OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2690, 4 October 1905, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

■ FLOWER GARDEN.—The planting out of «hrysantliemumg should" now be completed. A little consideration' should be exercised in: the selection of positions for. the "several varieties, •specially where they arei being grown for the purpose of exhibition,' or^ having as many as -possible in bloom at certain dates. Early Borts should be kept in the shaded .paTt of a* ibed, while the .-later 1 kinds (which it is often. r difficult matter'to have out in bloom before the autumn frosts set in, it frequently hap•■pening 'that many of the finest .flowers are lost), can in a great measure be saved by care in planting and subsequent' treatment. Nomahure soouTd be'giveri now uhless,the soil is .very~poor;. this is better -added from time to time-latef Jon, so "as to have the 'plants always in a growing state. Care;should be taken to »ecure_ the names of tlie- various- lands by .fixing -permanent labels to each; as there is great risk of small labels' getting lost or misplaced in "hoeing or working between the rows, &nd if once misplaced great inconvenience is .the resultt later orr-in -the season. Plants 'of »stefs,-~ziiinias,' andr-Ph.lcjc Drummondi, sown early, jstre iiow large for planting out in' the,ir- flowering position * in the mixed borders. "Aster seed for flowering may be EowrirMvhere they are to bloom and duly ■thinned but. tA§ the hyacinths and other early, b^lbs-fgb^ut of bloom the decayed -spikes should-be removed and not be allowed to seed; the should be encouraged to fully develop,/ as this depends the "maturing of., the bulbs for- another season's "flowers, which demand the assistance of all the""leaves made; none should be cut away until tliey die .cffc-jiaturally," when ike bulbs may either'-tfe lifted, and stored in dry sand, ,or left in the borders. It "is not necessary, as some amateurs appear to think, that the -bulbs should be lifted each year; when the clumps ■'become very much crowded they may Tfith ~ advantage, be" lifted, replanting at the -proper season. $ _ KITCHEN "GARDEN.— A small sowing of iWalcheren cauliflower should be made now, fes this, with a favourable season, should be "fit to ciit in March. A large sowing of autumn giant should be made about the end pf the month for cutting in April and May. It will still be necessary to protect tomatoes, regetable marrows, etc. Potatoes should be earthed up as soon as fit, -wliich will greatly tend to protect from frosts. ." GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES, Etc.— Uucli more moisture will now be necessary in the greenhouse. During bright sunny days fhe floors and stages sfcould he damped down n v the middle of the uay. All plants of pelargoniums, fuchsias, and petunias which haye -their pots well filled with roots should aave a weak dose of liquid manure given them once a week, and it will be especially necessary to see that green fly is not allowed to infest the plants. If sprayed •frequently with an insecticide or common soft soap, using 2oz of the soap to the gallon of ■water, they can be kept clean. Fuchsias

should be pinched back to keep the plants I compact, but pelargoniums must now be allowed to produce their blooms, which are just showing; any further stopping will delay flowering till very late in the season. Tubar-ous-rooted begonias must be watered with the can while they are poorly rooted, giving more .moisture as their growth increases. They must not be kept too close, or a weak growth will result. Calceolaries are now advancing rapidly, and if extra large plants are desired a few of the forward ones should have a further shift. Azaleas which require repotting should receive attention immediately .{hey gcT'out of flower; pick all the seed vessels off arid, shift into just one size larger "pot's;" rain the soil quite firmly about the ball.- These should in no case be over potted, 'as' hard-woodeS plants will not thrive if "the • soil 'about them becomes sour,, which it must do if pots of too large a size are i employed. i VINERY. — The temperature should be j about 70deg. during the day and near 60deg. at night. The berries should be thinned out, care being taken not to cut the shank, the scissors being kept as close as possible to the berries. The powdery bloom on the berries should not be touched, as it preserves \ them from injury by water. Stop a-11 lateral growths and secondary shoots, and moisten j the trunk daily to maintain a warm, moist j atmosphere*