WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2086, 15 February 1894, Page 4

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Garden.— Keep the hoe going frequently among all growing crops, which answers the dual purpose of keeping the surface of the soil open, and consequently more moist, and of killing all weeds as they appear. Continue to clear off all old crops and turn upall weeds and rubbish. Onions which are still exposed to the sun should be stored without further delay, as after they are once ripe too much exposure impairs their keeping properties. Radishes may be sown in rich moist soil, and be regularly watered, otherwise they will be hot and tough. Thin out the succesBional crops of carrots and turnips. Continue to plant out winter crops when opportunity off ers, or in any case all vacant ground should be in readiness to receive the plants, so that there need be no unnecessary delay when we are favoured with rain. .Fruit Garden.— The present is a good time for budding such fruits as apricots, peaches, plums, nectarines, providing that the stocks to be budded have been Kept steadily growing so that the bark runs freely, as this is most important, as if either stock or buds are hardened so far as to prevent the bark starting freely from the wood the operations cannot be successfully performed. One great advantage of budding to amateurs should be the fact that they can select the different varieties of fruits that please their particular tastes while in season, as often if deferred until grafting time mistakes occur or memory fails, and the wrong variety is worked and grown for some years before the mistake is discovered upon its coming into fruit. Raspberry canea that have fruited should have all the old canes cut clean away at the base, as their duty is done, and if allowed to remain standing only rob the young canes of a certain amount of strength to no purpose, and they are much more easy to cut away now while the sap is in them than when tough and dry in winter. Flower Garden.— Chrysanthemums will need constant attention during the next few weeks and must not be allowed to sufferfrom want of water, as» they will soon commence to set their buds, when they will need a great deal ot thinning among the buds that form upon the side shoots, which are produced very freely at this time of the year. The plants should receive regular applications of liquid manure, especiallyfofter the buds are taken. Roses that are worked upon the briar or.manetti should be looked over frequently, and all suckers removed. We have often seen many rose bushes ruined by the neglect of this, as when they are left until winter it is not so easy for the amateur to detect the difference between the stock and the rose. They often both are pruned back and allowed to grow, which soon results in the death of the roie, which, being the weakest, is over-powered. i Roses may now be budded. Choosing the coolest pait of the day for the operation, insert the buds right at the base of this season's growth. Asters, which are now near flowering, should be securely staked, otherwise much of their beauty will be lost through either wind or rain, when fully out. All annuals that are past their best should be removed. Greenhouse.— The present is rather a dull time in this department, as so many of the usual occupants are turned outside for the summer months. Fuchsias, tuberous begonias, and gloxinias where grown should now be attractive. The great improvements made with the tuberous begonia of late years has rendered it one of the most beautiful of summer decorative plants They are most easily grown, and continue in flower a considerable time longer than most other summer plants, and are well adapted for the decoration of verandah as well as of the greenhouse.