OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2572, 1 July 1903, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

FLOWER GARDEN.— During the next few weeks roses of all kinds should bo planted. Whore the planting ia delayed further into the •winter they do not make the progress during tho first season they otherwise would. In pieparing a bed 'or border for roses exclusively, th» land should be trenched, breaking up the clay at th» bottom of the tTench, removing any layers- of hard sand or gravel which may be met with, and a very liberal dressing of halfdecay«d manure should be mixed well throughout the whole area of the bed. In planting out, any damaged or broken roots should be cut off clean above the injured parts. In planting, tho roots should be spread out in a natural manner, and the soil mode quite firm. The top growths* should not be cut back or pruned at the time of planting, as this should bo deferred for a few weeks, when they will require cutting pretty hard back. The firs' season after planting but few flowers of any value will be produced. Tho aim of tho grower should l>e directed towards laying a good foundation for the following year, as it is important that a good growth of strong wood should be produced before properly developed flowers can bo expected. During the present month tho propagation of chrysanthemumr should bo coninenced. It is impossible for the grower to produce good flowers from plants which are allowed to remain in the borders year after year, as they naturally produce far too many shoots. If conveniences exist, suckers or cuttings are best potted up for a time until well rooted, when they should be planted out. When tho plants aro grown in a bed or border by themselves after all the cuttings aro secured, the bsd should bs well dug aud left rough, so as to expose as much as possible of the soil to the action of the weather, which haa a good effeot upon it. It is far better to grow two or three plants of well-known sorts than to plant one of all that can bo procured without reference to quality. Even where they are only grown for border decoration a much better display will result when replanted every year. Where pansies are grown the >I<l plai>t3 should now be divided, as there should be a new growth of young and healthy shoots now slaitmg to ioot freely; these divisions will rapidly establish, themselves and bloom, very early in the spring. Seedlings that were pricked out into bods early in the season 6hould, a3 soon as large enough, be planted out where they aro to flower The Foil for pausies should not bo made too rich wit'B. manure, as this favours too soft a giowth at ■this time of Uio year, at the expense of Uie flowers. If any hyacinths ha\ o been kept

■which is destructive* among the young growth. They should be grown on in as cool a position as possible, provided frosts are excluded. Air should be admitted freely them, likewise all the light possible, as they must be kept sturdy and dwarf. Cyclamens should now furnish a few flowers, also cinerarias and primulas, all of which are improved by the application of weak liquid manure water. Begonias of all sections should be kept dry for some time, a.9 they should have _a good resting season. A sowing of many kinds of early annuals should now be made in the greenhouse or warm frame so as to have a few strong plants for early flowering. Careful watering will be necessary, and the house kept as dry as possible, unless heat is available, when more moisture will be required.