OTAGO GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER.

Otago Witness, Issue 879, 3 October 1868, Page 14

OTAGO GARDENERS' CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER.

This will be last month of spring, and all the work neglected during the month of September, must be completed without delay. At two or three different times this month, sow lettuces. Thin them out in the seed bed, to give them room to grow into strength, and when large enough, plant out as the supply is wanted. They grow beßt in light grounds. Sow different sorts of raddish-Beed once a week to keep up a constant supply. Sow onions in very rich ground. Leeks may be sown in a small bed, and, when large enough, planted out six by eighteen inches apart, to be earthed up when they have grown into strength, for the purpose of bleaching them, Sow a full crop of beet root by the end of the month ; trench and crumble the ground well, and bow very thinly in drills nine inches apart, or drop two or three seeds every nine inches in the drills. ( When these come up, and begin to grow, draw out all but the strongest plant in each place. Peas and beans of all kinds ' must be sown at different times this month, to obtain a regular succession. Sow carrots in ground which has been well pulverised, fifteen inches deep. The seed may be sown broadcast, or in drills eight inches apart. For small families, when the horn carrot is used, sow broadcast in a warm border, J and thin out only moderately. They can i be drawn as wanted, beginning before ' thfty are half-grown, and continuing until ' they are finished. Parsnips should be ' sown in drills nine inches apart ; hoe out to the same distance in the row, and keep clear of weeds. If the spinach sown last month begins to appear, make another sowing ; thin out to six inches apart. Sow early turnips two or three times in the course of this month. Sow cabbage seeds j and plant out as vacant spaces occur. Plant cauliflowers in ground well dunged. Sow ' celery in a rich warm border, and tend i carefully until the plants are a couple of inches out of the ground, when they 1 must be pricked out four inches apart each way ; water well in dry weather ; when four or five inches high, plants nine inches apart in a trench prepared with well-rotted dung ; as it grows up, draw down a little of the earth from both sides, on fine days, taking care that the mould does not get into the heart of the plant. As it advances, pile the earth against it, and repeat it as long as the plant continues to grow. Towards the end of the month sow melons, pumpkins, vegetable marrows, tomatoes, &c, in a warm sheltered spot. Now is the season for planting potatoes. Plant the sets four or five inches deep in the ground, in rows, about twenty inches or two feet row from row, and ten or twelve inches plant from plant. In the fruit garden, Bee that newly planted trees are well secured, and undisturbed by wind and weather. Fork between raspberries, gooseberries, and currant, or hoe betweexa them and thin the surface. See that the apple trees are not affected by the blight. Kerosene is said to be a good remedy. In the flower garden, this is a sowing time. Seeds of hardy and half hardy herbaceous plants should be sown, and watering, staking, tying, and shading should be attended to. Plant out bulba and tubes of all kinds. Worked roses will require attention, on account of the suckers which spring up and make rapid progress if not taken off directly, and bo prevented from running away with the strength of the plant. The more delicate seeds may be sown by the end of the month, on open borders. Many plants may be put into the blooming pots, or planted in beds, out of their small ppte, without disturbing the balls of earth,