Garden Calender for February

Horowhenua Chronicle, 12 February 1912, Page 4

Garden Calender for February

j (By J. Gebbie). i j February corresponds to August in Great Britain and is tho mouth I in which tho gardener may see the ! full fruition of his hopes, or con- | solo himself as best ho may, for j any measure of disappointment by j preparations for +ho future. The j borders and beds will during tho j month be in full bloom, and the ; foliage in its perfection nwd the | gardener of taste will notice dofi- ■ eioneies to be supplied in nextyear's arrangement. Dahlias, nrladioli. over-bleomirig roses have taken Itl'e place/"if early summer flowerinn fnronrites, atul are associated with ! a host of other srlendid autumn : flowering plnnfa which «ulorn the jcrnrden, ard ehnrm by their beauty ■ arid frarrancA. ; The flower rrnr;Ten "hoin<r now in its rrf(v,'i+/>!3+ heni+v frerv nopn.® phenhl bo r-nmlov-'l +o keep if in the TiPit-nc-t rirrVr r« r? fJirrnrHnrr rrrowtbs rn-ltiiwl v!fVv frenrr I'wlts. fflimV ir<T plants regular attention in Ihe way of securing them to their supports a Ti d training. Dahlias, hr>'!yhfw.-ks, f>nd oth'T tfsll srrnwjng should bo staked and tied t-> prevent hrio.g broken or swayed laV.-it bv tb? wind. To encourage f'c of autumn bloom on tho r<,-:es. water with liquid manure and mulch the surface of the : '•(>•»nci nv;:..l the stains of the 'plants. ,Vimy of our most beau- • t; i'u 1 (lowering plants may be propaj gated thi.'i month. No time should ; bo lost in getting in cuttings of all ' i...isses of pelargoniums, if not alj ready att< noed to. Hydrangeas j strike readily this mooi-h; ateo ; mo.>embryai.ii-hemnins or ioe plants as j they are called loyally. These ! should be struck now to flower freejly next season. Petunias, verbenas, ■ heliotrope and lobelia may be taken 'in hand next month. Now is a ! good time to sow seeds of Brompton | and intermediate stock to flower ; next spring. Lawns require frequent rolling and mowing to keep I them in good condition. Gravel i walks will likewise require frequent j rolling, and surface weeding in shady places especially. Kitchen Garden.—The routine work in this department is to hoe. thin, and stir tho surface of all crops and attend to neatness and order, clear off all crops ns soon as they are exhausted, in order that the garden may present a neat and orderly appearance, and constant ; attention is required to subdue | thorn. The cabbage is likely to | he riddled by caterpillars; a good dnstincr of iime on the plants on dewy morn'n'fs will in a great measure save them. Onions as they arrive at maturity should be pulled up and laid on their sides. It i.s necessary to ripen them thoroughly beloro storing them away. ' I'o'ato-oni.ms, garlic and shallots ; will most likely be fit to take up : this month, and mav be treated

the s;iHid way os onions—t'Baf, is, riponcd in the open air, and stored away in a dry airy shod heyond tho roach of frost. Onions may bo .sown towards tho of this month. 'ITio ground in which they m'o sown must dry and rich, for if io be heavy and wot the crop is apt to ho thrown out. by the wet. Onions sown now will furnish a supply for plan lino- in early sprina, and tho crop will b 1 wo!] grown before t ho

hoi-1 of summer sets in, which is nn adrnnla-to. Spinach should Ik> sown twice do rind the month if a 'T. { >od smiiolv Tho prieklv i? to he preferred fer ihela?! so--inrr, it is the hnrd-,v-h nr! ,i h-'-f-r.r cnlenlated to stand

tho wWi ■ n )*. Turnips may he sown dnrm<r the mouth : they will not grow large but will come in nsnful. Raroys and broccoli mnv

s+H! be planted for late crops. RadKhe.s nnd lettuce may stdl be sown. l''nnt-s of the latter \rjll stand the

vntor and eeme 'uto us:e in «r>rinor. lomatoos rermire nil superfluous growths to bo pinched out, exposing tiie flower: +his will aid tho production of fruit.

On'-den.—Fruit trees on wills should be gone over and every s r rao of wood that is not wanted mav be remover}. useful shoots should he.fieri 0 y nailed to the wall. that have eensod honr'"T should l.f»re +he old canes euV "fF. as th-v will he of ne further

e-v yjf-r, • nt*o ni Dip wnv finel c,l in;ilrl ho rr n f ; r 'r] n f • which n>| ro c, the new canes a chance to strengthen and mature llio shoots. Youug palliations oi strawberries niay now I)'' made with a good prospect of Miccess. J.lie runners of all sorts intended to ba propagated should 1,0 tak e" off and bedded out in nur•vry beds to acquire strength to be planted out afterwards, either late in the season or early in spring. In planting now plenty of water "'ill be found necessary if the weather continues dry.

J Gieenhouse. — I'roe-growing stib- ! .i-'efcs in blossom that may bo getting in any measure exhausted but 1 which it may be desirable to main- | lain longer in bloom may be as- ! b,v trie use of weak manure : water. Pelargoniums which were j cut down last month, if kept ra- | tlior dry and exposed to the sun ! will hare broken out a supply of | young shoots. As soon as they ■aie ell broken the plants can have their roots reduced, ' and repotted int-o smaller pots, after which they should 20 into a cold franie. Camellias also require shifting, if not done month. Climbing plants will require going over at short intei vals to keep the strong growers within limits. Cuttings of all kinds of greenhouse plants may be taken now, shoots that have completed their growth are tho proper sort for cuttings. Cut to a joint, and strip off the lower leaves, and dibble the cuttings into sandy soil. Chinese primrose may be sown for late blooming, and the best place to grow these is in a cold frame, Those that were sown early and have filled their pots with roots should he transferrer! into large pots. Cinerarias require somewhat similar treatment.