FARM AND GARDEN OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

Daily Southern Cross, Volume XXXII, Issue 5726, 29 January 1876, Page 3

FARM AND GARDEN OPERATIONS FOR FEBRUARY.

Flow rn Gardhv. — Thm out and transpi ml all piowously sown annuals and perennials, taking caic to do so in showery w cuther only, and pi otect until rooted with brandies of ti-trcc, 01 anything answering the same purpose ; s^ivc water every evening. Large specimens of \ 1 uits or shrubs which are intended to be iuno\ed next planting season should now bt. dug lound so as to cut all straggling root-*, and thus enable them to withstand the i emo\ .il Any new ground to be made into lawn .should now be carefully dug and foiked, taUi.iu' caio to lemove every weed. Ground cannot bo knocked about too much m dry \v either, so as to reduce it to as line a tilth "as possible for the reception of lawn grass seed. Continue to take up bulbs as they ripen otf Bud roses, and propagate heibaceous plants a3 lmb month. Gather <,eedd as they ripon, clip hedges and edgings ir not previou !y done Truisplantpeivnmils (spring 'iowii) su< li <m sweet William, aimculas, carnation", aquil^gias, &o , taking caie to do so only if the weather be showery.

Fruit Gardes. — Now go over strawberry 1><'<ls, removing all ruuners ; raspberries will now make vigorous growth ; pull up all weakly growth, leaving only good stout canes for next season's fruiting. Finish all budding thia month if not done previously, this is the hast time for what is termed root pruning. Trees which bear httle fruit or which ar« making too much growth require to undergo tins operation only. The plan ia to dig a ti ench, say 1$ yards from the stem, and when strong vigorous roots are met with let them be removed. If the weather is dry fig-treea will require a bountiful supply of water to enable them to swell their last crop of fruit. Vines, look carefully after, stopping all shoots two eyes above the bunch, and place all good bunches in muslin bags to protect them from the ravages of birds. Kitchen Garden.— Every piece of ground as soon as cleared of crop roughly dig up, sun and air good fertilisers. Summer sun on land being a3 good a sweetener to land as frost in colder climes, also destroy Jill annual seed weeds. Mould or earth up crop where required. Broccoli, plant out. Sow another bed of cabbage for succession, and plant out those sown last month. Earth up celery in dry weather. Sow green curled endive, if not done last month. Plant out lettuce in showery weather, and make another aowing of white Silesian. Onions, make a sowing of red tripoli. Potatoes, those that show signs of maturity by the decay of the haulms, t*ke up and store. Sow the prickly or winter spinach. Tomatoes, gather fruit as it ripen* ; expose fruit not ripe to the sun by removing all leaves and shoots which shade them. Turnip, sow and thin those advancing, sow soot or lime in the early morning, when the dew is on, to protect from slugs. Peas, sow a few of an early sort, rising sun, Daniel O'Rourke, little gem, or Sutton's ringleader. Farm.— If the weather is favourable small patches of land maybe sown with Cape barley, oats, or Italian r\e grass, to be cut for feed, or eaten off during the winter months. The mam crop of potatoes will be fairly begun upon about the middle of this month. Glass is generally scarce, and dairy stock and horses will require green maize or other food to be supplied to them. The state of the different drinking places on the farm, and the supply of water, should be looked to, if neglected before. The drawing of stones and scoria for roads, stockyards, and gateways, ought to be finished this month. Thatch, in the shape of rushes, or whatever is suitable and convenient, should be in readiness to cover the potatoes, which, if intended to be kept, may be put between two rows of posts hve or six feet apart, ti-tree being laced against the rails. Make inquiries, now the grass seed is being dressed, for what you will want in the autumn, and bear in mind that incalculable damage is often done by introducing bad weeds into lands previously clean by means of dirty seed. Ewes may be put to the ram if early fat lambs for the butcher ate wanted. — Evening Star Almanac.