THE GARDEN. OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2274, 30 September 1897, Page 8

THE GARDEN. OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Kitchen Garden —It is seldom that the land liaß been in such good condition for seed sowing 1 , or indeed for all operations connected with vegetable culture. Early and second early potatoes should be planted in drills Gin deep, placing the sets on the manure in the old-fashioued way. The condition and qiulity of the manure is an important consideration. It ihould be neither too dry nor too wet. If it is jirecn the chances are that in light lands it will remain unchanged during the season and will act as a drain to deprive the sets of moisture ; if too wet and greasy it will rot the set. For potato culture the soil cannot be ton fine, and there should be plenty of depth ta enable Ihs tuber to res ; st the effects of dry weather in November aud December. Mode-rately-sized sets, not exceedieg 2irt in diameter, yield better results thau those which have been cut. As to varieties, Iho soit known as kidneys »re hard to beat foi the earliest crop. To succeed these Schoolmaster, true "White iilepba - >t (i.e., a striped pink and white potato), and ti ue llagaum Bonuin ate about the best — the latter being one of the most satisfactory potatoes grown, bein? very prolific and one of the best for cooking. Where the Foil is light the main crop of late potatoes should also be rdanted in ordtr to catch the first growirg weather while there i 3 moisture in the ground, as such lands dry up (iui kly in November. Sow carrots for main crop ; also a small breadth of turDipp, as the tlightest touch of frost is sufficient to cause them to bolt.

Flower Garden.— The general work consists of hedge cutting, shrub p-uning, eoging walks, mowing lawns, and the destruction of weeds, •which are easily destroyed in the seeding stage. As occasional frosts and sharp sou-westers may be expected, it is necessaiy to protect auy plant which is more than usually tender in the young growth. If any beds are vac-int, and the summer arrangements have been determined, the ground work and edgings, which are usually composed of hardy plants, may be got out. The cerabtiunis, erysimums, sedunip, thymes, viola*, pansies, and Semper virums should be planted in their allotted .positions within the next 10 days. Cuttings which are beiDg cramped in potß should be potted off, and as increased space is lequired for the protection of these and tender seedlingp, everything which will stand a few degrees of fro3t should be placed in turf pots or sheltered spots. Calceoj farias, verbenas, and lobelias are after a few days' hardening quite safe at the foot of north walls. Solanums, datura?, and Eingle dahlias should be ready to repot off. The castor oil plant should be sown singly in pots, as the roots are very brittle and the plants are difficult to repot without injury when many are grown together.

Greenhouse.— The soft-wooded winter flowering heaths 1 if cut back after blooming will be uovr ready to repot. The ball should not be disturbed, and the new compost should be rammed hard round it, or the water will pass through the newsoil at the sides t>f the pot, leaving the ball dry. It is a good plan to soak the ball in water before repotting. The plants should for tvvo or three weeks he stood in a close pit, with a little air at the back till the roots begin to move in the new compost. The free-growing heaths of the ventricosa section should be potted in peat, which contains a large proportion of vegetable fibre and sand. It is time that most of the hard-wooded greenhouse plants, such as baronias. eriostemons.

etc., were potted, but it should be borne in mind that they will not bear shaking out of the old soil like a fuchsia. Vallotas are now making giowth, and they should be put into larger pots when necessary. These bulb 3, and all the amarallia3 generally, should not be over-potted, as it has a tendency to prevent their blooming.