OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2675, 21 June 1905, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

VEGETABLE GARDEN.— AII beds of asparagus should now be cleared off, if not already done, and a good mulching of manure, or of -seaweed and manure, given to a depth of from 2in to 3in. This will serve the double ~ purpose of keeping down the weeds and enriching the bed. If you wish to renovate an old bed, clear away the soil till the crowns are reached, and any decayed roots may then h& removed and. good plants put in. their place, covering over the whole with a good mixture .of fresh soil and manure, then over this laying a good mulching of manure, or manure and 1 seaweed, as described above. It should be ! •borne in mind that the natural habitat of . the asparagus is along the sea coast, and there- i • for© it must receive a fair amount of moisture, '• combined with free drainage. In choosing a place for the plant, the ground cannot lie too rich, but the drainage nius* ba good, and the ground well trenched to the depth, of from 2gin to 24in, and the more manure that can "iWrdug in during th« process of trenching the ibetter. The ground may then be laid off sn beds (sft is a very convenient width) and , the plants placed in three rows — one down the ! centre of the bed, and tke other two lft 6in j on either side, putting in the plants 2ft apart . in the rows. In fact, two rows would give ibetter results, allowing 2ft between plants and • i2ft between the rows. Then for the first and second year crops of lettuces or radishes may ibe grown down the centre and outside each. xow f .of asparagus after taking oS the rough, mulch, provided there is not too much salt ■used. Cabbages and , cauliflowers -should now .lie "planted oiit if this has not already b&en 'done, -And small sowings of each may be made lor successive crops. In well-sheltered nooks, ; with a somewhat dryish, soil, a sowing of peas • jtnight still be tried; 'broad beans may also be put'm if required. Any crops ought to receive all necessary thinning out as soon as they are large enough, to handle, and all weeds should be kept down — these should never be allowed to make headway. Onions -should now be thinned out, and as when transplanted they ■ yield as good a crop as when allowed to • remain where sown, it will be well, if the I ground is avilable for the purpose, to utilise the thinnings. Globe artichokes should now be divided and planted out at once, working j the ground well and using plenty of well- ! rotted manure. Seakale may also be planted . out where the ground is moderately dry; but ' if the ground is liable to be saturated with j water it will be better not to plant till later in the season. FLOWER GARDEN.— The general pruning of shrubs should be gone on with during this month, regulating the growth of such trees as are liable to grow out of shape. Pruning should be performed more with the knife than the shears, which are used much too often, producing the most unnatural- 1 locking shrubs. Pruning should have the effect ' pf assisting, not deforming, Nature, as is too frequently the case by shearing every shrub into a stiff, unnatural shape. A choice selection of herbaceous plants, combined with bulhoiis and tuberous-rooted plants, will not fail, if properly arranged and managed, to rnako their respective beds or borders gay for the ■ . greater part of the year. By the planting out , \ of a late batch- of bulbs, such as narcissi, hyacinths, freesias, tulips, &tc, a very useful \ late' supply of flowers will result, as there is ] iilways a scarcity between the main crop of J Bpring-flowering bulbs and the early summer t * flowers, wliicli this planting will in a measure ! shorten. Camellias that are growing in the ' open borders will be much improved by having J a dressing of fine bonedust lightly pointed in "* wound each plant. Care should be taken that 1 Ihe spade or fork does not injure Hie roots , 1 auring the opejatiqn. These plants gpow much \

ese Plants glow mut

I more freely if treated in this manner twice during the year, their growth being free from scale, which is so much trouble upon unhealthy plants. Where lawns have been sown down recently, as soon as the grass is well above ground the lawn should be rolled frequently, ©specially alter the heavy frosts, as these have a tendency to draw the grass out of the soil. Lawns may still be formed and sown down, and any old-established grass plots or lawns that have become bare, weedy, or -mossy should be renovated by adding fresh soil where necessary, digging in some welldecayed manure or bonedust;, and sowing the patches down with new seed. Lawns that have lost their usual vigorous growth may be much improved by giving the surface a good dressing of .bonedust, which is the best manure that can be used for the purpose, or a topdressing of short old stable manure, enough to partially caver the surface. This should be allowed to remain on. until the grass shows signs of starting in the spring, when the rough portion of the manure should be raked off, and a heavy roller applied, to render all smooth and firm for the mower. Pansies, wallflowers, phloxes, antirrhinums, and many other similar plants should now be strong enough to plant out in their permanent -quarters, where they will rapidly establish themselves, and come into flower earlier than if left too long in the seed beds. FRUIT GARDEN.— Pruning and planting will be the principal work to be done in this department for some time to come. WHen the latter is intended, it is necessary to plant early to secure the best results. Plantations of raspberry canes and strawberry plants may still be made. GREENHOUSE.— CarefuI attention must ba paid to watering during the present dull weather, as too much moisture in the greenhouse or frame is apt to cause plants to damp off. All dead or decaying leaves should V>o cut away. Air should be given upon all favourable days, avoiding cold, cutting winds ; it is better to allow the temperature to rise higher than usual than let the plants suffer from severe, cutting winds. Primulas and cinerarias which may be growing on for large plants should have the assistance of liquid manure if the pota are well filled with roots. All empty pots should be carefully washed and stored away in a dry place. This is to many an apparently trivial matter, but is of great importance in successful plant growing, as plants grow much better when clean crocks and pots are used. A plant potted into a dirty pot cannot usually be knocked out of th« pot when required for re-potting without either breaking the pot or injury to ther roots, which in the case of hard-wooded plants causes very much damage to be dtfne. A stipply of moss should also be procured during the winter for placing on the tops of the crocks or drainage in each pot, as it is useless putting drainage into a pot if not protected by some rough material on the top.