THE GARDEN

Otago Witness, Issue 3007, 1 November 1911, Page 12

THE GARDEN

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

VEGETABLE GARDEN.—The thinning our of vegetable crops should be continued, and the hoe used freely between the rows. Beet should bo a few inches above ground now, and when strong enough should be thinned out to 6in or 9in apart. For another week or two it will be advantageous to protect.,cucumbers and vegetable marrows. Stake runner beans as soon as the growing commences; further sowings of these should,be made at intervals to maintain a good eupply throughout the season. Spinach of the roundi summer variety should be sown for succession on wellmanured land where water can be applied as required; if this cannot be done its culture should not be attempted during th •» hot and dry season. Growing crops of onions should be kept clean and well hoed, and during showery weather a dressing of soot will have a • very beneficial effect. Celery sown in beds should be thinned out and kept regularly watered till large enough to plant out into the trenches; it is important to keep the plants moist, as without plenty of water good celery cannot be had early* in the autumn. The trenches for the main crop should be prepared as soon as the land becomes vacant. After throwing out the soil to a depth of 6in or Bin a heavy dressing of well-decayed manure shouldi be dug into them; long green manure should not- be used in the trenches. Recentlysown seed of cabbage, savoy, and cauliflowers, etc., should be kept in a healthy growing condition, giving water as required. The failure of cauliflowers to turn in at the proper time is often the result of bad treatment the plants have experienced in the earlier stages of their growth. To ensure success the plants should be kept steadily growing from the time the seedling appears above the surface. Any prolonged check to their growth will often cause them to button after planting out. FLOWER GARDEN.—Asters, zinnias, nnd poppies should be all planted out by this time. Those who have not the convenience of a frame or hothouse need not ■be afraid of sowing these handsome flowers In the open, and if they so desire they can yet sow the seed in lieht soil and rely upon good results. But the seeds should be put in as soon as possible, as the plants should be of good growth, by this feme if seasonable flowers-are expected'. FRUIT GARDEN-—Young trees of any

kind of fruit should not bo allowed to carry heavy crops. Many trees which have only been planted two or three years are often allowed to mature all fruit which may happe» to set, and, as a consequence, the growth of the trees receives a serious check, which causes the formation of fruit buds instead Of a proper extension of wood. Where young trees show too many fruit buds these should be cut away at once. If they have been allowed to set, the better plan is to remove the flower buds as soon a 3 they commence to expand. A. few fruit buds may be left on each tree without injury, but anything approaching a crop must be avoided. The mulching should now be applied to young trees before the moisture in the soil has time to evaporate, A great improvement in the growth is noticeable where a mulching is applied early in the season, and as the cost of the material and the necessary labour in applying are so slight the practioe should be more generally adopted. The ties upon young grafted stocks should be loosened gradually as required, and so as to prevent the swelling parts being cut remove all buds which may continue to Start below the scion.

GREENHOUSE.—In the .greenhouse pelargoniums that are showing for bloom should have the shoots neatly secured to stakes before the flowers commence to expand. Fuchsias, as the growth will need frequent stopping of the points if large plants are neecied for summer bloom. On all warm, sunny days, tho greenhouse and fernery _ should be frequently syringed to maintain a general growing atmosphere. In smoking any kind of plants the safest plan is to give three orfour gentle applications every day in succession, keeping the house as close as possible during the dxy ail the time to keep the insects from reviving between the smoking. In a "gentle smoking" the smoke should appear only as a thick mist; but hard-leaved plants or mature leafage will stand more. After smoking it is a good plan to syringe the plants thoroughly; but .before smoking it is needful that the foliage of all plants be quite diry, otherwise much injury may be done. As a rule it is not wise to smoke plants in flower, as the smoke causes the petals to fall immediately. Green fly is easily destroyed by tobacco smoke; very little sickens the insects and arrests their progress, and two, or at least three, moderate applications will clear a house. Dull, still days should be chosen if practicable, and the house should be kept closed during the day, and, if necessary, shaded in the day time.