THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2652, 11 January 1905, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

FRUIT GARDEN.— Water, should be given ' to 'peach and apricot tre.es /which are in dry positions; if the watering is to be of any service' to the swelling fruit, it » must-' be a thorough soaking, any mere surface waterings "being worse than useless. Strawberry plants' .which heve been a-naumber of years planted, and show signs of dsecay, should be dug up - iind destroyed as soon as the last picking of, fruit has been made. It will be found much j anore profitable where fruit is grown exteneively to plant cut a bed each year, and destroy the older portions as they cease "to produce heavy crops. The space occupied should be fordken up and exposed to the action of the ..weather, which will greatly improve it for part of February or Marck.KITCHEN GARDEN.— Growing celery will require periodical waterings, in" sufficient quan,tity to reach the roots, and' as the earthing up (proceeds this becomes a. much more difficult Xnatter. " A good watering should ,be given prior j to earthing up, as "after this is well advanced ihe moisture does not evaporate so rapidly. Late 'crops of celery should be planted ,out as soon B3 the trenches can be .prepared. . During dry 'weather newly-planted vegetables 'will - require feequent waterings.' to\ Keep them ■ moving. Early ; r>laated savoys, cauliflqwers^.and broccoli _ _are now making a good growth, _ which must lbs encouraged as' much -as possible by keeping the surface soil frequently stirred with the >>tlioe. This -conserves- 'the moisture' in* the.^bdil"/to a large extent, andl'is- preferable to artificial /watering -until this is actually' needed, when a good-* soaking -should- be given. Preparations should be continued towards having a good space of land ready "for planting out during ithe* coming month, , as the -main crops for .-winter supply . should iflien be' put out." On early soils -onions sown for' pickling are now rapidly ripening; these should be pulled and left for a few days to dry, wlien they should toe _ taken in for use. All early potatoes which have ripened' .off their growth ehould be dug ,and stored as soon as con-venient,-as any heavy rains which may occur ■will tend to -start them, with a second growth, much to their detriment. , Where seedsaving is resorted to," all tall and top-heavy growing varieties, such as carrots, parsnips, and onions, kept for seed, should be well secured by stakes and ties, or much of the best -seed will be broken off and destroyed. The growth of cucumbers and vegetable marrows must be kept up as ■ vigorously as /possible by copious waterings. If these are Buffering from drought they irarely pay for the ! land they occupy. A weak application of •liquid manure will greatly assist them. * FLOWER GARDEN.— When accompanied with dry weather, high winds are very unfavourable for plant life, hence the importance of keeping all plants well tied, vp — or with trailing plants, such as verbenas, etc., pegged down securely. As butJittle planting out will ] Tequire'to be done on the- flower borders for .Borne time^ efforts ehould be directed to- . wards keeping or prolonging the flowering sea- ! - eon by pickings all seed vessels.' and faded flowers clean off, and pulling up and removing "all annuals, such as early-flowering stocks, -as tkey-go out of -"flower. Dahlias -will-be-mncb.- " improved by the application of liquid manure. !That made .front cow manure is a good as any for Jjjis purpose," being "cool and mild. Many of the chemical manures are too strong and .flangeroua to be used by amateurs unless j a series of experiments are made to ascertain, .their strength, which varies very considerably in different samples.. Care should be taken to see that such plants as rhododendrons, i ericas, and camellias are not allowed to suffer from want of water, especially such as were j planted out in spring, a* these plants are most Impatient of drought at the roots. Asters for the autumn display are now growing freely, and should not be allowed to suffer from any cause. . I GREENHOUSE, FRAMES, Etc.—Pelargoniums which came into_ bloom early may now be past their best, and when no lo_nger wanted in the greenhouse they ahoiild be exj»osed to ' sun and adr to ripen theii outside growth prior to 'cutting down. They must, •Jaowever, be carefully watered and allowed to ripen gradually, retaining, as much foliage as possible. Fuchsias and later pelargonium's ahould. be helped by the frequent use. -of liquid manure. Cockscombs, as soon as the combs are growing freely, should »c potted into 4jirT or shx pots, and kept quite near the glass to , Steep them dwarf, whiehis arf important point ]to aim at in. their cultivation. Primulas^ as jioon as the plants are strong enough to handle, jghould be pricked out into shallow pans filled ; ,iiyi§E"a - Jight "rich conrpost ; Ithey 'sh.ouM.'be/'kepji '. i '5n a warm,~ moist, a/nd shady, parfc^of the a greenhouse or. frame for sometime to" encourmg& them to grow freely. -Azaleas and camellias, j •when the " growths are finished, ] placed- outside TSaJrind the shade of a. fence', J ks the Ml power of the sun will be -injurious to them until hardened off. - Gloxinias "should be kep.t, shaded and' moist. These are among ] the most beautiful greenhouse flowers; but ire seldom well grown by- amateurs, although of easy culture. When well grown they are always admired, and they grow_ well j In a close frame -wher* they can get moisture *nd shade, and shotild be shut up early in j

the afternoon with sun heat until they are coming into flower, when they should be kept a little cooler, ancT hardened off gradually so 1 as to stand the greenhouse.