THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3168, 2 December 1914, Page 12

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN—When well-grown the leek as a culinary vegetable is highly esteemed; but to have it in perfection it must have liberal treatment, and a special mode of culture. Like other vegetables, it must be grown rapidly, and it should be well blanched to make the edible part crisp and of a delicate flavour. The ground should bo deeply dug and' well manured, and addition or a good proportion of burnt refuse and sand in heavy soils being a great improvement. The drills being drawn 16m apart, holes must be made 3m in diameter and 4in deep, at intervals of 9in in the drills. In these holes the leeks are transplanted, sufficient soil being placed over the roots, but the holes are not filled up. As the plant increases in size the holes are gradually filled with soil by dutch-hoeing between the rows, and by the occasional waterings which will be necessary until the plants are established. Under this system Urge and well-blanched stems can be grown. Leeks can also be grown in trenches like celery, the soil being drawn up to the stem as it increases in size, until the trenches are filled up. Make another sowing of Canadian Wonder French beans and scarlet runners, as they will now grow on without check if they are kept moist in dry weather. Thin and stop vegetable marrow, tomato, and ridge cucumber plants. Discontinue cutting asparagus, which should be encouraged to make all the foliage possible in order to provide strongs crowns for another year. In the case ot newly-formed beds, they should be kept free from weeds, and should receive an occasional soaking of water, mere surface watering being of no use to this plant. Sow a small bed of onions for salads. FRUIT GARDEN.—Where the fruit is too thick upon plum, pear, apricot, and the other fruit trees, it should be thinned out. Young trees should be looked over and the shoots regulated ; any growing in the wrong direction should be removed .altogether within one or two eyes of the base. FLOWER GARDEN.—As a screen for unsightly corners, nasturtiums, canary creepers, convolvulus, and maurandyas are useful, requiring occasional training -over pea sticks. Clematis and climbing roses being now in active growth, must be secured against wind, which causes great injury to the tender shoots if neglected. If these plants are growing near verandahs on the north side they require large quantities of water, as the rain ■ cannot reach them. Bedding plants, such as verbenas, heliotropes, and petunias, being all straggling growers, should be regulated at once and pegged down. Some of the early blooms may bo sacrificed by taking away the points of the shoots, but a better bloom and stronger plant will bo so secured eventually. GREENHOUSE.—When the seeds of calceolarias and cinerarias are ripe the flower stems may be cut away, and the plants can he turned out in light soil to throw up suckers for propagation. The seed of cineraria, calceolaria, and- primula should be sown not later than the middle of this month. Prepare a seedpan for the purpose by draining well with crocks and filling with finely-silted soil, which should be composed of loam, leaf mould, and- decayed manure, with a little sand to keep it open. The pans should be filled and well watered before sowing the seed, which should be lightly covered and a sheet of brown paper placed over the pan to exclude the light. Place the seedpan in a shady part of the greenhouse, and see that it is never allowed to become dry. As soon as the seedlings appear above ground the paper must be removed and the plants grown on in a moist atmosphere. All fuchsias while growing delight in partial shade, and should have plenty of moisture. Chrysanthemums in pots, if the ■plants are well advanced and have plenty ©f roots, should bo placed into their flowering pots this month; they must be kept stopped and tied out with a view to training them into shape. Richer soil should be ysed for the final shift, and they should he placed upon a bed of coal ashes in an open, sunny position, and the leaves should be syringed night and morning during hot ■weather. Cyclamens should bo placed outside in a shady position; but those plants will not require so much water now, as they will bo ripening off. Apply liquid manure to all soft-wooded plants.