THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3005, 18 October 1911, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Advantage should be taken of opportunities to plant out food breadths of cauliflowers, cabbages, liussels sprouts, and lettuce. The Brussels sprouts should be planted in rows, 3ft apart, and the same distance between theplants. The main crops of broccoli and kale can. be sown in beds 3ft apart, the alleys being Ift wide between the beds. Before the beds are marked out the ground should be,well trodden over. After.-sowing the seed cover it with iin of soil from, the alleys, and pat the surface of the beds with the back of the spade to compress the ©oil and seed. An occasional dusting with soot and lime will help to keep off the birds. The following are good varieties of broccoli: —Autumn, Veitch'6 self-protect-ing; early winter, Snow's winter white; early spring, Frogmore protecting; late spring, CatteFs eclipse and Wilcove late white. Offsets can new be taken from globe artichokes, and set in clumps of three, forming- a triangle, the rows being 4ft apart and the clumps the same distance. between. Thess plants will yield a supply late in the autumn if the soil is rich ancl well prepared. The surface dressing round the oH plants may be forked in. Make another sowing of turnips and lettuce. Sow a few rows of scarlet runners and Canadian wonder French beans on the north side of a"wall or fence to shelter them in the event of frost. The general work embraces staking peas, thinning early crops of turnips and carrots, and keeping the quarters free from weeds.

FLOWER GARDEN.—One of the chief items of importance is the law-n, and it depends tipon the attention bestowed upon jfc now whether it will add to the beaturyof the garden or not during the sea-son. A dressing of wood ashes and eoot mixed with double the quantity of tine soil will confidexably "improvo tho appearance of the

best-kept lawn. Rolling newly-sown laws must be clone at short intervals, and mowing must not be neglected, or coarse bottom grasses will be produced. The preparation of the beds and borders for the summer plants should be continued, and the ed'g--1 ings planted. For raised edging Herniaria •glabra is spoken of as well adapted, as .it needs no trimming, and will stand drought nearly as well as a sedum; The hardier kinds of calceolarias, lobelias, and verbenas should now be drafted out of the frames to make room for the tender sorts. Any slight shelter will do for them, turf pits being the best. GREENHOUSE.—The arrangements ? pf the plants in the conservatory should, be made with regard to the form and' colour of the flowers, so as to produce a good! effect when grouped together. Azaleas of the late-blooming kinds —brilliant, souvenir du Prince . Albert, and gem— may ■"■■ be .retarded considerably by placing them in ia south house; where such is available it is very useful in keeping up a succession of bloom. Cut back old plants of Bou- ! vardia into the ripened wood; when they i have broken they can bs repotted in smaller pots,'and planted out next month. Boronia megastigma and Nicotiana longiflora are two most fragrant plants, and should find a place in every greenhouse. Fuchsias are now growing freely, and will be a feature in the greenhouse for some time. An occasional watering with liquid manure will be of great advantage to them. Show, fancy, and zonal pelargoniums should .be well shaded to prolong their flowering: Azaleas and camellias, having made their growth, may be stood outside in a sheltered situation, placing the pots on a' piece of slate or other material to keep worms from getting into them. Pots of rhodanthe, 10weeks stocks, and mignonette should be pushed forward in the cold frames, as they will be found useful for decorative purposes.