HINTS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 45, 22 February 1901, Page 3

HINTS.

As to llif time for budding' it will depend upon the kind of fruit. A sate i rule is just before tlie tree has perfected it.s terminal buds (those on lha end of each brunch), which is ax a season when the bark may be separate , ! from the wood. Layer carnations and pieotees as quickly as possible. 11l success in securing , strong , layers is more often due to layering , too lute than to any other cause. "When the first flush of blooming" is over commence the work, \ notwithstanding - the plants may not have quite finished blooming. It is important to place a ridge of new loam round the plants, to layer in a.nd to bury the incision made in the stalk fairly deep, so that it does not feel every change of weather 100 greatly— else roots will form but slowly. Water \ and shade for a Jew days after layering. i'inks are. generally propagated at this time from pipping*. The base of each pipping- should be fairly young and succulent —indeed, if a pipping or shoot of entire length be held firmly, top in one hand, bottom in the: other, and pulled until it comes apart in the centre, the upper part (without further preparation) will root readily dibbled into sandy soil properly attended to. All that is necessary is to prepare the soil, thoroughly saturate it with water, and push the pipping , into it without aid from dibble or petting stick. Strawberry planting is a subject which should not be allowed to rest until all intended plantations are made, so much does the ensuing crop from the same depend on early planting. Liberal manuring and turning the ground up az deep as possible, or the nearness of the subsoil permits, is the first progressive stage, to befollowed by planting immediately the j young plants are fit for transplant.- j ing-. The plants are usually set from . thirty to thirty-six inches apart in '.he ! rows, in accordance with the inherent j vigour of each variety. Take care not to plant too deeply, especially upon trenched grounds, as. the plants have j a tendency to settle down too deep j therewith.

Stcphanotis, climbing-, and other plants infected with mealy bug, scale, etc., should now, when they are somewhat at rest, be thoroughly cleanse:!, whilst work is less pressing than at other seasons. When doing so it is all important to use such a powerful insecticide as will destroy existing' pests and their eggs without injury to the plants. This consideration usually receives too little attention. The result is plants, supposed to be well cleaned of bug or scale, shortly afterwards again become infested, it is not enough, therefore, to cleanse tinblack excrement off the leaves nml such insects as arc readily observed, but a decoction of tobacco water, soft soap, fir-tree oil, or other insecticide, should be applied so strong and worked into all crevices so effectually as to obtain the end in view. Mistakes are doubtless made in not using the decoctions strong enough and washing tliem off with clear water too soon.

It has been previously suggested how desirable it is to machine lawns .sufficiently frequently to permit of (lie work being done easily, both to lessen labour and keep lawns in good order, also better prepared for the whiter season. Now that tree leaves liavu commenced falling it is equally important to so sweep them up occasionally as to preclude both lawns ami walks becoming- unduly fouled by them. Though this is not so .important whilst existing fine, dry weather lasts, it is most necessary before and during wet weather. Gravel paths and swards become foul in an incredibly short time if this is neglected; the paths in particiilar become black, and lose that bright tint which so helps to set off gardens; besides, neglect oC necessary periodical sweepings does not, as is sometimes thought, lessen the work. A capable besom- -not an old worn stump —will tidy up a large space in a very short time, if, when worked, (lie handle is kept well down.

Seedling lettuce should be transplanted as seedlings become largo ■enough and odd bits of ground on sunny sites can be found to plant them upon. It is a good plan to insert a row or two near the base of any south aspect wall or fence that exists. liarely are sufficient grown to meet the long winter demands and assure goodly batches of plants for early spring growth and heartings. Dibble the seedlings out thickly. If they withstand winter's hardships they can readily be transplanted more readily in spring. It is good practice to let some of the smallest seedlings remain throughout winter in the seed beds. Neatly hoe amongst forwarder batches in kind, planted some time ago, to complete good . preliminary growth, preparatory to transferring them to frames early in October.

Winter spinach should be sown during the ensuing week by all who value this winter and early spring crop at its proper worth. Reference has already been made to the preparation of the ground, and it is important that the first sowing be made early his season, when the .soil is so dry and the germination of the seed is likely to be slow. It cannot be too well known that the prickly seeded 'variety is alone suitable for this crop. It is best to sow the seed somewhat thinly in half-inch deep drill rows, drawn

from, nine to twelve inches apart. li the gouud continues very dry at the time of sowingl, ii will be well (v libe- | rally water the seeds iv the drills be-

fore the soil is r.iaeed over them. Meantime, the lonnd-seeded variety may still In: -own at intervals of Ihree weeks un.'il the eariy part ot May. Should a rainy period follow the draught, fine gatherings may be made from tin1 latter sowings during late ..May and during tire winter. It is one of the quickest maturing' vegetables, and does noi run to sped so readily as longer and dewy nights become more pronounced. Manuring, digging, and trenching fallow lands should all be undertaken :.;ij as to moot, as near as possible, the requirements of individual crops of the future. For this reason it is necessary to divide, sub-divide, and distinctly mark out at the onset the- position' i aeh separate kind of vegetable is to occupy next season, due regard being-; given lo proper successions, so tiii'-M mi two in kind occupy the same land ! two ypsi.ru in succession. This will be ! the best plan 10 follow, though it is j maintained thai with proper maiiuv- i ing, etc., onions succeed well on the | same land year by year. When some i such plan as the above has been de-{ cided upon lands may lie worked Cor I

I main crops as Follows: for peas and : onions heavy manuring and deep (working, even to trenching, is necessary. For rooi crops such a.s beet, carrots, parsnips, and the like, it is besi to dig the manure in cleanly to a depth of six to eight inches, keeping the surface soil above this open and rive. For potatoes Ihe land, liberally manured with old manure, cannot be worked too freely, and in such mannei ;as to mix such manure thoroughly with the soil. The above proceeding is | assisted by planting peas or onions a Her celery: potatoes after cabbages, and the latter after onions. It is nei lifer necessary nor desirable to so dig and chop the ground up at this season as to make the surface fine and particularly level. If each spitful of soil is turned over and laid lightly, air and the sun's rays will penetrate deeper during the autumn, and the elements combined will break all down tine enough by the spring, using at the same time their wondrous disintegrating powers to create additional roof-food in process of reducing harsh earths to iiue mould.