THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 2929, 4 May 1910, Page 10

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN.—The weather now being niost favourable to the growth of all kinds of weeds, a persistent effort should bo madr to keep them under, or they soon become almost unmanageable and serious y affect the growth of the crops. A sowing of early peas may be made with more freedom as soon ar we are into the month of May, always selecting a, sheltered position .; an a border protected from the south winds, ' the object being to provide shelter for the Bowers from early spring frosts. For early 1 crops sow Carter's Daisy, Wm, Hurst, ' Stratagem, and Yorkshire Hero, a-nd 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 sowing of broad beans has not been made, these should be sown at once, co: their chief value as an *arly 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 seeds, as on a well-filled bed these i prove injurious if allowed to grow, and if any failures have taken place the position should be marked ■ with a stake for filling up later. A good dressing of weJl- ! decaved manure should be given the bed, ; : the whole lightly pointed over so as no! to i injure the crowns, and' the alleys between ' the beds should be cleaned up, so as to ',' lllow the escarps' of all surface water during i the winter. Within the next three or four ■' weeks a good l quantity of cabbage plants should be planted for cutting in early spring. The soil should be fairly rich and deeply ■worked for this crop, or growth at this seaeon will not be satisfactory. FLOWER GARDEN.—A good deal of cleaning up will be needed now on the open borders, as very many of the summer flower<ftng plants are rapidlj failing. All such as are annuals should be removed altogether, itnd perennials should be cut down, and the *<xn-d«rs should be dug over to give them a tidy" appearance. The present is a very ■favourable time for planting out seedling ipansies and other hardy annuals, as they soon become established, and start at once dnta growth. Where the latter have been gown in clumps about the borders to furnish flowering plants, these should be freely .thinned out, so as to have a few sturdy plants which will produce a fine effect, which cannot be attained where the seedlings arc allowed to overcrowd each other. The work of laying out or preparing new ground forplanting should be proceeded with so as ito admit of early planting. Early-planted narcissi and other bulbs will be_ making ■their appearance above the soil. This should ■foe kept free from weeds, so as to destroy ~tbe 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 display ©f colour in spring, and a- free use should foe made of them, and also of ranunculi and ai.enacnes. Where the last-named have been raised from seed, the young plants should foe planted out into their flowering positions dn the frccit lines of the border, or, if grown in large quantities, plant them in scmall beds. Chrysanthemums will continue to make a good display for some time. Advantage should be taken of the flowering season to carefully go over the borders with a view cif improving the collection, as the number of varieties is now so great and so similar. Any inferior kinds should be discarded, and other kinds showing an im>provement on existing sorts should be added \o the collection. GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES.—As the eumrner flowering plants go off, the space should be filled up with such plants as pelargoniums, cinerarias, primulas, etc., which will now require more room,, and should be kept in a healthy growing condition, and as required mere space should be afforded, as any check to root action will at

once affect the growth of foliage. A sharp lookout for green fly must be kept up, and en its first appearance the plants should be dipped in some insecticide or fumigated with tobacco smoke, as if these flies axe allowed to increase the health of the plants is Boon ruined. Seedling calceolaria, should be potted up into small pots as so.cn as they have four or five leaves. These' plants require very cool treatment, and should be kept shaded from bright sunshine. In all cases where gloxinias, tuberous-rooted begonias, etc., are ripening off the plants should be placed cm 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 arc decayed. Palms that have been used for table decoration for some time should be sponged and returned to the greenhouse. Twc 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 structures 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 rains begin. If required fcr heaths, boronias, bcuvardias, pelargoniums, and azaleas, it should be naturally light and fibrous, that taken from an old pasture being the bast, as it is very sweet and well filled with fibre. The surface to a depth of, say, 3in or 4in is the best, as it is filled with grass and other roots, which scon decay. This, if mixed with one-fourth or fifth of old dry cow manure, broken up quite fine, will be quite suitable for any of the above-named plants. Nothing rank or fresh in manure should be placed near the rcots of this class of plants.