THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1935, 26 March 1891, Page 5

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen GutDBN —The want of rain to start the autumn growth has become more felt every week, as everything has been practically at a standstill. Portion, at all events, of the young growth which the showers we are now having will excite will be cut down by the e«ly frosts. Where the tops of asparagus are ripe, they msy ba cut off and the beds cleaned and dressed. The old practice of top-dress-ing the beds when the plants are dormant is still followed, but there can be no question that the time to apply manure is when the tops are gresD, as the tuberous roots appropriate it then, causing the formation of strong crowns for next season. Carrots, parsnips, and beetroot should be lifted before rain comes, bs they '.keep much better when taken up durlng;dry weather, and being free from soil they oan be packed in sand or ashes at once. A b soon as the late-sown onions are ready let them be thinned out to 4in apart. A few may be transplanted if favourable weather occurs, as they sometimes do better than thoee which are left where they were sown ,

Flower Gardbn. — Attention should now be directed to lifting and getting under shelter all tender plants, as a sharp frost generally follows the autumn rains. The heliotrope i» perhaps the most susceptible of frost, and the plants having been cut round with a sharp spade a few days previously, should be lttted with a* much of the soil adhering to tbe roots as possible, and potted in a light sandy compost. By putting them in a close frame they will soon recover, as tbe plants have no", made much soft wood this dry season Pelargoniums of the tricolour and bronze zonal stction* should also ba Ret under shelter ; they will not require much water until they are well established in the pots, and the flagging and withering of some of the lower leaves is not of much moment. There is no necessity to take up the ordinary bidding zonaTs yet. as the first fro»t a <yill not cut them up much, and there is frequently a considerable interval of fine weather bsfore the next frost comes Give chryßan-theinu-rie a good soaking with manure water. Greenhousb.— Small plants of fuchsia mixed with Bonvardiis and Browall-as have a finef ffeot on the stages it this season, if they have been grown on and forw«rde<l in frames until reidy for bloom Luculia gratisalma is also another flneaubj ct for tbe gresnhoute at rhis season, as in addition to tbe beauty of its floweis it it very fragrant. Calceolarias are now growing fast, and they must ba potted on in good turfy, yellow loam, with a fourth part of leaf mould and rotten manure. Good drainage is essential with this thirsty plant, as it

will consume large quantities of water as soon at it has filled tbe pot with roots. They must be kept near the glass in a cool frame, and not exposed to the sun. Under this treatment, with plenty of air, the plants will be dwarf and stocky.