THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2201, 7 May 1896, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. Kitchen Garden — Tbepreparationof ground •by trenching and manuring tor next season's crops can be done now with advantage. Such ground being left in a rough state during winter becomes mellowed tnd sweetened by frosb, and only tc quires levelling to be ready for cropping— & saving of timo of some importance iv the pressure of work which occurs in spring. In dry, warm soils a sowiog of beaus and ficst early paas may be made, but it would be throwing away tbe teed to do bo in cold clay soils. Protect artichokes with leaves or litter from frost, leaving the hearts free. Clear asparagus beds, aud mulch with manure or seawer d; and c./ver seakale with litter ; tbe crowns can afterwards be cavered with pots or ca-ks, round vtfhich fermenting materials for forcing cun be placed. -• FfiDiT GABDEN.-^Plantationß ot the smalt bush fruits can be made now, and worn-ont bushes t-hould be gradually replaced with young stuff. It is not uncommon to see in gatdeur. o'.d bushes of the gooseberry which hayo i become so feeble as to produce fruit no larger than currants. It ia possible to renovate these old sbagera by severe pruning, and digging in around them a liberal dressing of maauw, or by transplanting them to fre*h quarters. In making lresb plantations gooseberries 'should have a quarter to themselves away from the shade of trees, and in selecting the sorts, those which give a good succession should be prepared. The tolloning are suitable varieties :— Ewly sulphur, Btaumont's smiling beauty, green gatcoigne, broom girl, early white, and green walnut. Later sorts — Ironmonger, red and white champagne, whitesmith, rough red, and red Wan ingtan. If very large varieties are deßir'ed there are the Lancashii c prize sorts — one known as London being the largest kind in cultivation. Currants will thrive fairly under the shade of trees ; but even these are better in the open, as the young wood fc not so much drawn, and the fruit is superior in flavour. Of black currants, black Nti pies and Lee's prolific are certain croppers, and champagne defiance and la Versailles are the best reds. All these bush fruits should ba planted lit apart, and the same distance between the rows. Flower Garden. — The weatb/r has been favourable for transplanting trees and shrubs to furnish the flower-beds for the winter ; also for planting bulba and spring flowers of all descriptions. It is time to lift choice varieties of dahlia, leaving about 6in of the stems. The beit place for wintering the tubsrs is under the stages in the greenhouse, where they can be lightly covered with moderately dry aand. Absolutt dryntss is to be avoided, as the tubers will shrivel and be unable to start in spring. The general collection may be left in the ground, giving them a covering of litter as a protection from" frost. Salvia patens will survive the winter in light, dry soils ; but it ia safer to lift and pot the tuberous roots and put them under cover. The scarlet lobelias, fu!g*ns and Victoria, should also be treated iv a similar way, as they will furnish a number of Buek<-.8 for propagation in epriog. Ghkenhousk. — Perpetual - flowering carnations will be found useful for outt'mg at this time, but unless the plants have been well established it is useless to expect much bloom. Roof-climbers may be thinned by taking out superfluous growth which obstructs the lightf torn the plants beneath.\ It is a critical time with camellias, as any sudden rise of "temperature will cause them to drop their buds. The same result will follow if they are allowed to become too dry at the root. The plants in greenhouse borders not being in active growth the borders may- be allowed to become partially dry, whioh will help to keep away damp, the chief enemy to plants during the winter months. Give plenty of ventilation on bright days, but do not expose the plants to cold currents of air.