WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 5

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Garden. — In light friable soils where sand predominates, sowings of onions, carrots, and parsnips can be made at once, and if it were not for the danger from lifting of the young seedlings by frost, the sowing of these vegetables should be made in the la«.t week of July. If the ground is newly dug it is necessary to give it a good treading down before it is raked over, and the drills should be drawn I2in apart. After the seed is sown and covered another light treading over will contribute to its quick germination. This system of sowing applies only to light sandy soils. Any treading in on adhesive soils would be attended with failure. The ground should now be prepared for the general sowings of the brassica tribe, and small sowings of turnips may be made in light soils. Early sowings of turnips are inclined to bolt from the check they receive from spring frosts. The American white strapleaf is not so liable to shoot into seed as the \vhitc stone, and should be used for these early sowings. Sow radish, lettuce, aud other small saladings to maintain a regular supply. Flower Garden.— As many of the spring bulbs are now showing for bloom, it will be necessary to remove the top dressing and loosen up the surface soil. Hyacinths ara much benefited by this treatment, and bloom earlier. Lawns should be rolled once a week, aud if the grass is coarse it should be mown close to the ground. Patches of lawus which soon burn up in dry weather may have a dressing of wood ashes, soot, and sand, or a good soaking with liquid manure. As many of the hardy roses are now pruned, the beds may be top dressed with rich manure. Where roses have been badly infested with fly, they may be painted over after pruning with a mixture of soot, lime, and cow dunpt, brought to a proper consistency with soap suds. This paint will kill the eggs or larva of any insect, and is not injurious to the plant. The whole of the ornamental department of the garden should have a. final cleaning and picking over to present a frekh appearance. All planting should be finished as socn as possible. Greenhouse. — The 6oft wooded ericas, such as E. lyeinalis, must be cut back before they begin to grow at the points of the shoots. After they have broken again, they may be re-potted and placed in a close frame until the roots have got hold of the fresh soil. Lobelias may be divided and potted, as they are useful for baskets and vases, or for margins of the stages Interspersed

with common and giant musk. Tropcelum lobiannium is a good subject for placing on brackets where there is a space for its long shoots to trail downwards. The double bulbous tropocolums, are also brilliant subjects for a similar purpose, or for training along the roof. Sow Chinese primulas in rough fibrous soil with plenty of drainage in the pans.