CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1834, 14 January 1887, Page 8

CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK.

The weather continues hot aud dry, with very little rain. The summer, taking it on the whole, has been a phenomenally hot one, re^ sembling more an arid Australian summer than a temperate New Zealand one Where water is available this of course has been rather favourable to garden growth than otherwise, but in cases in which little or none can be spared for the garden, growth of all descriptions has suffered materially. Kitchkn* Gardex. — The tlty weather will necessitate the .constant use of the hoe iv order to prevent the surface caking and to conserve the moisture in the soil. The last sowing of peas should be got in without delay. Sow turnip seed after showery weather, taking care to tramp the soil so as to provide a good seed bed.

Fruit Gakdbx.— Where young strawberry plants are ready for planting-, and the ground prepared for them, the sooner they are got in now the better. If good plants are used and placed in good ground there will be a good crop ! next year. It is because weakly runners are | employed, which have been overgrown and trampled upon during the fruiting season, that the first year's crop is generally so small. For warm, somewhat heavy, soils there is no betterflavoured ' strawberry than the British Queen, but it does not succeed everywhere. Large strawberries seem to be most in, favour, but, a,s, regards mere, size, anybody can have it if they, feed sufficiently. Size is mainly a question of the judicious application of manure, but something more is' required to give flavour. ', Sunshine, more than anything else, is needed for that ; and' other things require it as well as strawberries. ' Should hot, dry weather continue, trees carrying a heavy, crop of fruit must be assisted with manure water in addition to' mulching. In the case ''of large, old trees, whose roots are deep down, if holes are made 2ft apart with a crowbar all over the space occupied by the roots, and liquid manure of any ' kind is used to fill the holes thus made, great goodwill be the result. We have seen considerable benefit follow the use of the drainage from a farmyard, and not only may it be applied in summer, but exhausted trees may have it given in the way suggested at any time. The holes may be a foot deep, and should be. filled up frequently until the layer of soil containing the roots has become sufficiently enriched. Artificial manures may also be applied in a liquid | form. Sunshine, as ' has been stated; is the chief source of flavour iv fruits, and every ray should be utilised now by the removal of all surplus growth. Young shoots must be shortened to within four or five eyps of their | base. This length is necessary to prevent the | back eyes from breaking into soft, useless I growth, instead of forming fruit bnds. Pyramidal apple and pear trees should be gone over, and all laterals removed. February aud March | arc the chief ripening months, and it is only by letting the warmth in among the wood and foliage that the foundation for a crop next year can be laid — a remark which also applies to bush fruits..

Flowee Gardkn.— This is the most attractive time of the year in tbi<! department, a wellkept garden beiDg now a mass of bloom of varied hue. The roses, it is true, are ou the wane, but their place is supplied in all save perfume by the various lilies and many-hued- annuals and perennials which meet the eye at every turn. A sharp look-out should be kept for caterpillars and pests of all descriptions. The hot spell we have experienced has minimised the ravages of slugs, but this should not cause us to relax our vigour in warring against the pest. The Stove. — Give all flowering plants that are pot-bound mild liquid manure to maintain their strength. K^ep a moist, growing atmosphere up for such as are making growth ; ventilate with due consideration to the- condition of the outer air, and so as to render resort to fire heat as far as possible unnecessary. Winter flowering stock, such as poinsettiao, euphorbias, justicias, pentas, and all such useful subjects, should be increased and encouraged to make healthy progress. They may during the warmth of summer be very suitably accommodated in frames, kept close to the glass, and protected fromdirect sunlight for an hour or two during the. heat of the day; and by shutting up even a cold frame early in the afternoon, while the sun is yet shining on the glass, would be found a capital substitute for a heated house during the warm "months. As the nights' become cooler mats may be thrown over the frame to conserve the heat absorbed by the glass after closing up. The syringe should be freely used immediately before closing up, being careful to use only tepid ■water.