GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume XXXVI, Issue 10042, 9 January 1909, Page 4

GARDEN CALENDAR FOR JANUARY.

(By Jaiies Gebbie.) Now that the New Year festivities are over and one has time to turn one's attention to the garden, a few seasonable hints may te of service, and as the vegetable department is to some the most im- , portant, I will treat of it first. Those who I would have everything prosper must exeri cise vigilance during this month. Apart 5 from tne necessity of cropping and re- ; moving such as have ceased to become > profitable, attention must be given to the ! garden pests, which specially exhibit their > effect at this time of the year. In dry seasons the cabbage tribe becomes riddled > by caterpillars, producing an unsightly 1 effect. A free use of lime scattered over s the plants on dewy mornings will in a f great measure 6ave them. Cabbage, . Savoy brocoli, and other winter greens . should be planted without delay. The j weather at the present time is most suiti able for this operation, there being no ' need for the watering can: Ground from s which the early potatoes have been dug is well adapted for the cabbage tribe. Peas, 5 spinach, turnips, Tadish, lettuce, and [ small saladings may be 60wn to keep up a supply. French, beans may be sown in , warm situations. It is not desirable to j leave any to ripen on bearing plants, as they cease to yield for the table while ripening seed. Tomatoes require a deal , of attention to. have them bear well in j our short season, and it is necessary to , aid them as much as possible by pinching " out all superfluous growth, exposing the ' flowers well. Keep the earth well stirred between growing crops and all plots as they become vacant should bo trenched. ; All vegetable refuse should bo taken _to ' the compost heap, and every attention ' given to order and neatness. Fruit Garden.—Pear, plum and cherry trees frequently throw up suckers from ' the roots, and these, if allowed to remain, " rob and weaken the tree. To chop the 1 shoots off the surface does but little good ; ' they grow again immediately. The soil 1 round about the suckers should be opened ; a little with the fork, and the Toots of ' the robber-shoots traced as well as possbile ; to their source, then remove with a sharp knife. Red and white currants, goo6e- | berries and cherries may be preserved to i a late period by covering bushes with • scrim. Where strawberry plants are wanted for new plantations the runners should be encouraged to make strong plants, well rooted, so that they can. be planted out at the earliest time in the autumn. When a sufficient- number ore obtained then cut the after-growths away. Flower Garden.—This department is now, or should be shortly, in all its brilliancy, and keeping it in presentable condition is the chief care of the period. Beyond that there cannot be much, actual work with it. Any kind of plants that need supports should be staked, and those requiring pegging down should be pegged, to extend their dimensions and to infuse into them additional vigor by the emission - of fresh root 6 along the stems. All herbaceous plants which have finished flowering should, unless seed be wanted, have their flower stems cut down. Many kinds will bloom again in the autumn if this is done and plenty of moisture afforded. Greenhouse. —All subjects in this department should now have plenty of room and free circulation of air. Plants growing vigorously, especially those that are gross feeders, may be liberally supplied with liquid manure to maintain them in vigorous health, and at the same time prolong the period' of their blooming. Pelargoninms should be exposed in the open air to ripen their wood preparatory to being cut down next month. Those that have ripened early may be cut down now and the cuttings inserted in the open ground, when they will soon emit rofcts. Climb- ( ing plants require going over to regulate . the growths. Begonias are now coming ( into bloom, and these will keep the green- j house gay for a considerable time. Give , regular supplies of water, and by sprink- ( ling the pathway and stages a moist at- £ mosphere will be maintained, in which . they delight. i