THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 8

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK,

FLOW-ER GARDEN.— The planting out of Strong seedlings of pansies, polyanthus aui-icu-ias and other similar plants should be proceeded with. It should be remembered with ■Ithe approswh of the wet weather that nothing ''is gained by working the soil while in a wet condition. There should now be ample spaces 'available, vacated by the faded summer flowering annuals, for the further planting Wt of spring flowering bulbs. The earlier '■narcissi are now appearing I™ icround, and where these have been Panted ieevera-l years some well decayed manure should r jbe dug around each clump, as these are strong feeders, and the number and quality of the iflowws are much improved by hbsral treatiKnect. The seed beds of early sown hardy knnuals should be carefully hand weeded and vikept quite free from weeds so as to have strong, ißturdy plants for planting out as early as mossible. As a decorative plant for the autumn, ; .the cannas are very useful, and should be more ICeneral'y planted, as at this season they are >/cry gay with showy flowers, and their foliage 'ftias a fine tropical appeaiance, giving a good effect where freely employed. For large gardens, planted freely upon the borders and m single plants upon the lawn, nothing can surpass them, as they are always fresh from November till cut of by frosts, which do not (kill them, as thoy start again after winter. Ihe work of dealing oSoctually v.-ith the weeds will Clow become' more serious, as the moist Siate Itof the weather will be so lavourable to their Igrcwth, so much so that hoeing does but little lgood, and in most cases it will be found to be itmost effectual to lightly point over the surface land bury them at once. The forming and [flaying out of new gardens where necessary lishould occupy early attention, as during the imext' month the weather is generally settled and and thus admits of planting being '-mndeitaken before the dead of winter Beta m. FRJTIT GARDEN.— The planting out of "'tetrawberry plants should- be gone on with, and if strong plants are employed some return may («be expected next spruig. The planting out of r tiaspberry canes may also be proceeded with, 'fas it is not necessaiy to wait until the leaves tare fallen before starting to transplant. Where 7<the canes are obtainable the present is a good 'time, as they rapidly become established. In •selecting a situation for raspberries, due regard '(should be paid to a moist position, and, if 'possible, they should be planted near the water teutsply, as in dry seasons the success depends entirely upon moisture. After a strawberry t'bed has been in bearing three or four years ,th.ey rarely pay to keep, it being more profitable to form a new bed, as joung vigoious (plants are much more profitable. t KITCHEN GARDEN.— By this time most 'to. the principal winter crops of cabbages, cauhSfiowers, brccoli, spinach, turnips, etc., should Shave been planted, and as the weather is favourable to the giowth of these no time should iibe lost if the work is not yet completed. Many W>f the earhei lots of the cabbage tribe are not well owing to the spins which attacked fohexa. previous to the rain. In some cases it •will be necessary to still root out and replant »with healthy young plants rather than depend Jupon such as do not show a sign of vigorous growth. Celery may still be planted for early tepnng use. In all cases the trenches should ibe heavily manured, or they will not produce heads of crisp celery. As soon as enough, a few plants oi the winter cos (lettuce should rje transplanted on slightly raised " ."beds, if possible, as m the depth of winter these • '(plants are impatient of too much stagnant twater ?bout their roots. If not already sown an sufficient quantity, onion seeds should be asown as previously advised tor early spring transplanting, a-lso^for use as salads. A start may now be made to clear off all rubbish from ithe rhubarb beds, and give them a thoiough . good deep digging. Digging m all the loose manure that was applied last spring as a mulch. As soon as the digjfSng is complete, a mound of - .(manure — gTeen is to be preferred to that which 'Ihas been decayed— should be placed upon each crown as a winter protect. on, as well as a (fertiliser, and treated thus a much earlier crop as procuied than when left exposed throughout the winter. A stait may also be made to plant out new beds of young loots oi divisions »f tlie above.