THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

KITCHEN GARDEN—About this time there are several important Sowings of vegetables to be made, which, jf neglected, would cause a serious break in the supply of early spring— : a period of the year When vegetables are in groat request. It is curious that the white Spanish onion, which is so delicate in flavour and remarkable for its non-keeping quality, should be a variety that stands the wet and frost of winter uninjured, and keeps up the domestic supply when the summer-grown onions are becoming soft and unlit for use. Ttie varieties known as the Queen and Early White Naples are good sorts for this first, sowing, and these can be followed by the giant kinds of Tripoli, Madeira, and Rosso a fortnight later. Trie ground selected should be in a warm situation, and the soi.l should be light and in good heart. The ground must be consolidated by treading over both before and after the seed has been sown. Draw the drills lin deep ami Ift apart, using a sprinkling of scot and lime in the bottom of them to check the ravages of the onion grub. When the plants are sufficiently ad vanced. thin tohm out to bin apart, and keep the ground between the drills loose by occasional hoeing to, stimulate the. growth and to prevent cracking in dryweather. Other important sowings are cabbage, for early spring use, and the hardy varieties of lettuce. As opportunity offers and ground becomes vacant, plant out cabbage and rosette eoleworts. FLOWER GARDEN—Although choice varieties of calceolarias can bo propagated by cuttings, the system is seldom practised now that seeds can be procured which will produce first-class flowering plant-. The.seen should be sown at once in pots containing tight, turfy soil. Make it very tine and level at the surface and water thoroughly. When the superfluous water has drained aw'ay, scatter the seeds-thinly on the sur face and cover them with the merest sprinkling of fine soil. Place a square of glass over the pot, and put it in a cool, shady place. Chrysanthemums will require a good mulching of raw stable manure to improve the blooms. The. spikes of gladioli should be secured by tying to stout stakes as they advance. Hollyhocks are looking well, and as they are, like the chrysanthemums. gross feeders, they can be liberally treated -with rich mulchings and liquid manure.

GREENHOUSE. —A few of the best single or double varieties of petunia may be potted up for blooming Tinder glass, as they are easily grown into good showy specimens by attention to pinching the points of the shoots. Verbenas are also useful if grown freely in cold frames till they are fit to take into the house. The fuchsia is now ono of the chief ornaments of the stages, and these, with liliums. begonias, and balsams, will provide plenty of bloom for the next two months. Cyclamens •will soon bo on the move, and will Want repotting. The winter-blooming plants which are now making their growth in the cold frames? must bo constantly watched to prevent their suffering from dryness. Ono or two plants, of Salvia patens and B'lrii may be brought into the house to push them on for an early bloom. FRUIT GARDEN. —Superfluous growth in fruit trees should be cut out, thus economising labour later on and benefiting tho trees as well. Reach, apricot, and nectarine trees growing against a wall should have tho young shoots laid in close to the wall. With jeachea and nectarines as much young wood as possible should bo retained without overcrowding. The lower portions and centre of the trees should bo allowed to spread out to thoir fullest extent. All shoots not required for filling in or for extension should bo cut off With a sharp knifo within half an inch of

the base. Strawberry beds should be cleaned up after fruiting, cutting away all dead leaves or runners, leaving a portion of the latter for next season’s planting when required. VINERY.— The grapes arc now swelling, and the vines should bo well supplied with water at the roots, admitting air on all favourable occasions—in fact, with a continuance of the present hot weather, it wdll be well to leave the ventilators open night and day, and so prevent mildew or red spider from getting a s'J'-rt. See that the grapes have plenty of room to swell, and it is often desirable to tie the shoulders of the larger bunches up, and ao spread rhe bunch out, or loop them up with S-shaped wire of the requisite length, or prop the shoulders up from underneath with thin slips of wood.