THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2179, 28 November 1895, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. Kitchen Gabden. — Advantage should be taken of showery weather to transplant and thin onions. In thinning, 3in apart is ample space, as although the individual bulbs are not so fine as when more room is given them, yet they are more profitable ; medium-3ized bulbs keep better than large ones. If there are any blanks in the row they should be filled up as the thinning proceeds, taking care that the roots do not get bent in transplanting and that they are not buried deeper than they were before. Cucumbers and vegetable marrows growing on ridges m*y hwe the hand-glasses raised on bricks, and the shoots taken outside in different directions. They bhould be watered eveiy morning, as from being raised above the surface they soon suffer from want of water, until the foliage has covered the ground. Cuptioums may be planted oub under a north wall in rich sandy sail. No ehade must be allowed to obstruct the sun from these plants. Train the shoots of tomatoes, and give them occ&eional supplies of water. Make sowings of peas of the marrow class for late use. Stake advancing crops, and destroy weeds before they reach the blooming stage. Flower Gabden. — Constant attention is now required among the roses. The maggot and green-fly must be destroyed as fast as they appear. Look after sucker*, and cut them away underground at the place where they spring from. Place supports to pyrethrutns, delphiniums, and carnations. Plant dahlias, and fix the stakes by the tuber at the time of planting. Keep weeds down by surface hoeing when the weather is fine, and take advantage of rain to transplant asters, zinnias, stocks, and Phlox Drummondi. General work consists of mowiug and rolling lawns, clipping box edges, tho grass edgings of shrubbery clumps, and maintaining neatness throughout the garden. Sow mignonette, ten-week stocks, balsams, and portulaca. . Greenhouse. — The young fronds of ferns being now in an advanced condition, the old fronds may be removed. To encourage a rapid growth the syringe should be freely used, morning and evening, to maintain a moist atmoshcre. Every portion of the floors, stages, and rockwork should be made wet, and the house closed early. Ferns of the adiantum cla«s, which are in request for cutting, should be well exposed to the light to harden the fronds, otherwise they quickly shrivel up. Azalaa3 which have done blooming will enjoy a close, moist heat to encourage growth, which when made early, can be ripened off thoroughly. Let the plants be well watered, as being polbound they require large quantities. Frequent attention is necessary to greenhouse climbers, otherwise they soon grow into a tangled mass. At this period they must be frequently watered, as the borders soon become dry from the excessive evaporation.