THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2237, 14 January 1897, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. Fruit Garden. — Water should be given to Beach and'anricot trees which are in dry positions ; ft the watering is to bo of any service to the swelling fruit it must be a thorough soaking, any mere surface waterings being worse than useless. Strawberry plants which have been a number of years planted, and show signs of decay, should be dug up and destroyed as soon as the last picking of fruit has been made. It will be found much more profitable where this fruit is grown extensively to plant out a bed each year, and destroy the older portions ss they cease to produce Heavy crop^. The space occupied should be brokea up and exposed to the aciion of the weather, ■which will greatly improve it for planting out •winter crops during the latter part of February or March. Kitchen Garden.— Growing celery will require peiiodical waterings in sufficient quantity to reach the roots, and as the earthing up proceeds this beoome3 a much more difficult matter. A good watering should be given prior to earthing up, as after this is well advanced the moisture does not evapor&ta so rapidly. Late c-ops of celery should be planted out as soon as the trenchei can be prepared. During dry weather newly-planted vegetables will require frequent waterings to keep them moving. Early-planted savoy*, cauliflowers, and broccoli a.re now making a good growth, which must be encouraged as much as possible by keeping the surface soil frequently stirred with the hoe. This conserves the moisture in the toil to a large extent, and is preferable to artificial watering until this ii actually needed, when a good soaking should be given. Preparations should be continued towards having a good space of land ready for planting out during the coming month, as the main crops for wiuter supply should then be put out. On early soil 3 onions sown for pickling are now rapidly ripening ; these should ba pulled and left for a few da} s to dry, when they should be cleared and taken in for use. All early potatoes which have ripened off their growth should ha dug and stored as soon as convenient, as any heavy rains which may occur will tend to start them with a stcond growth, muck to their detriment. Where seed saving is resorted to. all tall • growing and top - heavy- growing varieties, euch »s carrots, parsnios, and onions, kept for seed, should be well secured by stakes and ties, or much of the best seed will be broken off and destroyed. The growth of cucumbers and vegetable marrows must be kept up ns vigorously as possible by copious waterings. If these are suff. ring from drought they rarely pay for the laud they occupy. A weak application of liquid manure will greatly assist them. Flower Garden.— In this department the full effect of the windy weather is being di-astroualy felt. Many tall plants which have not been kept Becurely tied are almost spoiled, while many of the dwarf -growing plants have been much injured, thowing the great necessity for shelter hedges. When accompanied with dry weather high winds are very unfavourable for plant life, hence the Importanca of keeping all plants well tied up— or with trailing plants, such as verbena", 4c, pegged Sown securely. As but little planting out will require to be done on the flower borders for some time, efforts should be dheefced towards keeping or prolonging the flowering season by keeping all Beed vessels and faded flowers picked clean off, And pulling up and removing all annuals, such as early-flowering stocks, as they go out of flower. will be much improved by the application of liquid manure. That made from cow manure is as good as any for this purpose, being cool and mild. Many of the chemical manures are too strong and dangerous to be used by amateurs unless a aeries of experiments are made to ascertain their strength, which varies very considerably in different samples. Care should be taken te see that such plants as rhododendrons, ericas, and camellias aro not allowed to. suffer from waat of water, especially such as were planted out in spring, as these plants are most Impatient of drought at the roots. Asters for the autumn display are now growing freely, and Should not be allowed to suffer from any cause. Greenhousk, Frames, Ac. — Pelargoniums Which came into bloom early may now be past their best, and when no longer wanted in the greenhouse they should be exposed to sun and air to ripen their outside growth prior to cutting down. They must, however, be carefully watered •nd allowed to risen gradually, retaining as

much foliage as possible. Fuchsias aud later pelargoniums Bhould be helped by the frequent use of liquid manure. Cockscombs, as soon asthe combs are growini* freely, should be pjtted into 4Jin or sin pots, and kept quite near the glass to keep them dwarf, which is an important point to aim at in their cultivation. Primulas, as snou as the plants are strong enough to handle, should hi ui-icked out into shallow paus filled with a lieht; rich compost ; they should be kept in a warm, moi&t, aud shady part of the greenhouse or frame for some time to encourage them to grow freely. Azaleas and camellia?, when the growths are finished, should be placed outside behind the shade of a fence, as the full power of the sun wi 1 be injurious to them until haidenedoff. Gloxicias phould he kept in the warmest place available and kept shaded and moist. These are among the most beautiful greenhouse flowers, but are seldom well prrown by amateuis, although of easy culture. When well grown they are always admired, and they grow will iv a close frame where they can get moisture and shade, and should be shut up early in the afternoon with sun heat until they are coming into flower, when they should be kept a little cooler, and hardened off gradually so as to stand the greenhouse.