Planting Operations For Autumn Season Begin

Udhagamandalam: By planting a lupin seedling in a prepared bed the Joint Director of Horticulture, the Nilgiris, R. Selvaraj, set in motion the planting operations for the autumn season at the Government Botanical Garden (GBG) here on Wednesday. Pointing out that the activity had begun on schedule, the Manager, GBG, N. Mani told ''THE HINDU'' that if all goes well the flowers would be in full bloom by the middle of September.

Stating that the conditions for planting were ideal, he said that about two lakh seedlings would be planted over the next few days. The total number of varieties would be 50 and all of them would be short duration plants. Among the varieties which were being planted in about 70 to 80 beds were calendula, aster, lupin, marigold, ageratum, cuphea, cosmos, coreopsis and lady''s lace. Flowers like salvia, delphinium and dahlia which had been planted during the summer season have not been removed. Expressing the hope that the weather over the next few weeks would be a mixture of sunshine and rain, Mr. Mani feared that another extended wet spell would lead to plants rotting in their beds.