OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2258, 10 June 1897, Page 8

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Slower Garden.—All new ground vrork or any alterations should be pushed on as fast as circumstances will permit, and no time should now be lost in planting evergreen trees and shrubs. Any vacancies in the borders should be filled up from ihe reserve stock, if not already done. This is a very good time for replacing old or worn-out loft-wooded plants with younger ones. The various spring-floweriDg bulbs if not already planted should be got in without further delay, -using plenty of well-rotted manure, especially if the ground is poor, but if the ground is in good heart, less will be required. Dahlias, before they have done blooming, should have been carefully labelled with their names or colours, so as to avoid any mistake in plantiug them next season. The stems may now be cut away Bin or 9in above the Rround, and the rooti had better be lifted and jßtored away in tome cool, dry place, or otherwise they will be in danger of rotting. Roots of dahlias may safely be left in a dry bordar under a tree or evergreen shrub covered out of sight duriDg the winter. Dahlias are apt to deteriorate in this colony, owing to the mildness of the climate causing a very long growing season. The plants do not get nearly the same amount of rest «i in England, where ta« flowering sonaou ia not

more than half as long as in New Zealand; and consequently the plants do nor degenerate to the same extent there as here. Another reason is ! that they do not get the same care in their propagation here as in England. Kitchen Garden.— While the soil is in such a wet condition every attention should be paid to keeping open all drains and open channels, bo as to allow of the rapid escape of as much surface water as possible. In sowing early crops of peas, parsnips, cabbages, and cauliflowers the soil should be thrown up rather higher thau is advisable during the summer season, so as to admit of small furrows being left between the beds, as where the soil, is kept in a dry state it will be found much better progress will be mad", as the toil will be warmer. If not already finished, the early beds of rhubarb should have their annual dressing of manure, and a thorough digging as soon as possible, now protecting the earliest crowns with lons manure if very early rhubarb is required. _ A few of the strongest roots should be covered with small casks ; cement casks cut in two are the best size to use. These should thftn be covered with stable manure which has been turned two or three time 3 to allow the strong heat to escape. By this means the rhubarb can be had fit for use in a, month or fix weeks. Rhubarb is a very stroeg feeder, and in order to grow it to the highest degree of perfection manure must be used liberally. If the ground be of a wetfcish nature it will be advisable to defer planting till later in the season ; but if it be moderately dry the sooner the planting is done the better. Culinary herbs of air kinds should be taken up, divided, aud replanted if necessary, avoiding very rich ground or the use of strong manures for those kinds of plants that are valued for their aromatic properties. Fruit Garden.—^?he planting of all kinds of bush fruits should be pushed on "with whenever the soil is in a favourable state. The plants should be allowed plenty of room, as in order to have profitable crops they must be well manured and encouraged to make a good growth. Old bushes which fail to make young wood freely rarely pay to keep, except red and white currants, which produce their fruit from spurs on the old wood rather than on the young wood. In pruning the black currants as much of the last year's growth should be left in as possible, cutting away the old wood each season, and keep the bush well furnished with a healthy young growth. Raspberry stools should now be cleaned out. All last season's fruiting canes, if not previously cut out, should now be cut clean away close to the soil and the young canes thinned out, leaving five or six of the strongest for next year's crop. A good dressing of manure should be given and dug in carefully bo as not to cut up the roots, which causes a large quantity of suckers to spring up. Ia forming new beds of raspberries, the stools should ba planted 4ft apart each way ; overcrowding of the canes only favours the production of a large number of inferior canes, which do not produce either the quantity or quality of fruit as strong, well-ripened canes. The cultivation of rasps deserves much more attention in this colouy, as there must be many warm gullies within reach of town, besides more favoured areas up country, where they could be grown to profit, for "there is money in rasps. One flrin in Dunedin alone imported 15 tons fiom Hobart last year, and offered 5d per lb for any quantity locally grown. As rasps can be sent in casks, there is less chance of loss than in sending case fruit. But when planting new avea3 in, ras.p?, it is essential to success that the best and most productive varieties be planted. Greenhouse and Frames. — Now that we are into the dullest winter months greater care will be necessary in watering all kinds of plant*, as very many will now either be at rest or rapidly approaching that state when but very little water, if any, is needed, while even those plants which are in a growing state will not require very much water at the root. They should be allowed to become dry, and then receive enough to liroperly soak the ball of the soil through, and then no more till again dry. Amateurs lose mauy of their plants during this season of the year by improper, watering. No water should be allowed to stand upon the stages or floor, as the house requires to be kept dry, and on all favorable days air should be freely admitted. Unless this is done pelargoniums, cineraria, and primulas will make a weak growth. Each of these plants should have sufficient room given to allow the foliage to develop to the fullest extent. Green fly must not be permitted to exist in the house or frame, or much trouble will be given later on. All kinds of bulbs which were potted up for early flowering should be exposed to the light and pushed ou quickly into I flower, as their chief value will lie in their blooming well In advance of similar varieties in the | open air. Where a warm structure is available a ! few strong plants of Deutzia gracilis, if lifted carefully fiom the open border and jjotced up and placed in the warmest position, will soon push out their pretty white flowers and last a long j time. AzaJeas must be frequently examined for I thrip. If this is overlooked the whole of the leaves are liable to fall ; syringing the plants frei quently on the under side of the leaves will tend to keep this pest in check. Plenty of light and j air should be afforded to all kinds of bedoing-out I plants which have recently been struck for next season's planting ; these should be kept pinched back and as sturdy as possible, or they become [ overdrawn. The Shrubbery.— This is a very good season for pruning any evergreen shrubs that may require it. In the case of young specimens careful pruning is often necessary to regulate the growth and direct it into certain channels, so as to ensure rapid and perfect development. No precise rule can be laid down for pruning evergreens, as each plant must be treated accordiug to its special requirements. As a general rule, however, when the branches are too much crowded they should receive any necessary thinning out and, especially in young plants, any misplaced shoot should be removed or over-luxuriant branch shortened back, in order to keep the plants well balanced and shapely. Too frequently they are allowed to grow without care in this respect, when a little judicious pruning from time to time would , greatly improve the appearance of many trees and shrubfe