OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2433, 31 October 1900, Page 8

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

KITCHEN C4-ARDEN.— A so-wing of peas for ate use now being made should be sown in Junken trenches unless in gardens where there 3S an ample supply of water at command. More dependence should be placed i t pon French and kidney beans for late summer xise than upon. ,peas, while a trial sowing may be made of x roeas very late in the summer, as with the approach of cooler weather in autumn it is often possible to obtain a fair return, which at that season i 3 valuable. The autumn supplies of cabbage, cauliflower, savoy, and broccoli should now be sown, so as to have etrong plants ready for planting about the ■end of the year. The main crop of colery 'nhould also now be sown. A beet should be 'eel apart for this fine seed that is vary clean and free from weeds, and, after making the £oil very fine, the seed should be sown and topdressed with fine, sifted wood ashes, which will assist the growth, and at the same time keep off snany insect pests which attack 'the plants in a young state. Plants which were raised in ,-boxes and transplanted should soon bo l?a-ge enough to place in the trenches, which in | lie meantime should be prepared by throwing out to a good depth and digging into each trench 3in or 4in of well-decayed manure. ■If the trenches are thus prepared beforehand, , planting can be undertaken on the appioach 'of rain; the plants will thus at once start 'into growth, and shading will not be necesoary. If the main crop of onions has not had a dressing of soot, much improvement can be .effected at a small cost by the uss of soot •while the soil is moist. The surface should ;be broken up with the hoc and the soot partially "hoed in. The value of soot as a manure is not sufficiently appreciated; there are but few plants or vegetable crops that are not benefited by an application. I'RUIT GARDEN.— AII weeds between ..the rows of strawberries should be killed, especially among young plants put out during the past season, bui little fruit will bo produced j on the latter this season. The land should j "be well cultivated all the season, so that the ! plants can form and mature strong fruiting crowns for another season; the frequent use of the hoe between the plants will help them very much in this respect. The season so far 'has been very favourable for young trees starting into good growth, and where it is at all possible to give a rrmlehing of manure around each tiec it should be applied, so as to conserve tbe moisture that is at present in the soil. 7LOWER GARDEN.— Advantage should be taken of the moist stats of the soil to finish planting out all the many kinds of annuals, and at the same time make good any losses that ha\e occurred among such plants as vor"benas, petunias, summer chrysanthemums, etc. For making a good display of flowers plenty of aster 3 should be planted out, as they are of quick growth, and if fairly supplied with ' manure will thrive in any soil, v and for producing flowers in quantity and "lasting qualities are second to none among annuals. Roses will require some attention in keeping down the aphis and disbudding. GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES, ETC.— 'All kinds of plants which are in active growth .will from time to time require more room, as overcrowding should not be permitted — each jplant should, have ample room to develop its ioliage. Any plants it is desired to .grow on io larger sizes should be shifted into a size larger pots before they become potbound, •which gives them a great -check. Coleus are among the gayest of decorative piant3 for the summer and autunn months. Those who do not possess s. heated house where they can be safely wintered should purchase their xjlaaits during November, as they can be bought for from Gd to Is each, and will make good planta for the summer season, when the flowering plants for the green house are getting very scarce. . There is net the difficulty that is generally supposed in wintering these plants; if kept quite dry and ay/ay from actual froats they will mostly all start to glow in the Vgring.