THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS-FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN.—Where the tops of asuaragus are ripe, they may be cut off and the beds cleaned and dressed. The old practice of top-dressing the beds when the plants are dormant is still followed, but there can be no question that the time to apply manure is when the tops are green, as the tuberous roots appropriate it then, causing the formation of strong crowns for next season. Carrots, parsnips, and beetroot should be lifted before rain comes, as they 'keep much better when taken up during dry weather, and being free from soil they can be packed in sand or ashes at once. As soon as the latesown onions are ready, let them be thinned out to 4in apart. A few may be transplanted if favourable weather occurs, as they sometimes do better than those which ere left where they were sown. FLOWER GARDEN.—Attention should now be directed to lifting and getting under shelter all tender plants, as a sharp frost generally follows the autumn rains. The heliotrope is perhaps the most susceptible to frost, and the plants, having been cut round with a shirp spade a few days previously, should bo lifted with as much of the soil adhering to the roots as possible, and potted in a light, sandy compost. Bv putting them in a close" frame they will soon recover. Pelargoniums of the tricolour and bronze zonal sections should also be got under shelter; they will not require much water until they are well established in the pois, and the flagging and withering of some of the lower leaves is not of much moment. There is no necessity to take tin the ordinary bedding zonals yet, as the first frost will not cut them up much, as there is frequently a considerable interval of fine weather before the next frost comes. Give chrysanthemums a good soaking with manure, water. A few bulbs of hyacinths and tulips, if potted now and placed outside in a shady place until the middle of winter and then brought, into the greenhouse, will furnish a fewvery useful flowers at a scarce time, as they are capable of being forced into flower very aarly. Cuttings of petunias, phloxes, pentstemons, etc., if inserted when advised, should now bo well rooted and fit for repotting They should then be kept close for a few days and then hardened off byexposure to plenty of air, so as to have the growth hard before sharp frosts occur. The earliest plants of tuberous-rooted begonias will now be going out of flower, when they should be watered more carefully, and as soon as the foliage shows signs of decay it should be removed and the pots stowed away in a perfectlv drv place, free from frost, for the winter" Ca'ladiums and gloxinias also, grown, will need a _ warmer position than the begonias to winter in. Ericas and azaJoas in pots must also bo placed in the greenhouse when heavy rains occur, as, in the event of these plants becoming water-logged, they soon fall into bad health, from which state it is a hard matter for them to recover. GREENHOUSE. Small plants of fuchsia, with Ixmvaivlias and browallias, have a fine effect on the st.ages at th.'s season, if thev have been grown on and forwarded in frames until ready for bloom. Luculia gratissima is also another fine subject for the greenhouse at this season as in _ addition to the beauty of its flowers it is very fragrant. Calceolarias aro now growing fast, and thev must be potted and in good turfy, yellow loam. with a fourth part of leaf mould end ronton manure. Good drainage is essent'nl with this thirsty plant. as it will consume large quantities of water as soon as it has filled tho pot with roots. They must be kept near the glass in a Ciiol frame, and not exposed to the sun. Under this treatment, with plenty of air, tho plants will be dwarf and stocky.

ORCIIAItD.—The storing and keeping of fruit is a matter which will pay the advanced orchardist to carctuily study and put into practice. Ecoaomic&uy-built stores or cellars, where the conditions of ventilation, moisture, and temperature can be secured, are much nee-Jed, and would pay interest on outlay. The most important points for the lonjj and perfect preservation of fruit are that tna temperature should vary very litt'e, and be maintained above fret-zing point; that the air be dry, rather than humid; and that air be given when the fruit shows signs of excessive damoness. A temperature of from 4deg to lOdeg above zero usually gives the best results, but this is, of course, out of the question in an ordinary way in these colonies. If an' even temperature of, say, 55deg to 60deg Fahr, can be secured, it is as much as can be expected, and it is quite sufficient for keeping apples many months. Changes of temperature should be particularly avoided. \\ hen air is freely admitted, it should be only when the external atmosphere is dry. Provision should be made for a continuous gentle change of air right through the fruit cellar. Moisture is a condition necessary to fermentation; for this reason all excess of damp must be avoided. Put, on the other hand, the chamber must not be too dry, as the fruits, losing their aqueous fluids, would wither and not ripen further. It is a fine art to determine how much moisture will sustain and not precipitate ripening. Many growers are afraid of damp, and keep their fruit far too dry. If, after continuous rain, the room becomes too damp, a few lumps of quicklime placed on the floor will have a drying effect. Give air when the temperature is even with the store, and choose a dry or moist air, as the fruit may seem ti require. Judging from the fruit we find in the orchard during winter, it eppeais that air, moisture, and light are not opposed to its conservation, but the conditions are difibrent in a chamber, and these must be given sparingly. Where very gentle movement of pure, soft air takes place in the chamber, apples may be kept the year round. Pears require a slightly higher temperature, and drier air than apples The fruit must be looked over twice weekly, and all damaged fruit taken out of the chamber. No handling is necessary to remove dust or sweat. Neither will do any harm ; but a brush or cloth may, however, be carefully employed. In selecting for market the prudent worker will not be anxious to pick out his finest fruit, but that which, although sound, gives indications of being unable to keep much longer. Apples may be kept long after they are ripe, hut pears should be marketed as soon as mellow, as they will not keep long after reaching this stage