THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2913, 12 January 1910, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. FRUIT GARDEN.—Water should be given to peach and apricot trees which are in dry positions; if the watering is to be of any service to the swelling fruit, it must be a •thorough soaking, any mere surface waterings being worse than useless. Strawberry plants which have been a number of years planted, and show signsi of decay, should be dug up and destroyed as soon as the last picking of fruit has been made. It will be found much more profitable where fruit is grown extensively 'to plant out a bed each year, and destroy the older portions as they cease to produce heavy crops. The apace occupied should be broken up and exposed to the action of the weather, which will greatly improve it for part of February or March.

KITCHEN GARDEN—Growing celery will require periodical waterings in sufficient quantity to reach the roots, and as the earthing up proceeds this becomes a much more difficult matter. A good watering should be given prior to earthing up, as titer this is well advanced the moisture < ccs not evaporate so rapidly. Late crops < i celery should be planted out as soon as ue trenches can be prepared. During dry v.-cather newly-planted vegetables will require frequent waterings to keep them moving. Early-planted savoys, cauliflowers, and broc- < >li are now making a good growth, which must be encouraged as much as possible by keeping the surface soil frequently stirred with the hoe. This conserves the moisture ill the soil to a large extent, and is preferable to artificial watering until this is actually needed,- when a gcod soaking should ba given. Preparations should be continued towards having a good space of land ready for planting out during the coming month, t 3 tho main crops for winter supply should then ba put out. On early soils onions shown for pickling are now rapidly ripening; these should be pulled and left for a few days to dry, when they should bo taken in for use. All early potatoes- which have, ripened off their growth should be dug and etored as soon as convenient, as any heavy rains which may occur will tend to start rii-em with a second growth, much to their ' etriment. Where seed-saving is resorted ;.•>. all tall and top-heavy growing varieties, .' uc-h as carrots, parsnips, and onions, kept for t-aed should be well secured by stakes and ties, or much of the best seed will be broken off and destroyed. The growth of cucumbers and vegetable marrow 3 must be kept up as vigorously as possible by copious waterings. If these axe suffering from drought they rarely pay for the land they occupy. A weak application of liquid manure " will greatly assist them.

FLOWER GARDEN When accompanied •with dry weather, high winds are very unfavourable for plant life, hence the importance of keeping a.U plants well tied up—or with trailing plants, such as verbenas, etc., pegged down securely. As but little planting cut will require to be don© on the .flower borders for some time, efforts should ."be directed towards keeping or prolonging the flowering- season by picking all seed vessels .and faded flowers clean off, and pulling up and removing all annuals, such as-early-flowering _ stocks,, as they go out of flower. 'Dahlias will be much improved ! by the application of liquid manure. That made from cow manure is as good as any for this purpose, being cool and mild. Mamy of the chemical manures are too strong and dang&rous to be used by amateurs unless a series of experiments are made to ascertain their strength, which varies very consi-ierahly in different samples. Care shoidd be taken to see that such, plants •«9 rhododendrons, ericas, and camellias are not allowed to suffer from of water, especially such as were planted out in spring, a» these plants are meat impatient of drought at the roots. Asters for the autumn display are now growing freely, and ehould not be allowed to suffer from any pause.

GREENHOUSE, FRAMES, Etc.—Pelaijjjoniums which came into bloom early may now he past their best, and when no longer wanted in the greenhouse they should be exposed to sun and air to ripen their outBid* growth prior to cutting down. They must, however, be carefully watered and allowed to ripen gradually, retaining as much foliage as possible. Fuchsias and later pelargoniums should be helped by the frequent use of liquid manure. Cockscombs, as soon as the combs are growing freely, should be potted into 4Jin or Sin pots, and Jsept quite near the glass to keep them dwarf, which is an important point to aim at in their cultivation. Primulas, as soon as the plants are strong enough to handle, should be pricked out into shallow pans filled with a light, rich compost; they should he kept in a. warm, moist, and shady part of the gtreenhouse or frame for some time to encourage them to grow freely. Azaleas jund camellias, when the growths are finished, should be placed outside behind the shade of a fence, as the full power of the sun will foe injurious to them until hardened off. Gloxinias should bo kept shaded and moist. .These are among the most beautiful greenhouse flowers; but are seldom well grown £y amateurs, although of easy culture. When

t Well grown frJj.O'/ are always admired, and tibxfj grow well '?. a. close frame where they can got moisture and shade, and should bo abut up early in the afternoon with sun heat until they ore coming into flower, when . they should bo kept a little cooler, and i haa-dened off gradually so as to stand thegreenhouse.