OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2168, 12 September 1895, Page 8

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Gakden.— Parsnips may ba sown at Dnce in shallow drills lft apart, but the ground ihould be deep and in fine tilth. It is well to defer the sowing of carrots for a week or 10 flajs, as in the event of sharp frost when they nre just above ground they turn yellow. In Bowing them the ground should te made very fine, »nd be jerfectly free from the roots of weeds and slugs, grubs, &c., which are ready to devour the firsb growth of (he seeds. Red lead in a good protection from insect pesto, and the simplest way to apply it is lo wet the seed and dust it with dry red lead until the whole is coated. NeitLer sing, giub, nor biid will touch it, aud the lead is not injurious to (he plant. Tho covering should not be deeper than one or two diameters cf the seeds ; and to enaure success the soil should be composed of equal parti of sand and burnt refuse from a fire. The cause pf failure in carrots is not in the seed, which retains its vitality a long time, but in the mode of sowing, a stiff clay soil, and insect ,peßts. This is a good time to make plantations ,iof globe artichokes, by taking the suckers from l}he eld plants. Piick out celery raised in iframes into boxes of light rich soil. Potatoes, radishes, carrots, and other vegetables which have been sown in frames must be given the benefit of a free exposure on fine days. Sow peas and broad beans for succession. Dig and manure every vacant bit of ground to bs brought ' under crop at the proper season. Fkuit Garden. — Aa the catkins of nuta and filberts are now in flower, the bushes may be pruned by removing all useless wcod, retaining the spray which shows the small rod female blossoms at tho tips cf the unopened buda. All suckers must be pulled ont. Manure should be lightly forked in toencourago the surface roots. A good material for the purpose is the refuse from skin and hair factories. Flower Gabdkn. — The herbaceous border may now be regulated by tiimming away all decayed flower stems and winter protective mulchings, and by digging in manure where it can be done without injuring the plants. Old stools should be divided, and the outer portions repk.nted. Sow hardy annuals and ornamental yrftsses in patches where they ore to bloom. The latter thould be extensively grown, especially the briz-ts, as they not only add distinctive features to the border, but are useful in the dry state for decorative purposes in wiuter. All kiuds of roots and tubers maj be started into growth. Dahlias, cannas, aud tuberous begonias require a hotbed to excite ,them into action, and if an increase is desired they can be propagated by cuttings of theycung shoots when 3in high. Verbenas, lobelias, ageratuma, and tnesembryanthemums may be planted out in cold frames to get hardened off, and to lift with good roots for planting out in November. Greenhouse. — The air being drier and there being more ventilation will cause the plants to require more attention iv wateriog, but it must bo done with care, as it is easy to be misled by the surface of the soil in tho pot being dry. .Weight is the best guide, and the practiced gardener can tell when he takes a pot in hand whether water is required or not. Striking the pot with a piece of wood is also a good plan, as the pot ciugs when the soil is dry. Endeavour to keep the temperature down to piev«nt the plants from growing too rapidly.