OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 8

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

FLOWER GARDEN.— The sowing of hardy annuals should continue to be made l.\ tho open ground, and where the amateur possesses a iraxne or greenhouse sowings of the 1 mere tender one? can be made ii boxes. Polvantlvus and primroses are now at their KiPst, and as some of these are much finer than others, they should be marked for future reference, as the best only should be kept aiid increased by division, anu the commoner Mncif thrown away. This Bv«fprn of selection ana r>rop<tgu.tion of the Dess omy should be going on in every class of flowers, and by this means at a small expense to the owners, valuable. 'in provenients in the garden can be made "Pan sies are now coming more freely into riioom. and will continue to make the borders gay for a long time. The greatest enemy they have is our old foe the slug, which will riddle the flowers if not killed in time. Penstemons and heibaceous phloxes are most desirable plants to have, and the present is a gooc" time to plant them, either by new stock oi dividing existing stools and planting in deeply-worked soil into which manure has been freely added. FUUIT GARDEN.— AII young trees recently planted should be securely staked and tied, as often much damage is done to newly-planted trees by wind the first year. A stout stake well driven homo and the tree tied with some soft tys is all that ia necessary. Raspberry beds should he cleaned of weeds, and a good mulching of long stable manure applied. Strawberry beds must be kept free from weeds Grafting of fruit trees should be completed during the present month. KITCHEN GARDEN.— Crops are now impioving very fast, as growth upon well-tilled ground is rapid. Slugs are very tioublesome, and if not checked in time much destiuction is caused to tender plants such as peas, cabbage, and lettuce. Nothing we know ie as efficacious as light dustings of newly-slacked lime, but these must be applied late at night. Asparagus beds planted the last season must be kept free from weeds by careful hand-picking among the crowns, or the crowns will be damaged with tlie hoe. It is most important for the development of this plant to encourage as much as possible the growth of foliage, a3 the more foliage there is the greater will be the root action, and to attain this object no crowns should be cut from an asparagus bed for at least two years from date of planting. A little patience is thus necessary, but the ultimate success of the bed more than warrants it. Sow seed of beetroot in drills the same as for parsnips, etc. To grow this root to perfection it should be grown in rich, firm soil, and must be sown in drills wheie the ciop xs to remain, as this root is spoiled by transplanting, except the round or turnip-rooted varieties, which transplant freely. The diligent gardener will now find ample work in thinning out and hoeing among his ciops, as this work should be done as soon as the plants are strong enough to handle, as if allowed to remain overcrowded for even a_ short time at this season the growth becomes very much weakened. Early planted potatoes will need to have the soil drawn up over the points if they are breaking tluougb tho soil, as they make rapid progress at this stage. Upon the approach of a frosty night the son should be drawn up over them as much as possible, or if available, a few branches of inacrocarpa trees form a splendid cover, raised a few inches from the soil, but they should be removed in tho morning as soon as the frost has cleared off. GREENHOUSE. — Fuchsias which were cut down some time since should now be ready for repotting; turn them out of the old pots, remove the crocks, shake off as much of the old soil as will leave the roots freely, and repot each plant into well-drained pots which have been previously washed inside and out. This, although a simple matter, is one of the most important with all pot plants. The soil to be used should be made light, rich, and somewhat sandy, and place the plants in a close place for a few days, and syringe overhead once or twice a day, which should be continued up till all are wanted for blooming. Air must be freely admitted to them after they have recovered the check of repotting. Pelargoniums must be kept growing by the help of liquid manure. If the pots are filled with roots, keep a sharp look out foi the qucsn tiy upon~thcse and calceolarias and cinerarias; fumigate them with tobacco paper as soon as the flies are detected. The first principle of growing heaths in pots is to give them as little artificial heat as possible, to place them so as to be fully exposed to the sun and air, and to pot only Y/hen the son becomes matted with roots. It is a common Practice to turn heaths out of doors for four .or fiv& months during summer and autumn. The wood thus gets better ripened, and is better able to resist §ie cold "4 T>»J«r. This trpo.tmput would not

bo necessary if they were grown in a house entirely devoted, to theni3elyes, as then a free circulation of air, -which is so necessary to tlicir well-doing, could at all times be allowed to play about them. It is only want of sufficient room which compels many to put out their heaths during summer and autumn. When placed in the open the pots ought tD bo plunged in the ground. This saves labour in watering, keeps the roots cool, and also saves tho plants from being blown over by the wind. The soil best adapted for their culture as good fibrous peat chopped into small pieces, with a hbcial supply of silver sand added. The plants should be very firmly potted, and as liberal supplies of water are required during the summer months, tho drainage must be petfect. Soil in which lime, iron, or any mineral is known to exist should be discarded, as heaths will not thrive in such soils. Besides their value as greenhouse plants, many of them are perfectly hardy, and make beautiful objects in the borders of the flower garden. Ivy leaf geraniums will require to bo potted into larger pots as the giowth proceeds, keeping the shoots pinched back to make compact dwarf plants. Upon all sunny days the greenhouse and fernery should be syringed overhead, and closed up early with a little sun heat.