OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2604, 10 February 1904, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

2ITCHEN GARDEN.— The clearing away ©I all old crops, jtc . so as to have all the available ground prepared to receive the winter crops is necessary, as a considerable planting out of broccoli, cauliflowers, savoys, and cabbages should take place. To secure the best results from such crops the soil chould bs well manured, notwithstanding the fact that the previous crop was wel' manured, as all such ■vegetables require to bo grown as quickly as ■possible, and tc attain this end tha soil should be deeply worked and well manured. All similar crops planted earlier should not bs allowed to suffer from wantrof weter. Celery will need constant attention to keep it earthed up as the growth proceeds. It should never ba allowed to suffer from- drought, or it will become Btringy. As required, continue tc sow sucoeseional supplies of all kinds of sala&mg, also 9 small sowing c£ cabbage, savoy, and late broccoli. Spinach should now ba sovn on deeplyprepared beds well enriched with manure fcr .the previous crop. After sowing, rake lightly Ito oover the seed, then cover the whols of the eown surface with a light covering of halfdecayed manure ; this will prevent the rapid evaporation of moisture tiud keep the surface Boil from becoming caked or set. Kidney beans which are in bearing should have carefui picking, as if any pods aic xjcimittcd to be-come seedy the further cropping will ba interfered •with. If seed is required, a portion of the b?d should be set apart foi this purpose, an<? tho ■whole crop must not bs thus spoiled, as is too often the case. At this s&ason it frequently happens that more beans are produced dunug a few weeks, when the plants arc i.i full tsaring, than at othei times, and thus the danger of- a jontimious supply is interfered with. If rot required foi use the over supply should hi clo3e!v picked. FLOWER GARDEN. — Roses that were budded should have the ties loosened so as to prevent them cutting into the. bark, and this must be repeated' onoe or twice before they can be finally removed. Roses are at tins time cf the year liab'e to be affected with mildew, and some varieties tire very subject to this fußgTis. The plant- should be lightly sprinkled with water andl then .veil dusted with sulphur, which, if repeated onoe or 'twice, ■wiji cure the worst cases. It is important that this should be attended to, as unless the foliage is kept healthy tho wood for next year's blooming will not be properly matured. All aunuals that are past their best should be e'eared away, or th^y give^the garden an untidy appearance. Such as are being saved for seed purposes should be gone ove. occasionally, as many kinds ripen their seeds very rapidly after passing a certain stage, and the seech ar soon Host. Carnations and picotees that were layeied a few weeks ago must be kept free fiom wcrcl* and regularly watered eft th^j v ill fail to io->t. 3?ansie9 should now be cut back close and 'as the. young shoots attain the lengrtk of abcut Sin a few cuttings of each variety that is considered worth keepirg should be taken. Insert tho cuttings in pots of sandy soil, and keep in •a close frame for a few weeks, when they should ,l>e struck. Dahlias must be kept tied tip to their stakes, or much injur3 will bs done to them during windy weathe:. If extra good are wanted, thin the shoots and apply 'liquid manure to them twice a week. All tallgrowing plants should, bs kept securely tied up, or many of the best growths will be damaged during the present windy reason. Verbenas should have all the old flowers cut away, and some 'fresh, rich soil introduced arncr.g the liealthy growths to induce them to push out fresh roots, after which a fresh growth will result, flowering up till cut away by frosts. Chrysanthemums will now bo producing lateral growths freely, prior to foiniing flower buds. If large blooms are preferred to quantity, these side shoots should be thinned out, as aia.turally the chrysanthemum produces many more buds than can be perfected, hence the nenespity of thinning out When top dressing has been delayed it should be at oace attended to, dressing with decayed stable manure.

GREENHOUSE & FRAMES.— AII kinds of pelargoniums, if they have been properly treated, should be ripe enough for cuttirg by the second week in February. Azaleas, if not already turned outside, should be ready by this time for the change. As it is necessary to expose them to more light and ah as soon as their flower buds are set they should be placed in a somewhat open position, being shaded from the midday sun. They require careful attention in watering, as if once allowed to become dust-dry they will lose their foliage and fall into bad health. Cinerarias and primulas that were placed two or three in a pot should ac potted off singly as soon as the roots are running freely round the pots. The best place for them during the hot weather i^ in a shady bush house, kept well up near the light. They should have a slight syringing morning and night, and if any green fly appears upon them they should be at once dusted or dipped in some insecticide, as if dice dimaged by these insects the plants seldom thrive. A further sowing of these should bs made for late blooming plants. A small sowing of calceolaria should b3 rua-de during th's month. It is advisable to make two sowings of a packet of seed, as often, from varioaa causes,, the first sowing does not grow satisfactorily, and by making two sowing? two chances aio seemed. In sowing this seed the pan<? should bo carefully prepared, and upon the top veiy flnoV.

sifted soil should bo used. The pans when filled must be watered vith a iii.c rcso watering can, and the seed sown must onjy have a little fine sand sprinkled over it, and the pans should be covered with a sheet of brown paper to exclude the light and air until the seedlings appear above ground. The pres-ent is a good time for taking cuttings of fuchsias, selecting the young shoots that have not, flowered. A fey/ plants of ti'ee carnations should be procured and potted up and. giown on for v. inter flcwe-iing, for -which purpose they aie well rdapied, aiid niake a fine change from tho bouvardiias, zonal© geraniums?, etc., usually employed. All varieties of ferns should now b9 at their best, and will continue to remain so if carofully supplied with moisture right up to winter.