OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2516, 4 June 1902, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

FLOWER GARDEN.- A start should now Toe made in propagating the chrysanthemums foi another season. Even where these popular 'autumn flowers are grown for garden decoration only, it is quite worth -while renewing Jtne plants each season by striking cuttings, «s much more vigorous plants are the- result, end consequently a finer display of bloom. The J3atest flowering, varieties should ba fch« first to ■;3D?ceive attention, select tng strong, healthy Jsuckors, which, .should be- made into cuttings jan'd inserted into veiy sandy soil, "and placed SB a cold- frame if oai is available, failing which gplace in a sheltered and shaded position vi the ,opeh a"ii. After well watering the cuttings fihey will not require much attention for eeveo>l -tveek3, beyond a casual examination to pick )off any decaying leaves to prevent them dampring off. Care is necessary to keep each sort separately, named, as mistakes are very easily 'made at this season, and are very annoying later on when too late to remedy. After all fh.c vaiielies have had cuttings taken off the old stools, they should bo removed and detetroyed, so as to enable the soil to be dug up uud exposed to the weather for the winter. /The alcove treatment is much better than "the pld style at this season oi the year of taking a. division of each and replanting at once, as twheu kept as cuttings they are more under control, and not being planted o\it until well tooted and the weather has become warm, growth sets iv at once, and the plants re- - peive no check. The work of planting out should be carried on whenever .the stata of the soil is favourable, and on no account should any planting be done while the Soil i; wet and sloppy, as the roots resent this treatment and do not take kindly to the soil when worked in sucb a condition. The present season 13 a favourable time for planting cut various kinds of heaths, than which tio more beautiful oi useful plant adorns our gardens. With a. careful selection they can be bad in fldwer Unoughout the whole year. They require very little attention beyond keeping them supplied with watei during the summer and cutting them back freely after they have finished flowering. The best sorts to' plant are Hybrida, Cavcndishi, Wilmoreana, Bowienna, Hyrmalis, Cerinohmoidcs, Coronata, and the Vcctricosas. Those last-named kinds get slightly nipped v/ith the frost ; but it does not injure them voiy much, as they break out into growth again and flower profusely.. All the heaths require a sandy soil to grow in. Were ,the ordinary soil of the garden is at all stiff or heavy, remove -a barrowful of soil and replace with a mixture of peaty, sandy soil, such as the wild heath or c-pacris is found growing ■"• in-; mix this well with a portion of the surrounding soil, and olant out the young plant in the centre. Dryness at the root is the principal cause si Ik© iajluie »l j&e icatfi. boro^a.

azalea, and other similar plants which are \ery finely rooted. If once allowed to become leally dry, the chances aie that the plant will d:c, as all the fine fibious roots are killed.

FRUrr GARDEN.— The pruning of all kinds of fruit should now be gone on with, as also the planting out of young trees or the formation of ne\s oichards. The earlier the trees me planted tho better their chance of becoming established before the drj weather sets in next season. Gooseberries, currants, and other small fruit may also be planted out during this und the next two months. Pruning can be gone on with when planting cannot be followed up, and all shoots and cuttings should be gathered up and burnt. In pi uning young tree-, discretion should be used so as to lay the foundation of the future tree; select strong, well-formed leaders so as to secure a wellbalanced hca'd. Too much length of wood must not be left at any one season, or there will remain too long a space unfurnished with .spun, as the buds will not break the whole length of long shoots. Peaches and nectarines do not icqiure such bard pinning as is given to moat other trees; as much healthy young giowth as possible should be retained," cutting away the older growths, as these fruits bear upon the growths of the previous season, and if care is exercised in cutting out the branches a. 'succession of healthy growths will result, as latent buds will start from the base, and continually furnish the lower paits of the tree, which should be aimed at.

KITCHEN GARDEN.— AII vacant spaces should be cleaned off without delay and dug over rouglily, -so as to 'cave as much of tho surface as possible exposed to the action of the weather. The winter soil thus treated more than pays for the extra labout expended upon it, as spring crops thrive much better m such soils. If weeds are allowed to grow upon vacimt beds at this season, much tioublo is given later on with slugs, as these increase rapidly Tinder the shelter thus afforded. In dry situations, especially where water is not available during the summer, efforts should be road© to trench a portion of the kitchen garden each season, as if trenched irom 18m to 2-lin deep vegetables of all descriptions will do better, and will not need water to anything like the extent which ia absolutely necessary upon shallow soils. Amateurs should take care, however, to retain the surface soil on the top, us we have seen toil rendered almost valueless through bringing to the surface unworkable EHbsoils. The winter months afford a good Opportunity for such works, as more land is n'Mv vacant. A second sowing of broad beanj» should mow be made; either broad Windsor, longpod, or Mazagai art suitable. Where slugs are troublesome among newly-planted cabbage and cauliflower, the plants should be dusted late at night with fresh-slaked lime. Unless tho lime can be applied thus while the slugs are feeding, its application as a preventive is useless, as after it has once been damped they will travel over it without injury. It is a good plan to occasionally sow fie&h bran on the ground between the plants, then the second night sow lime all over. The slugs will feed greedily on the bran, and be out from under leaves, etc , and so the lime will have more effect.