OTAGO GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 670, 10 February 1864, Page 5

OTAGO GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR FEBRUARY.

This is the first autumnal month, and it corresponds with August ia England.. In the kitchen garden, sow cabbage seed after a wet day for a good crop. When large enough, 'the plants shou'li be put out six inches apart, m rows a foot from each other. The intention ia to remove every other row as we require them for winter greens, and then take out two of eyery three from the rows left, which will ultimately leave the crop for cabbaging eighteen inches by_ two feet. Sow, every tea days, the seeds ot white mustard, cress, aui turnip, for small salading;; also, salmon, short top, and other radishes, as well as lettuce. To have a constant supply of the latter, plant some every week, and and keep them well watered in dry weather, or they will become tough and go to seed, perhaps before they are blanched white. Sow some carrots about the middle of the month, and white stone turnips for winter use, A sowing of cauliflowers will be necessary, to prick out in a garden frame, or be otherwise protected over the winter. Celery will require to be earthed up, and fresh plants must be put out. They will require good ground and moisture. If the crops of onions are swelled to their Ml size, and, their tops are decaying, pull them up and spread them to dry and harden. When the stems become dry, cut oft the roots and long withered stems, and lay them up in a dry room. Wf rooted slips, cuttings, or seedling ■ plants of aromatic sweet herbs may still be planted out. Out all sorts of herbs which you wish to preserve on a dry day, when they are in full blossom. Prepare the ground out of use, by manuring and digeine, for the reception of other crops. Hoe up and destroy the weeds everywhere, and rake them off. Save seeds. _ In the fruit garden, continue te cut on all useless shootsthat are crowding the peach and nectarine trees. Leaves should not be to lie oa the fruit. If the American blight should appear on apple treeß, lose no time in painting every spot with parafine oil.' , Mr Matthews states that he has found this an effectual remedy. Trees that were budded; last .month should be examined, and if the bandages pinch the stocks too much they should be loosened. If any of the buds appear dead, bud the stock, in another part, as this is still a good time to bud trees. Examine the espalier trees, and see that all the branches are well spcured to their places. Cut off the runners from old strawberry "plants, clean the beds: plant the ranners, if wanted, in nursery beds, pots, or new fruiting beds. It is neceasary to get a change of plants every three years. Tlio cultivation of strawberries requires much more attention than is generally given to it. Hoe and rake the ground and destroy the weeds between fruit trees and bushes. In the flower garden still propagate all sorts of half-hardy clump plants-such as fuchsias, petunias, verbenas, &c, by cuttings; all kinds of perennials by parting the foots or cuttings; and herbaceous plants, which have done tbwering, by parting the roots. Lay or pipe pinks and carnations. Double sweet-williams, and plants-of the same nature, may also be propagate} in.. tjia same manner.- You ,u:ay now transplant bulbousrooted plants, such as crown imperials, -irises, lilies, Ac.; the only proper time to remove them is immediately after the leaves are decayed. t?O\v the seeds of bulbous roots iv pots, and. keep them moist. Plant out perennial and biennial ■•flowsr plants ia cloudy days, and give them water. Also plant out rnignionette in pots to stand the winter. Put two or three plants in each pot,of light .rich earth ; (rive them water, .an-1, keep- tbetn -iv a shaly place till the begin to grow. You nviv also sow mignionette in pots. iLoosen the eu-Ui rounl the dahlias, and pub a spadeful of rottnu dung to each ; water them in dry weather. One down the stems of carnations that Imva <'cnc blowing closa to the plants, and as .soon fis i»o layers are surKeiently rooted cut them tco.u tho

mother plant, and plant them in small pots, thrfe or four in each pot; set them in a frame, •hadowine them in warm days, till they are able to bear the- sft'n; water them when planted, and occasionally in dry weather examine all the roses budded last month, and release them from their tie's and cement or clay. Out 6ff the shoots from the stook, that the whole strength may be thrown into the bud. Mulch hollyhocks, &c. This is the time to repair, clean, and, if necessary, paint the green houses, garden frames, «c. Gather flower seeds that are ripe, spread them in » dry place till they are hard, then rub them out, and put them up in paper. Gfeen-hou9e plants that have stood in one place for sometime, should be removed, and the roots that have run through the pots cut off. Plant out cuttings of green-house plants that are well rooted. Keep them in a shady place till they lave recovered, and give them gentle waterings occasionally. Any trees that were inarched in the spring, if they are well united, may now be cut from the parent plant. See that the gape Tine shoots are stopped just before the bunches; fatten up the shoots and bunches that require it. Admit air whenever you can, without making the house too cool.