GARDEN CALENDAR FOR THE NORTH OTAGO DISTRICT. JANUARY, 1879.

North Otago Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2081, 3 January 1879, Page 4 (Supplement)

GARDEN CALENDAR FOR THE NORTH OTAGO DISTRICT. JANUARY, 1879.

Kitclien Garden. — The genial rains which vre have been favored with during the past month has tended greatly to make the vocation of gardening of a more encouraging nature than its predecessor, which was cheerless in the extreme. What with the planting and bo\ting of full crops for winter, the keeping of all weeds in subjection, the gardener and amateur need not be idle. Choose a showery day to transplant Brocoli, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Savoy, Curley Greens, Cabbage, Celery and Leeks. See that they don't languish for the want of a good watering after planting ; to do this will be equal to two or three weeks' growth. Continue to transplant lettuce on to rich soil, earth-up advancing potatoes. Strevr some salt over asparagus and ■ea-kale bods in moist weather. The former will be much benefited by the application of guano water. Keep up succeslional 10 vmgs of Itttuce and radish, which ihould be in the shady part of the garden. The eround if dry may be moistened the night bifore sowing. Plenty of turnips should be sown on potato ground as soon as the latter are lifted. P.irsley may be transplanted out in rows, and a sowing made to give a «"p>ly during winter Herbs should now be cut -and dried in the shade, and afterwards tied up in bundle* to ba rea 1y for use. Ve-'eUMe M irrows, Rid^e Cucumbers, and Gourts will now be growing freely. Th *y require frequent attention by training, thinning and w.i'erinc. Tae water to be used for this pu>*p'»» should be from a pond or tank, nhere it has been exposed t> the sun a-ul air for several days before using. M-ike a final sowing of Peas— any of the early varieties are suitable for sowing at this season of the year. Clear off early Peas and Beans, and fill the ground with fchvoys, Curlev Greem, Brocoli. and Cabbage plants. Trenching ground forantumn sowing and planting miv be done as opportunity off-ra Surf ice stirring among all crops an I keeping weed* down must have every attention where success is exe«t*"d. JFniit Garden — In dry weather s<»e that frnit trees and bushes receive copious watering of manur* water at their roots. At the Bamn time the branches will be greatly benefited by a good syringe from time to time with clear water applied by tta garden ODgia* Suoh truatmtut will

Co a great wav in helping to keep down Thrip, Greenfly, R«d Spuier, and other pests. Next to the hborial feeding and cleaning of the trees, the thinning of the fruit is the most important work for the month. This should now be completed by the removal of all the small di-formed | or insect punctured fruit, and the thini ninir out nf the sound and good ones to reasonable distances, as it is better to have one good fruit than a number of worthless ones. Thin out the young shoot* of Raspberries stools from 4 to 8 Canes, tie up to the stakes to prevent breakage. Strawberries, Gooseberries, and Cherries are now in season. The supply of the Scimo for our loc il wants being quite inadequate causesthe consumer to pay a hiifh price for his fruit. The district having proved itself as one favorable to fruit growing ouufht to induce many to plant more extensively than hitherto, ho that the Oamaru public may be supplied with fruit at reasonable prices. All fruit should be gathered before its being dead ripe, and that intended for dessert early in the cool of the morning. Fruit eats much fresher if gathered in the morning, and kept cool fur the d.iy, than if taken direct from the tree in a lukewarm state. Follow the directions in the last month's calendar in regard to the removal of all superfluous wood in trees and bushes. Flower Garden.— Flower beds and' borders will now be getting covered with their summertide beauty. Aa all bedded out plants will now be started off into full growth, and will require to be trained out and neatly pegged down *j they advance ; while the borders containing mixed flowers will require to be kept neat, by staking j and tying the plants as they require it. The beds and borders will require to be ! hoed and raked at intervals, more especially alter heavy rains. All the old flowers and decayed leaves should be cleared away. As roses will now be objects of great attraction, they must have corresponding attention paidto them. Nothing tends more to prolong the summer bloom than a constant supply of water and liquid manure. Look after the grubs, greenfly, and mildew ; for the latter pest dust all over with soot. It is cheaper and less offensive thau sulphur. All dead flowers should be constantly removed by hand pickings, and where the bloom is o"er use the syringe thoroughly. Loose no time in getting a stock of cloves, picotees, and carnations layered. The operation consists in cutting the underside of a branch of the plant half through below a joint, pegging it down and raising the head of the branch so as to open the cut ; then cover the wounded part over vith about three inches of sandy soil. The layer i8 in fact an attached cutting ; it throws out roots from the surface of the cut. When these are sufficiently advanced to sustain the plant, the other half of the branch should be severed with a sharp knife. At this stage the plant begins it« independent existence. Encourage the K row th o f double zinnias, stocks, asters, mingolls, phloxes, delphineum*, and all other strong growing plants with liquid manure, and when the flowers are wanted fine the buds should be thinned, and only a few left on a plant or shoot. Early lota of Brompton and Queen stocks should be transplanted into nursery rows : and see that the violet beds do not suffir for want of water. The seed of pansys may be gvthere l anl sown at once, and rooted cuttings planted out. The bloom* should be shaded if perfection nf color is wanted. To encourage the bloomings they must be kept well watered. D ihliaa must be re^ulary tied to their <\t, ikes As they advance manure water with an open surface will induce a healthy growth. H >Uyhocks coming forward for flowering, may have manure water with a go^d mulching of well rotte-d dung, which would assist thorn greatly, more especially if the blooms are wanted for show purposes. If so tho fl >wer buds would require to be kept thinned. Gladiolus do well with similar treatment, and plenty of room in the beds. Liliums coming into fl.iwer, may have a liberal surfacing of rich manure and a little guano water. See that they are staked if not already done. Pelargoniums that are done flowering may be placed so as to be exposed to the sun and air. Wiien the wood has become brown, the plants should be cut back and placed in a frame. After a few days the wounds will have become dry, when they m.iy be sprinkled overhead till they have pushed their young growth to the extent of half an inch. Then they thould be shaken out and repotted into sandy soil, using small sized pots ; and see that they are properlp drained. As the weather of late has been all that one could desire for gardening weeds are sure to be to the front if they get a -MJMPce ; they will therefore require to Sjjpirefully looked after, and, -instantly destroyed, having the surface of the ground kept loose. Cleanlines, strong healhty growth, and as much flowers as possible, consistent with strength, should be the rule in tho Flower Garden for the month of January, 1879.