THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2720, 2 May 1906, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

FOR THE WEEK. } KITGHEN GABDEN.— The weather now taing most favourable to' the growth of all i sinds of weeds, a persistent effort should be J made to keep them under, or they soon become ! almost unmanageable and seriously affect the j growth, ci the crops. A sowing of early pea 3 j may be made with more freedom as soon as we ( are into the month of May^ always selecting a sheltered position on a border protected from the south winds, the object being to provide shelter for the flowers from early spring frosts. For. early crops sow Carter's Daisy/ Wm. Hurst, Stratagem, and Yorkshire Hero, and avoid making- the soil too rich by use of manure, as this causes a tender growth more liable to suffer from frosts. If the first sawing of broad beans has not been made, these should be . sown at once, or their chief .value as an early crop will be lost. Asparagus beds should receive attention as soon as the tops have died. These should be cut out quite close to the soil, ; carefully raking off all fallen seed, as on a well- | filled be:l these prove injurious if allowed to grow, and if any failures have taken place the position - should be marked with a stake for filling up- Jster. A good dressing of welldecayed manure should be givfin the bed, the wjtole lightly pointed ovei so as not to injure the crowns, snd the alleys ' between the beds ' should be cleaned up, so as to allow the escape ; cf all-surjace water during the winter. With- \ in the next three or lour weeks a good quan- ■ tity of cabbage, plants should be planted for ( uwttißg in early spring. The soil should be fairly ri<sh and deeply worked lor this crop, Dr growth at this season, will not be satisfactory. FLOWER GARDEN.— A good deal of cleaning up will be needed now on .the open borRers, as very many of the summer flowering plants are rapidly . failing. All euch as are annuals should be removed altogether, and perennials should be cut down, and .the borders jhould be dug over to give them a tidy appear- J nice. The present is a very favourable time lor planting out seedling pansies and other J nardy annuals, as they soon become estab- j fished and start at once into growth. Where ■ (he latter have been sown in clumps about ' the borders to furnish flowering plants, these should be freely thinned out, so as to have a lew sturdy plants which will produce a fine effect, which cannot be attai»,ed where the seedlings arc allowed to overcrowd each other. The work of laying out or preparing new ground for planting should be proceeded with so as to admit :of .early planting. Eatlyplanted narcissi and other blubs will be making their appearance Above the soil. This should be kept free from weeds, so as to destroy the harbour for slugs, which are so destructive among these, plants. Further planting* of bulbs should now be made. Tulips especially are suited -to making a bright dieplay of colour in spring, and a free use should . be made of- them, and -also of ranunculi and Sunemoiies. .Where the last-named have been, fcaiaed from seed, the ,youpg" plants should be planted. out into their flowering positions in 4he, front-lines of the border, or if grown in larger "quantities -plant Jihem' in small Tieds. Chrysanthemums will-continue to make a good oaplay fox. some tune...-. Advantage should be taken of the 'flowering season v to carefully go over the borders with s view of improving the collection, as the Tiuinber of varietiea are' now so great and so similar. Any inferior, kinds, should be discarded and other kinds showing on improvement on existing sorts should be *d.ded to the collection. i

GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES.— As the summer flowering plants go off, the space should be filled up with such plants as pelar- i goniums, cinerarias, primulas, etc., which -will j now require moro room, and should be- kept in j a healthy growing condition, and as required mere apace should be afforded, as any check to root' action will at once affect the growth of j foliage. A sharp look out for green fly must : be -kept* up, and on Ha first appearance the j plants should be dipped in some insecticide i "or fumigated, with tobacco smoke, as if these flies are allowed to increase the health of the plants is soon ruined. Seedling calceolaria should Be potted up. into small pots is soon as they have four or five leaves. -These plants require very .cool treatment, and should be 'kept' > shaded. -front brigli't sunsijine. In .all cases where gloxinias, tuberous-rooted begonias, «tc, are ripening off the plants should be placed on a shelf or in a dry store where no water can reach them during their resting period. .These are~frequently placed in positions in which they suffer from drip, and, as a consequence, when examined in spring many of the best varieties axe decayed. Palms that have been used for table decoration for some time should be sponged and returned to the greenhouse. Two sets of these fine decorative plants give the most satisfactory results. As the nights are now getting cold it will be advisable to close up the greenhouse and other glass sturctures early in the afternoon to prevent the .young 'plants from injury that would happen from a sudden - change in -the temperature. All climbers and other plants that have been trained as a shelter during the summer should now be cut back to admit light and the sun's warmth, which^will be fully required during the next four months. The .soil required for potting different kinds of plants should be collected in a rather dry state before heavy winter raii»B begin. If required for heaths, boronias, bouvaidias, pelargoniums and azaleas, it should be raturally light and fibrous, that taken from an old pasture being the best r as ii is very sweet and well filled with fibre. The surface to a depth of saj 3in or 4in is the best, as it is filled with grass and other roots, which soon decay. This, if mixed with- onefourth or fifth of old dry cow manure, broken up quite fine, will be quite suitable for any ■ of* the.above-named planish - Nothing* rank or b fresh in manure should be^placeel near the roots 'of this class of- "^plants.