OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2667, 26 April 1905, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

KITCHEN GARDEN.— Preparations for forcing should be made where supplies of rhubarb, seakale. and asparagus axe wanted early. Where frames are- available they -can be filled with stable manure, leaves, and other light vegetable refuse which has been thrown 'nto a heap for fermentation. ' When this has become sweet it can be placed in the frames, and left for a few days to allow the heat to rise. By placing tlie roots of asparagus, rhubarb, aiid seakale upon this with a little soil round them, their fibres will soon be thrown out, and the crowns will begin to start in a few days. In "the absence of frames the fermenting material can be formed into a bed and the root* placed upon it, some rough boards being used to defend them from the weather a*di light. The earlier all the vacant plots can be trenched up in the autumn the better in every way. There is nothing like taking time by the forelock, and being ahead of the work whenever one can. Too much cannot be said about the importance and value of at least an annual trenching of all parts of the vegetable garden. If only in allowing the ground to become thoroughly permeated by the atmosphere the beneficial effects of trenching cannot be overestimated, while in addition it pulveitis.es the soil, and renders it more fit, mechanically, to be penetrated by the roots, as well is improving the drainage, etc. FRUIT GARDEN. — Autumn is a busy time in the orchard and fruit garden. The planting of new trees should be pushed forward as xap*d3y as possible, root-pruning should be finished immediately, and the gathering and storing of late apples and pears should not be delayed a, day longer than is absolutely necessary*. Pruning will also have to receive attention before long, and too much skill and. care cannot be bestowed upon this important operation. What a lot of haim is caused by unskilful or careless pruning! Some men slash away at a tree without rhyme or reason^ and leave it in a far -worse plight than it was before, and then call it pruning! If a man does not thoroughly understand his work it would be far better to leave the trees alone altogether. FLOWER GARDEN.— The planting of trees and shrub 3 may be safely proceeded with. Soses can be transplanted, and they will establish themselves better now than if the transplanting is deferred till spring. The surface protection of half hardy plants must not be delayed the best materal for the purpose being cocoanut fibre refuse, or old tan. In elevated districts or low-lying frosty localities such things as Salvia patens, cannas, and the borcter fushsias. which otherwise would be lost, will -winter safely if treated in this way. Many of the tendei tea. roses will also be benefited .by similar treatment, and will thus be enabled 4o survive many degrees of frost. In such •localities dahlias should be stored away m sand out of reach of the frost and damp. As tae Ibeds sre cleared of ther.r summer occupants, they can be dug, and hardy shrubs planted. JSTothin"- is more effectual in relieving the bare appearance of the beds in whiter than small plants of the neat cupressus junipers, golden yews, variegated hollies, enonymus, berberis, yuccas, etc. GREENHOUSE.— The period when ferns co to rest is not far off. and to get them into the condition to remain dormant during- the •Winter and to start again vigorously in sprmsf tho abundant supplies of water in which they Slave . delighted during the summer must be gradually reduced until the water as withheld altogether. No syringing overhead must be allowed or in the event of a low temperature the fronds will be injured. Pelargoniums of the zonale .section must be kept moderately dry and the dead leaves pecked off. Let them have plenty' of air on fine days to dry up the damp, which is always destructive to plants in a semi-dormant -state. Fuchsias should not be dried off; as is generally done. If they -are turned out of the pots a.nd plunged into the greenhouse border they will keep growin"» all the winter, and retain their leaves.