THE WEEK'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 37, 13 February 1926, Page 24

THE WEEK'S WORK.

% THE FLOWER GARDEN. * 3k sic sj: Take cuttings of Geranium*. They will root readily now, and the * plant* will be improved by cutting back. * ,(. .'izaleas, Rhododendrons, Boronias, Diosmac, if they chow sign* of % * red spider or thrips, should be sprayed with black leaf 40. * sj. Make a sowing of Mignonette in good rich soil. It will flower !jj * during early winter. * Ageratum*, Lobelia, Pentstemons, Pansies, Viola*, Calceolaria*, can .j. * be propagated by cuttings inserted now. Sandy, soil in a cool moist position is required. S He If you are expecting good bloom* of Chrysanthemum* now is the sjs * time to feed the plants. Almost any form of liquid manure is 3j 4: good, and a change from one cort to another occasionally will * * be beneficial.' * >jc The Violet plant* should be gone over, and any long straggling ''3c * runner* cut off. Clear away all bad foliage and give the plant* * ;!._- a manuring. -jjij A sowing of hardy annuals can be made now. These include Stock*, * Clarkia, Cornflower*, Gypsophila. ijj * Sweet Pea* of the early flowering varieties can be sown now. If the * ground is not ready it should be prepared at once. * * Border Carnation layers put down about the end of last year should * X be ready for cutting away from the parent plant. Prepare the X * beds for them and get the layer* planted a* soon a* po**ible. * X Cutting* of Roses can be put in now. Choose strong matured wood $ 9|c of the current season's growth; the lower portions of shoot* >jc * . -which have borne a flower, and the buds of which are still t" . 4: dormant, are the. best. ' sjj * Insert them three parts of their length in candy soil, in a shady T ajc position or provide shading till rooted. . $ * Keep Dahlias securely tied, and remove any useles* shoot* from the * 9k centre. Disbud freely, and give ample supplies 'of liquid jk * manure. I 5k Any bud* shr»wi»<r on Chrysanthemums from this time on should be sjj J "taken." If only blooms fr>r decoration are required, it is better * s|e to -wait for the " terminal " bud. S % THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. % X A row of dwarf early Peas sown now wiu, it weather i* favourable, * si; give a nice picking in the autumn. $ Harvest the Onions once the tops have dried off. The bulbs can be * * tied together in bunches and hung in a cool airy shed. £ $ Make planting* of Cabbage, Cauliflower, and other " green" * ajc vegetables for winter use. * jjj Once the Potato haulm ha* died off dig up the tubers; if left the damp y- weather may cause the tubers to sprout, and this spoils them. * * Remove the lateral shoots of Tomatoes. Spray with arsenate of lead % ,£ to check the caterpillar. * * Clear away spent crops, manure vacant plot*, and dig over the * X ground. Rubbish and weeds should not be allowed to 4= * accumulate. S Celery should be kept growing by frequent hoeings and manuring. * Hn Do not attempt to earth up the plants until they are nearly full 2 S grown. * jjc Lift the tops of Kumaras to prevent them sending out roots into the $ * ground. The soil should be kept loose, draw a little up to the * £ stems to prevent the tubers becoming exposed. - * * Thin crops of Turnip*, Swedes, Carrot*, a* they develop. Sowings % * of these can still be made. * j This is the best season for gathering Herbs for drying. Cut the S £ Herbs on a dry day, tie in bunches, and hang in a airy dry shed. * * Prepare tbe ground for sowing Onions, Spinnach, Lettuce, and % other crops, either for winter use or to stand the winter. * sk $ *#*r*4r*##*r**#***r#****4^