WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8674, 14 July 1906, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Oarden. — Attention must be directed to collecting material© for hot beds. In large gardens this is not very difficult, but in small establishments it is often hard o obtain what is required, and the gardener has to be content with small quantities at intervals. As hot beds, however, are of srtoh great value, both for forcing vegetables and raising seed, a littU extra labour and expense should not stand m the way. When the materials are obtained, a little at a time, they must be turned every three or four dlaya in order to keep the mass from getting too hot before a bed ie formed. A few vegetables may be sown now if a hot bed is available in which to germinate the seed and give the young plants a start. Our readers are here reminded that there are to be four flower shows held at the great International Exhibition in Hagley Park, viz., on December 6 and 6, January 9 and 10, February 6 and 7, and March 6 and 7, and at each of these shows there are classes for vegetables. Thia will enable eardeners from every district in the colony to compete, therefore, no time should be lost in making preparations if they wish to win prizes. The first item is to thoroughly prepare the soil by trenching it from two to three feet deep— the deeper it is disturbed the better the results, no matter what vegetable is grown. We have pointed out in previous numbers how to distribute the manure, and which crops should have green (or fresh), and which ©hould have rotted manure. Give each crop a fresh position in the garden to 6eoure a change of soil. Onions are one of Jjhe first vegetables to sow for competition. These should be eown at once ii large handsome bulbs are wanted. Prepare several seed boxes, about four inches deep and twelve wide, nil these with a compost of two- parts friable' loam and half a part each of horse manure and leaf mould. This should be put through a half-inch sieve, press it fairly firm in the boxes and damp it, then sow the seed sparingly and place in a temperature of from SOdeg to 60deg. One of the best varieties for exhibition is Ailsa Craig. When the seedlings being to push fchrougJi the soil give them all the light and air possible to make them sturdy from the first, then prick tiiem into boxes filled with, a compost much the 6ame as recommended for the seed. tradually inure them to the open, ana nally plant them in their summer quarters about the end of September. Greenhouse.— 'Amaryllis should be ehaken out and re-potted. Too often these are left to flower several seasons without a change of soil, which is a mistake and is responsible for smaller Sowers and leas colour. Some of the plants may have. made a quantity of fresh roots, these should not be broken. Remove as much ©oil as possible without damaging these new roofer, then repot, using a compost of good loam, rotted turf, some cow manure, and' a little sand. Keep the bulb well up in the pot — not more than one-third of the > bulb should be covered with soil — give a little bottom heat, and be sparing > with water, in fact they will need very ; little for several weeks after being re-potted. Carnations. — Cuttings or winter flowering varieties should ba put ' in during tbisf month. They make splendid conservatory plants for the !. winter months, and are exceedingly useful for winter decorations. Plants . in flower should have manure-water twice a week, and as much air as possible. Cyclamen and Primulas-. — During wet weather these should, have eufr ncynt warmth to kesp them from damp- ; ing, while a little fresh air every day us necesary to keep them sturdy and strong. Keep a sharp look-out for thrip and aphis, because if these are al- [ lowed to become established it will be d'fflcult to destroy th»m. Winter- ■ flowering ealvias are about over, and should be removed to a cool house for > a few weeks, but they must not be neglected, or over watered, or they will

==„. -^ : ; ■ : die. Plants of the summer flowering varieties should be introduced to a warm house to supply cuttings. Examine the store boxes of bedding plants, and remove all decaying foliage and dead plants. Several robust plants may be making large leaves and robbing smaller plants of light, in euch cases remove the large leaves at ' once, beI fore the smaller plants are killed. j