CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1928, 2 November 1888, Page 6

CALENDAR FOR THE WEEK.

Vegetable Gaeden.—There is no room for idleness in any. department of^ the garden this month. The work of thinning and keeping clean all growing crops will keep the head and j hands busy during the mouth. Carrots, lettuce, onions, parsley, and all other crops from seed that must be thinned, should be attended to in this respect before they become over crowded. Moist weather is best for this operation, as the plauts that remain in the ground for the crop are less liable to suffer from the disturbance caused by the removal of those that are superfluous. Keep the hoe constantly at work among all kinds of crops where it is practicable to use it. It is bad policy to wait for weeds to assert themselves, they should never be allowed -to \ appear, and the constant use^ of the hoe is just the thing to prevent their doing so. Peas in all stages are advancing rapidly, aided, by the recent warm rains. Should it be desired to obtain a gathering as soon as possible pinch out the points of all the plants in a promising row or two. This will have the effect of causing the pods to set and swell up much more quickly than they otherwise would do, and a gain of from a week to 10 days will be 'effected. Of course the peas must be well in bloom before performing the operation. Continue to plant celery in the prepared trenches as fast as the plants become ready,'or these last can be got ready. Some set the plants in double rows in a wide trench, but this is not a plan to be recommended by any means, particularly if fine heads are expected. Water plants previously put out frequently and well in dry weather, for of all things celery cannot endure anything approaching drought. The planting out of cauliflowers, broccoli, savoys, &c, should be followed up in favourable, i.e., showery, or at least cloudy weather, as fast as the plants become ready. The harm done by allowing plants to remain even a few days too long in the seedbed is incalculable. If the plants are ready and the ground is not, prick them off 4in to (Jin apart in any piece of spare ground that fs in good condition. This will at anyrato prevent spindling, induce a short, stocky habit, and enable the plants to be removed to their final position much more {successfully, besides effecting a saving of time. In psaparing or selecting ground for any kind of cabbage, cauliflowers, or " green stuff " generally, it is important to remember that such ground should not have carried a crop of any kind of Brassica for three, or at the very leaßt two, years previously. The main crop of turnips, if not already done, may now be sown. A light and fairly rich soil will best meet the requirements of turnips. For the convenience of being able to hoe between the rows, and thus keep down weeds with a minimum of trouble, it is advisable to sow in drills, but on all jother accounts sowing broadcast is, we incline to be- ] lieve, the better plan. j Vegetable marrows are growing well. It is doubtful if much is gained by sowing these and ; similar subjects so early under the protection of glass. In most pases they come, when thus treated, so weak and spindly that when planted out finally it takes the plants some time to get accustomed to the open air and gain sufficient strength to make a fresh start into growth, whereas those sown—on a very gentle bottom heat preferably—in the open quarters are so sturdy and strong from the first that, they grow j away without a check of any kind, and at anyrate in some cases do better than the more deli-cately-raised examples. If such subjects as this, with ridge cucumbers, &c.,are to be raised under glass, they must have constant and skilful atten-. | tion, abundanca of light, room, and air from first to last, or it will be found much more profitable to leave them to Dame Nature after all. Floweb Gatjoejj.—The first planted bedding plants are now growing freely, having been greatly assisted by the recent rains. In showery weather slugs are apt to be troublesome, so scatter a little soot and coal ashes round patches or rows of petunias, sunflowew, and other things to which these pests are partial. Numbers will be found oa the under side of cabbage leaves placed here and there on the borders over night, and these may be collected and 4estroyed in the morning. Small heaps of bran placed at intervals are also very effectual, attracting large numbers of slugs and sasjjs,