THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2860, 6 January 1909, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE "WEEK KITCHEN GARDEN.— Brown globe and similar onions that are well advanced In growth should have their tops sharply pei«t cr twisted down, so as to encourage !be growth of the bulbs. Pickling onions should be pulled up a3 soon as tb.e tops are flying off. AH l«nd which has been cropped onions should ba well manured again Brior to rep'-awi ting, as they are gross feeders *nd impoverish the land for a succeeding orop. A good sowing- of long spinach if jsiade now will come in r»pidly, an-d form a useful change. This vegetable should be sown toeax the water supply to obtain the best results, as it requires plenty of moisture. Sidney beans which »re now fit for use ftgould i»ve %U the beans picked off as soon « St. foT if tne^" ari allowed to become old f^ifl seeaV the plants will cea«e bearing pr«ajq*turely. Sucoeasiona.l sowing*, of theee niust l>« made from time to time «S required. Vegetable maTrOws and oucumbers should have % sprinkling of wiater overhead ©very night, ' «nd copious waterings at the root*, tts orwu *« necesaary, fls it is most important that these vegetables should make a rapid gfowib. fvkere the «*rly autunm crops have net yeb j>eeh planted much valuable' time has been lost, and the planting should be got in ttftd without deW, ot the supply of green, v«getublee will be very short during th« montna ot April and May. A» tb» weather becomes drier more wateT will be needed upon salads land growing crops 1 . FLOWER GARX>EN.— EarIy flowering i (plants of the taller section of asters should now have » slight stake placed to each and -tieA, na they are sure to fall over as thd feloozns oome into flower, and much of their

f beauty is lost from this cause. Ties* plants 1 ar© aM the better if a good watering of liquid manure is given them once a week ■ after ..they show tha flower buds ; if extra bloomtj are desired disbudding will have to be resorted to. As these flowers are among the most durable we have in the garden, they are well worth some little extra, care being token to secure the best results. The late flowering batch must be encouraged to grow as much as possible by keeping quite free of all weeds, and *the so.il loose and fr«e about them. Chrysanthemums' are now showing flower buds. These should, of course, be removed, and the growth allowed to extend. Tlie shoot 3 should be 1 kept securely tied, or much damage may i result from high winds. Among the an- ' nuals in the open borders, euch as stocks, j disnthus, srv-eet peas, etc.. the beauty oii the blooms can be prolonged if the faded flowers and seed pods are picked off onco a week fit least, as nothing mars the appearance of the bordeTS more than allowing these to Temain. Verbenas should be pegged down, and all flower growths on the golden feather, or Pyretbrum aurem, cut off as soon as they form, or all effect of rts distinct colouring is lost. Pants of erica, hybrids, Bowiean*. and? similar kinds -which are now past their best should have the flower spikes out well back, so ss to induce a vigorous new growth to s<tart fox producing next season's flowers. Bowieana. and its varieties should not be cut so severely as the others, as they- produce a, seconds supply of flowers later on in the present season. Plants of Boionia megastigma in the open borders are now growing freely, and if any "plants e!how an inclination to grow straggling or I«ggT the young growths may be slightly cut back, ao as to make the plants compact. These require to be regularly watered. as they resent anything aoproacaing a, drought; and, further, they should not have their roots disturbed during the growing season by deep digging or hoeing close in to the roots. GH'BENHOUSE AXD FRAMES.—Pelargoniums, fuchsias, and the early-flowering tuberous-rooted begonias at present constitute the main display of flowers, to sustain which! the plants should have «.n occasional watering oi liquid 1 manure and all old faded flowers picked off twice a week. No water should! now be given overhead to plants in flower behind t£e bud stage, but on hot days, if water is thrown on the floor and stages, a moist atmosphere will be maintained, which' is most congenial to the plants. Primulas sown as advised should now be large enough to place out singly into small pots. If no ■ small-sized pots are on hand or obtainable, it will be found better to place these plantsf ! around the outside of a 4in pot till they make a forward growth and are large enough to^eccupy a 4in pot each. No greater mistake can be made with these plants than overpotting them in the early stages of growth. They should ba given a somewhat close and! warm, position after potting off, and shade is essential. At this season of the year the red 1 spider frequently becomes troublesome upon young fuchsias and other plants. On the. first appearance the plants should be well sprayed underneath the leaves with, an insecticide, and afterwards kept well sprayed with pure water, which is fatfal to the in- 1 crease of this pest. VINERY.— The vines now require close , attention. See that the ties are not too tight; thin all bunches freely, and break off all young shoots. Allow plenty of ventila-