
DAISY’. (SNOWBALL). 
