OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 3275, 20 December 1916, Page 8

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK.

KITCHEN GARDEN.—The early varieties of potatoes arc rapidly coming forward, and as these are lifted the ground becomes available for winter stuff, such as cabbages, oolewarts, turnips, etc. The winter supply of cabbage is an important one, and it is only by sowing at the proper time and by leaving the plantations thin in the seed beds, or by pricking out, that good, sturdy stuff can be prepared for the purpose. The soil, should be in good condition, and hi an open space, and they should be allowed from 15in to 18in room to grow in. Less than this prevents the free use of the hoe, which should be frequently put through the rows to keep down the weeds and to render the surface soil free and friable. _ Dwarf beans, like Canadian Wonder, require short sticks to prevent them being blown over. A few rows of an early sort may be sown now to come in later, or as long as the frost will permit. The main crop of celery should be planted when the plants are ready according to the method recently advised. As the plants advance, let them be gradually earthed up, but let it be first ascertained that the roots arc supplied with sufficient moisture. FLOWER GARDEN—In the ornamental department there is not much pressing work now, as the beds are furnished with their occupants. and if the borders have been left clean a few sticks to those plants which require support are all that is necessary. In dry weather the usual waterings to those rapid growers which soon exhaust themselves must bo attended to, but zonal pelargoniums and all those of a succulent nature will bloom more freely without it. The tendency of zonals to make gross shoots, especially the double sorts, when they get a free root run in rich soil is increased by watering, and it has often been pointed out that a poor soil and comparative dryness arc the best treatment to make them floriferous. During showery weather plant out young pansies, asters, zinnias, portulacca, or Phlox diummondi, which have been nursed in boxes or seedbeds.

FRUIT GARDEN. —Gooseberries are now turning colour, arid have paid for thenground over and over again. Dwarf young bushes, with plenty of light and air around them, are decidedly more profitable than large old stocks, and wherever the plants grow as quickly as they do hereabouts if is better to propagate a batch from cuttings annually, and keep on renewing the bushes every three or four years, replacing some of the oldest by young stuff every season. Tomatoes, both in the open air and under glass, are swelling up largo quantities of Fruit, and some will be already turning colour. As soon as this is perceived, gather the fruit carefully, and lay it on a shelf in a sunny greenhouse or frame, or in a window facing north. Here it will ripen as well as if left on the plants, while these, being relieved of one lot of fruit, will prooeed to swell up a further number. Keep all laterals rigorously removed, and go over the plants, pricking off the leaves severely, every week or so, especially where the plants are placed closely together under glass. Admit plenty of air to plants in houses both by night and day, except during cold or stormy periods. The syringe should only be used among tomatoes under glass on very hot days, just to assist the bloom to set well; but after the first trusses begin to swell the soil must be kept moist, and in anything like poor ground liquid manure may be plentifully applied while the plants are "carrying a great weight of fruit. Tomatoes should never be shaded; they cannot have too much sun. WINDOW GARDEN.—Here, as everywhere else, plenty of water and liquid manure are the chief requirements. Do not water before the plants require it. but directly they show signs of dryness give a copious supply, and, if possible, get this done in the evening of, hot days, so that the plants may be gaining refreshment and strength all night. When all are watered at the root give a. free shower of clean, soft water overhead, and repeat the process in the early morning, if bright, leaving the plants all dripping and glistening with moisture. To maintain the vigour of the plants that have exhausted the nutriment contained in the pots, nothing is so good as an infusion of fresh stable manure, which should be half-dried before use. The liquid should be quite clear when used, and of tne strength of weak tea. Soot-wattfr, of the strength of one spadeful to 40g_al or 50gal of water, is also good, imparting a deep green and healthy hue to the foliage. As a substitute for the manure water, which is certainly too odoriferous at times, sulphate of ammonia may be made use of, dissolving \oz of the salt in lgal of water. This, applied twice a week, has a very marked effect upon pot-bound plants; but it acts more as a stimulant than as imparting actual nourishment. Cuttings of largeflowering pelargoniums should be taken as soon as possible, and inserted in sandy soil in well-drained pots. They will root readily in any sunny, but sheltered, spot. Cuttings of the ordinary zonal varieties (geraniums) will strike freely if inserted at any time the next two or three weeks in a warm border of light and porous soil. Tako no notice of the foliage perishing, and only water the soil when really dry. GREENHOUSE—The house at thia season generally includes a mixed collection of half-stove plants such as balsams and colons, annuals in pots, truo greenhouse plants, and probably a few ferns under stages. A hard-and-fast rule as to ventilation and watering to suit such a collection it is impossible

to give; but the best treatment is to keep up a damp atmosphere at night by elosin"the rouse early ;.nd by giving all the air possible m the early part or the day. The training and staking of fuchsias must be attended to, and the way to obtain fine up as many loaded shoots as possible,' taking care that the roots do not get rootbound for want of a shift. If the roots arc workmg freely there is hardly any limit to the size attained by a good growing variety, such as Rose of Castillo or the Red Avalanche, if assisted by occasional doses of liquid manure.