WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2006, 4 August 1892, Page 5

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Garden.— Another sowing of midseason varieties of peas should be now made to keep up a successional supply. The stiong-growing sorts should be selected, as they stand the heat of summer better than the more delicate early varieties. Veitch's perfection is probably the best pea for this climate, as it is a sturdy grower and crops well. Laxtou's supreme and telephone are also good sorts for the main crop. Successional sowings of broad beans, such as Seville or monarch long pods, and Taylor's broad Windsor, may also be made in rows 2ft apart in soil of a retentive character. Lettuce, tadish, and other small saladings in frames or in warm borders will need protection from slugs, which are very destructive to these plants when in a young state. If the surface drainage is defective it may be remedied by noting the places where water lodges in wet weather. In gardens where clay predominates, it should be improved by the addition of sand, ashes, lime, rubbish, charcoal, &c.

Flower Garden. — Begin to prune roses. A portion only should be done at this pruning, another portion a month hence, and the remainder in six weeks. This will extend the blooming season considerably. In pruning cut out all hard brown wood, leaving last season's growth if possible. Keep the main stems equi-distant from each other, and the centre open. Cut back strong shoots one-third to an outside bud. Tea roses, noisettes, and mosses require very little pruning. If the tree is crowded it may be thinned out. No time should be lost in planting ranunculus when the weather is favourable. The ranunculus, being closely allied to bog plants, likes a cool subsoil, and to grow them well a damp situation should be selected for the bed. The best compost is a mixture of peat aud fibrous loam, a good layer of cow dung manure being placed below it. Greenhouse. — The preparation of compost for potting and sowing seeds is a work which should tie done now, so that the various soils may be kept under cover in readiness for use. Charcoal, peat, loam, sand, and well-rotted manure are tho necessary ingredients, and a supply should be at hand when wanted. Camellias are now at the stage when occasional watering with clear soot water will assist them to open their blooms. Frequent watering is to be avoided — one thorough soaking once a week is much better than driblets every day or two. In making new

borders in the greenhouse, let the fibrous loam and peat be used in a rough state, when by the addition of 3harp sand and a few bushels of broken charcoal and bones the border will not require renewing for years, climbers merely receiving an annual top-dressing. Give more air to the house, and endeavour to keep tho plants from growing too fast.