THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2410, 10 May 1900, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR 'THE WEEK.

KITCHEN GARDEN.— In making oi:t the sesd lisb for next season those coHs of vegetables which liave done best in the soil and locality should be ordered. Where a particular kind of pea, for . instance, has yielded good results it should be adhered' to, so as to prevent disappointment. Many new varieties annually offered to the public arc worthless here, and should never be depended upon until they have been proved. Broad beans may be sown no-.v where the soil is light and tlie situation warm; also a few lows oi peas can be put in of the first early varieties, such as" Kentisn invicta, but on cold, damp soils or o^i clay lands anywhere it will be a waste of seed and labour to do so. In exposed situations _ some protecting material, such as a short Utter, should be got ready; a few pea sticks form a good foundation on which to pl'ice the litter ior sheltering lettuce, celery, etc., from the iiost. " Trenching ought to be begun, or, better still, continued, wherever the slate of the soil 'allows of such work being performed m a fatistactory manner. Leave fie f-iiiifcc p« ic\igli a3 possible to atmosphereic influences during the winter, and -take care i.ol to bring up a •heavy or sour siVb;oil to the top m ?uy quantity, but leave each layer where li v, as before. TSTow 5s the time to prepare bed= £oi parsnips, carrots, and other desply-penclratmg rcct ciops, ior manure worked in now will :ot only b" •well decayed and mellowed by the spruig, but ,preity well incorporated with the bulk of the sell also. Ground .to be cropped with potatoes will ako be far better dug and manured how than at planting time. FLOWER GARDEN.— The lifting and .storing of dahlia roots should be proceeded with, especially of choice varieties. MfJty of the strong groweus are frequently left in ilie ground and they escape the irost without iTsk. In the higher altitudes it is, however, necessary to place a little mulching material over the crowns. The names of >th* dahlias must be secured to, the stem with lead whe, 'and the ■tubers should be plunged in sand in a dry place, ' secure from frost. Complete dryness is -not advisable, as it will cause the. smaller tubers to shrivel up and lose all vitality. The 'aubrietias, arabis, and pansies for spring Talooming must be planted without delay, so as to enable them to get established befoie the cold weather sets in. Severe frosts may be ■expected now at any time, and unless plants can get sufficient roothold they will be lifted out of the ground by the action of frost. Winter aconites, crocuses, snowdrops, turbans, arid other i-anuncuii, and Spanish and English iris, should be planted at once to enable them to start whilst there is warmth in the soil.

GREENHOUSE.— Where root climbers arc grown it will be necessary to thin out superfluous growth, and any shoots which can be cut away altogether, to give as much light as jiessiblc to the plants on the stages. The tuberous-rooted section of begonias is now going to rest, but should not be dried oil too rapidly, as the leaves and sterns are still doing work in maturing the tuber. A dry slieif is perhaps the worst place they could bs put on. A cold frame where frost can be excluded will keep them iii just the state of dampne&s they require. They will aIEO winter fairly df the pots are plpced on their sides under the stages. "Lilies which have been repotted should "be plunged in a bed oi leaves or old tan, to prevent the soil becoming too dry. Look over calceolarias in frames frequently to see that the fly has not got hold of them ; to keep these plants clean it is necessary to fumigate them once a week and give ail the air possible.