OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2209, 2 July 1896, Page 8

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Garden.— The following early and Becpnd early varieties of peas maybe, sown iti well -tilled ground which .has beeu highly .manured :— Ringleader, William. l, Dellistbne's earlyi Diobsoa's "favourite, and Culvertyell'/S telegraph. These should be sown in rows 10ft' or 12ft apart, and the spaces filled up with cauliflowers later on. / Early Mazigsn beans may be town on a north border, 2ft apart , between the rows. Tomatoes may be sown in boxes and placed in a frame where there is a little heat. Mint should be planted in a warm border, and sowings of radishes, mustard, and cress c&n be made in a similar position. Flower Garden.— There is but little demanding attention here, and what there is is dependent' upon the weather. In the absence of rain, several matters relating to spring flowers and bulbs may be attended to, as although the nightly frosts are sometimes severe, they are v all out of, the ground by midday, except in shady places where the sun cannot reach, The opep season has enabled- the gardener to 'get alterations and planting well advanced, so that j little will remain to be done in spring. . In the rage for conifers one seldom sees a good selection of flowering shrubs in gardens and deciduous shrubs are almost entirely neglected. These flowering shrubs are great ornaments to the borders, some of them blooming long before the spring flowers make their appearance. Betberis Japonica and Oarwinii, the Japanese quinces, and Calycanthus fragransare all in bloom now, and they will be succeeded by the c daphnes, forsjfcliias, ribes, spiraeas, kerrias,. and hardy ericas. Later there will be the Deutzia graoilis, a greenhouse plant in England, doing -well -id the open borders L'ere.- The propagation of soft-wooded bedding' plants should ba commenced, a stock being worEed up according to the quantity required. Sow 1 ' sejds of camists, , greyetteas, centaures, B'empervirehs, and echeu: ■ earns in pane, and place them in a hob bed. Fruit Gabden.— The planting of fruit trees should be finished as soon as practicable before the soils get saturated with water. At first the ' roots should be confined to ensure fertility, and good results have been obtained by planting the trees in caudle boxes plunged in the soil. For the first year or two the roots will form dense masses of fibre in tbe box, as they cannot get* away; but as, the vocd decays,, the roots oan then extend into tbe surrounding soil. ' Recently planted trees should' b? mulched, as it keeps frost out, and enables the' roots to get to work at once. " Greenhouse.— Upon camell'as centres most of the interest which is felt for flowers at this season, and tbe swelling and opening of the buds is watched with anxiety. To assist tbe plants to open out the buds fully, clear soot water should be given, as it not only.stimulates the plant, but imparts a deep green colour to the leaves. Camellias are often infested with tbe brown turtle scale, but this is easily got rid of by hying the plants on their sides and syriDgirjgthem with a dilute solution of nicotine soap. Cut superfluous wood from pas&ifloras and tsxonias ; these climbers bloom oa the young wood, and will consequently bear a free use of the knife. j