THE GARDEN

Otago Witness, Issue 3006, 25 October 1911, Page 12

THE GARDEN

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN.—The simplest and most effective plan of growing celery is in single rows in trenches. There are many other modes," such as -enlarging the ti'entfh so as to get six rows together, and where space is. an object that system may be practised. With advantage, but it involves a good deal of trouble in earthing up, and the results are inferior to the onerow system. Mark out the lines for the trenches north and south, 4ft apart, and 16in wide. Take o:it the soil one spit deep, and place at the lx>itom 6in of the richest manure available, digging it in. Let tlie soil bo thrown up in ridges between tho trenches so as to catch and retain the rain. If the planta are ready, take them up with as much eo'd as possible adhering to the roots, and pknt them firmly along the oonl.ro of each trench 9in apart If thero are any suckers, remove them, and let the plant be buried in_ tho f round no deeper than they wore before, t is neocesary to use great care in transplanting, go that tho cools pi ay not bo fcheckod, which causes them to run to wed. A «ood watering will settle tho soil about

' the roots, and fill up any cavities which may be left in the ground after the digging, which, by the way, is one of the most frequent causes of failure both in planting and seed-sowing. Sow a good breadth of marrow peas to come into bearing in January. FLOWER GARDEN. The coming month will be. a busy one, ag the whole 01 the bedding arrangements should be completed. Tne halt-hardy varieties of bedders should now be planted, and the tender kinds placed in frames or sheltered places to harden. Gazanias and lobetia; tseJUae a handsome bed, and axe very efsctive during the wholo season. Vases and rustic baskets should be tilled with a rough, turfy soil with a slight proportion of turf and sand. If the drainage is perfect, calceolarias, fuchsias, lobelias, and verbenas will grow well in this compost, and soon till up the . space accorded them. L.ysimachia nuniularia—the creeping jenny—should be planted round the edges of rustic branches to form a mass of hanging verdure dotted with yellow flowers. 'l<nin out patches of annuals—they cannot do much good when overcrowded;. Keep the soil loose between pansies, and peg down verbenas as they advance. - GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES.-Ferns in an open bushhouee or fernery should now be starting Ireely into growth, and all discoloured ironds should ue cut away and tne plants a good syringing of pure water overhead morning and evening, xney should not be over watered at tne roots; only given water as they require it, ai-d: t.ien copiously applied. Aiany amateurs tail with these easiiy-grown plants simpiy on account of bad watering. Too dry or too wet wiircause the ironas to go brown at the points before they are iuny developed; particularly is this noftpeabie with wie aoiantum or" maidenhair. The son should never be allowed to become oust-dry, nor kept in a continually saturated state. When water is required, give enough to soak the whole ball or soil through, and then give no more until they require another soaKuig. "A little every day," wnether they want it or not, will not suit them, or, indeed*, any other plant unless they are aquatics. The require- - rnents of each plant should be studied. Pelargoniums, just before they come into bloom, should have a good fumigation of tobacco smoke, as they should be Kept free from green fly, and cannot be treated while in bloom, neither should they be syringed . overhead when once in bloom; a moist atmosphere, however, should be maintained by damping down the floors and stages ' from time to time. All kinds of begonias should have a further shift as soon as the : email pots they now occupy are full of ' roots, and kept growing on in a warm and moist temperature. Fuchsias which have been struck from cuttings-this spring should bo grown on without allowing them to bloom, or until they make good-sized i plants, and they will succeed the older plants with a much later display of bloom. Camellias are now making their growth, and if the plants are growing out of shape they may be cut back at once as freely a» a common laurel. Whilst the young wood is tender they must be shaded from the hot sun, and they must also be protected from cold currents at night. This is the critical time with the camellia, as the slightest check will prevent formation of bloom buds for next season. Water must ! be liberally given, and an occasional syringing ; after Which the hou&a may be closed to encourage a free growth. Constant attention must be given to training climbers, as they soon grow out of place if neglected. As calceolarias rise for bloom they will require more water, and plenty of light and air. Keep ericas cool after they have made their growth, and give careful attention to Watering. All kinds of palms, ferns, or foliage plants which require repotting should be attended to before the ' young growths get too far advanced. j VINERY. —Constant attention is required to prevent the growth of_ unnecessary shoots. Keep all these nipped back to throw the sap into the bunches. Tie down all shoots growing too near the glass, and secure all to the wires.