THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 1851, 17 August 1893, Page 4

THE GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Garden.— This is perhaps the best time of year that one may begin to make a vegetable garden, as during the next couple of months almost every variety of culinary plant may be started into growth with the greatest advantage. During the next few weeks all the hardier kinds of vegetables which are not affected by cold weather to any great extent should be sown without any reserve, or, in other words, the main crop may be got in, as there will be an almost certain crop, if the land has been properly prepared for the reception of the various seeds. Parsnips are amongst the first crops in the kitchen garden to grow up and become crowded in the seed rows, and they require about as much space to develop their tops as any crops. To have them good it is therefore necessary to give them plenty of space to develop. The young plants should be thinned out to 6in apart when 2in high. In a fortnight or three weeks hence they should again be thinned to a distance of lft or more 'apart. This is none too far apart for the permanent crop.

Flower Garden.— Plants of the hardy annuals should now be planted- out where they are to bloom, as many of the earlier flowering kinds will start into growth at once, and they should not be allowed to become over-crowded before transplanting. Early in the next month many of the tender varieties of annuals should be sown either in pots or boxes, under the cover or protection of a frame or greenhouse. Much better progress will be made if they can be given the benefit of a hotbed which has commenced to decline in heat. If placed on the manure the seed will come up in a few days and will be less likely to damp off than if grown in a cold frame for some time yet. Such tender kinds as zinnias balsams, marigolds, <ftc, should not be sown for another month yet, as they cannot be planted out until the weather becomes quite settled; and if sown too early these plants become too large and then get stunted. Such plants never give satisfaction, hence it is better to defer sowing. Verbenas should now be planted out, and, if these can be planted in a bed by themselves, they make a better display than when scattered about the borders indiscriminately. Late flowering lilies Bhould be planted out, and where these have been grown for years in the same position they should be taken up and divided, and replanted on a fresh piece of soil with considerable advantage. Plant anemones and ranunculas when the ground is in a dry, workable condition... The ground should be^in a rich state for them, but, not with recent applications of fresh or crude manure.

Greenhouse and Window Plants.—lncreasing light and warmth during the day may -be taken advantage of to stimulate activity in growth. Frosty or keen air should not on any account be admitted at any time,, but the house should be freely ventilated on mild days, opening the ventilators a little as soon as the. sun strikes on it with such power as to raise the thermometer to 60deg. They may be opened wider as the air becomes warmer till about 3 o'clock in the afternoon, when they should be shut entirely. A considerable increase of heat will then take place in the house, but will do good rather than barm to the plants, and help to maintain a genial warmth during the night. The state of the atmosphere in regard to brightness or the reverse should be taken into account in applying the directions for ventilating just given. General re-potting of all plants requiring it should be attended to as each kind begins to grow. Propagate fuchsias, petunias, heliotropes, pelargoniums, and all other desirable stock, when they offer suitable cuttings. At this season only young growing shoots should be taken for cuttings. A hot-bed' frame is the best medium in which to root these things at present, but in the absence of that a bell-glass must be used, to enclose them from the air, and the pots containing them should be placed jn the warmest corner of the house, and shaded from the sun. Sow seeds of salpiglossis, globe amaranths, alonsoas, balsams, and any other favourite annuals, to keep up interest and variety during the summer and autumn months - Window plants generally should be trimmed and pruned ; and when they show signs of activity, let such as require it be repotted.