OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Otago Witness, Volume 14, Issue 2648, 14 December 1904, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

FLOWER GARD.EN.— The work of fiJlinnp the vacant spaces in the flower borders •should be'attended, to as ths various annualsbecome large enough to allow of their bein^ transplanted with safety. Every morning or evening is the best time to plant out, or a dull day after rain; water the plants as soon as planted. If bright, sunny days occur before they have time to become established a slight jsliade should be afforded. Gladioli bulbs for ' - M c "ksp'ay of flower may still be planted. These bulbs require rather deep planting A bole should be thrown out to a good depth, a aew spadefuls of decayed manure placed in ;the .bottom, and,, well mixed with the soil; Tihe bulbs should be planted in this, and covered up with at- least, -Sin of- soil, there being no necessity to dig and stpre these - •binbs every year, and unless ' planted' aiair depth the young bulbs are soon exposed to the .weather. As the sun becomes hot and trying to recently-transplanted tree 3 and shrubs water should be applied to the soots occasionally, and much benefit wilf be" derived If the whole of the leaves are 'well sprinkled with the • hose after tide sun is off them, as ?his -treat- - menf refreshes the youig growth, and "they establish themselves inueh more miickiy and •with less failures. Dahlias are now coming away, and,should bs got into their places. The planting out of, chrysanthemums should ba finished before the end of the^inonth. ' KITCHEN GARDEiM.—Late potatoes shouM be planted out as, soon as possible, while all - earlier crops shotild be cleaned and hoed before • their growth is tor far advanced. All Idnds of tender vegetables whicb^are being- grown on under tlie protection of. frames should have abundance of light and air given them to harden them off prior- to planting out. Attention should ba paid .to celery plants, keeping • them clean and well watered, so as to have them large enough to plant out- as early as possible. In order to provide the bfcst-decayed manure for this purpose, a sufficient quantity should be ■ obtained and turned over in the neaps once or twice at intervals oi about a . week, well -wetting any dry litter; by this method a nruch better manure is formed than * by rising long green stable manure. A small ' sowing of Yeitch's autumn giant cauliflower ~jshould be made during the next fortnight; < these, if grown on during a, favotirable season, s should be fit to cut next"April. Savoy and selfprotecting broccoli should be sown at the Baine, sowing on rather poor soil, where water can J>e regularly applied as required. Although it is not advisable to promote a- too rapid growth while in the seed-bed, yet the plants should not suffer from any cheek; cauliflowers often "button" from this cause. In outdoor tomatoes soil is not so important as position; ordinary loam grotxnd will suffice, and. assistance 'can be given in the way of liquid manure at the root when the fruit is commencing -to. colour. Put the .plants out at a . distance of about 2ft apart (overcrowding i 3 unwise), and train each to • one single stem. , Regularly during the season remove lateral • growths, which overshadow the fruit and ■ or_e_ats a heavy burden for the plant. Water liberally if the weather is" very hot, and give liquid manure. .or a . mulch of well-decayed dung over the roots. This is of decided — assistance, as with each, watering manurial v goodness is washed down. Many pounds of ■ good fruit-can be gathered from well-managed plants in very small places. i FRUIT GARDEN:—AII strawberry runners ' should be. cut clean- off as soon as they appeal, and on beds whioh have been mulched any strong weeds -which have come up should, be pulled out, and on unnrulched beds the Dutch hoe should be frequently used; also ■■ among the raspberry canes all superfluous suckers should be cut away. Peach trees affected with ithe apiis should be well syringed with some effective insecticide, as injury is done to the tender growths by this pest unless | treated early. '