OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 2808, 8 January 1908, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

KITCHEN GARDEN.—The earlier 'sorts of jOtatoes being upw^ quite ripe,. they should m got out of the ground as soon aa «nd stored away. Select the large tubers &r ~ -^c, the smaller >bei-g placed in any £try aL«d to get well dried *nd green for rd. Onions, garlic, shallots, should also taken up when the tcps -je brown, and Jfcread out thinly on bags "to dry previous to poring.' It is of great., importance* to take ttp bulbs and tubera""inimedi«t6ly they besome dormant, as - a shower" of rain in the present heated condition of the soil will >tart -them into action again; lifted in- this condition, their keeping qualities are nearly destroyed. Earth,up celery, and take care that there ** plenty of moisture at the roots; when earthed up there is -very little chance t>l .rater reaching the* roots* from, the surface. Generally", lettuce h«j been in good condition, But it j" «dVi*iibl« to mulch' the cos Varieties ' witli Lalf-Totton ffia.-nm:e, giving occasionally a fccee supply of .•water. Prep jure groi<n* for t'a* main crop

of autumn-sown onions, winter spinach, cab- | bage, and lettuce. i FLOWER GARDEN. — The sedums or stone crops are not so extensively grown as they , deserve to be; they require little or no ' attention, will grow on mounds or turf walls, I and are not affected by drought or damp. Although some kinds are tender and require to be placed under glass in 'winter, the majority of the varieties are hardy, and it is proposed to enumerate those which are most suitable io the purpose. Some are very dwarf, such as S. acre, with bright green foliage and yellow flowers; S. Europceum has bright green foliage in spring, changing to brown, and the flowers are white-; S. coccineum has large brown leaves with lovely trusses of ruby-coloured bloom ; S. spurium has neat foliage with pink blooms, and the orange S. i£amschaticum has distinct handsome foliage. The finest of the stone crops is S. spectabile, which blooms about this time. It grows about 12in high, has large, massive leaves, and huge panicles of rose-coloured blossoms. Altogether, the sed'umis are well worth a place in" any garden, as they are sure to please from their ability to remain, uninjured by wind or extreme variation of temperature.

GREEJSrHOUSE.—A tasteful arrangement of foliage plants with such blooming subjects as are at command will in some measure compensate for.the paucity of flowering plants at this season. Give Balsams plenty of good soil to grow, in," a pinch of artificial manure occasionally when the pots are full of roots', and fine heads of double flowers will be secured. The tendency to come single is generally owing to want of generous treatment. To prolong the flowering '.season of fuchsias it is a good plan to cut back a few of the specimen plants after they have thrown the first crop of bloom. Remove as much of the top of the soil as possible without injuring the roots, and replace it with fresh growth. These will come in about March and April, when the larger plants are getting shabby. The old fuchsia fulgens seems to be quite .aeglec\ed, but there is nothing like it. in flower and foliage, and it is a continuous bloomer.

FRUIT GARDEN.— The soil for several i feet around young trees should be broken up with the fork, so as to allow of the trees getting the benefit •of the moisture now in the soil, except such x trees »s have been mulched. These will not require any attention, beyond pulling out any large weeds which may chance to push through the manure. Peach, apricot, and nectarine- trees which are being grown against a wall should now have , the young shoots laid in close to the wall. With peaches and' nectarines as much young wood as possible should be, re- i tamed without overcrowding, and the lower ' portion and centre of the trees should be ' kept well furnished -with young wood, which . should be allowed to extend to their fullest extent. All shoots not required for -filling in or for extension should be cut off with a sharp knife within ' half an inch of the base. The weather has greatly favoitred the work of budding fruit stocks, and an early effort should be "made to complete these, especially "all kind's of stone fruits, which require the first attention, the stocks being in good condition .for working, as the sap is moving freely. » The ' ties should - be examined in -about a fortnight^ and loosened, as the stocks swell- very - quickly at this season, 1 and if care is not exercised the buds are injured in a short time' Strawberry beds' should be cleaned up after fruiting; all dead leaves and runners should be cut away, leaving, a portion for the supply of runners for next season's planting when required.* 1 These should have-some little. attention in watering and keeping. free from weeds, so as to ensure strong plants, which should l be fit for'planting out after the first heavy rain in April. Such plants may be expected to produce a fair crop of fruit next season.