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GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY.

(By James Gebbie.) , I ■ .

January, corresponding to July in GreatBritain, derives its names from Janus, an ancient Italian Deity, who is represented with two faces—one looking behind to the old year, the other in front to the new—with a key in one hand and a staff in the other, to indicate his function of presiding over entrances. The function of those engaged in horticultural pursuits at tiie present time, the beginning of the year, the middle of summer, is to exercise patience, and note the rapid growth of weeds and our inability to eradicate them while such weather as'we are experiencing continues. A few weeks of sunny weather would be welcome and tend to hasten on the growth and flowering of our floral favorites, and our gardens would soon become gay with summer flowers. There are many things to be attended to this month, such as .staking any plants which require support and those requiring pegging down should be pegged to extend their dimensions and to infuse into them additional vigor by the emission of fresh roots along the stems. Bulbous rooted plants, sxich as anemones, ramunculus, hyacinths, and tulips should be lifted and stored until planting time arrives unless in dry positions, when the two last-named may remain untouched for two or three years. Narcissus may be left three years without being lifted, and "other hardy bulbs only need taking up when they get too' crowded or too near the .surface. Never cut off the foliage of any bulbous plant until it is quite dead. This is a good ; time of the year for sowing seeds of biennial and perennial flowering plants. The various stocks (except ten-week), gaillardias, Canterbury bells, etc., come under this head, whilst no pansies equal those grown from seed sown about this time, as the plants grow longer before flowering than if raised at any other time. Seeds of hardy things cannot be sown too soon after they are ripe. Nothing exhibits more healthy growth than a self-sown seedling, and if that be so, how can we do better than sow directly the seed is ripe and gathered? Paths and lawns require regular attention, as it is only by frequent mowing and rolling that a good lawn can be obtained. In the kitchen garden" most of the cabbage tribe should be planted. Broccoli, Brussels sprouts and Savoys should not be left later. Autumn giant cauliflower planted now will come in for use about June. Plant cabbage for winter use and seed of any favorite cabbage may be sown to stand over the winter; to cabbage early in the spring. This month is the most favorable season for sowing turnips for autumn and winter use, as, sown now, they will be fit to use in March and will improve in growth on for a few months. Sow and plant lettuce, also make sowings of mustard, cress, and radishes to keep up the supply. When the weather is favorable clear the ground of weeds, and hoe and earth up to all crops as they advance. Attend to neatness and regularity in every part. Let all useless and decaying leaves and stems of vegetables be removed from among the crops and carry them to any piece of ground ..that is to be dug immediately. This will not only. give the garden . a neat appearance, but will manure the ground upon which they are put. The leaves and stems of all crops may be utilised in this way. In the fruit garden remove the suckers which spring up from the roots of the bushes and trees, and remove all superfluous and ill-placed shoots. Strawberry runners, if not wanted to increase the stock, should be removed as they make their appearance. In the greenhouse pelargoniums past

flowering and which have been standing for some time in t-ue ""en to harden, may be cut down and the cuttings, inserted in sandy soil and shaded merely from the heat of the sun, will soon strike root. The early plants may be shifted, the earth shaken off their roots and repotted, and placed on a hard bottom, but where they -may have all the sun. In cutting back remove the weakly shoots altogether and only leave short limbs ..of those that remain, and. in such positions as to form a good foundation of a handsome-headed .plant. When a plant is pruned into some sort of form the operator will ha.ve an idea how much growth it will make in the season, and if you can keep it in good health the less it grows the better. The principal thing is to form the plantwhile young, checking its exuberance where, it. is growing too fast.and encouraging .what is in a right direction, but the time to prune a plant into form is just before it begins to make its season's growth, at which period many plants will bear cutting back to the joint from which we wish it to start. The greatest error committed in the growth of plants is exciting them too much and not cutting them back enough. Shift such other plants as have filled their pots with roots into pots a size or two larger. Give plenty- of air-on-all favorable occasions, and keep the greenhouse very clean.—all the stages free from dead leaves and fallen blooms. An occasional washing of shelves and ledges is desirable, as, if neglected, they become the receptacle of vermin and their eggs.-

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Permanent link to this item

https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/newspapers/OAM19030109.2.30

Bibliographic details

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8092, 9 January 1903, Page 4

Word Count
910

GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY. Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8092, 9 January 1903, Page 4

GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY. Oamaru Mail, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8092, 9 January 1903, Page 4