THE GARDEN.

Otago Witness, Issue 3277, 3 January 1917, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. KITCHEN GARDEN— During showery weather every effort should be. made to plant out all necessary crops of autumn and early winter cabbage, eavoys, cauliflower, broccoli, as while the soil is moist and the weather cool the plants will start to grow at once. Seakale at this season will need attention to prevent it flowering. All the flowering heads must bo pinched as soon as they appear, othcrwi.se the plants will run to seed. Celery plants in trenches will begin to need earthing up. The first stage 01 this process is a very laborious one, but on its careful performance the goodness of the crop very greatly depends. IJefore beginning to earth up, the soil at the bottom of the trenches should bo loosened with a hoc, and all weeds removed. The soil should bo first gently drawn up round the base of the plants, and then each plant should be earthed up separately with a trowel. The points which are of importance in earthing up -elery are, firstly, not to allow any soil to 3ret into the hearts of the plants, for no atrttsmt of washing will get it out afterwards; and, Becondly. not to press the earth so firmly rcund the plants that they will bo prevented from developing largo hearts. If the leaves at the top of the plant are held

lightly together with one hand whilst the earth is put round them with the other, no soil will get into the hearts. After the preliminary earthing has been done in this way the rest may be done with a spade until only the top of the leaves are visible above the ground; but the process of earthing up celery is best continued with the successive stage of growth of the crop, and not all at one time. The soil among all recently-planted crops should bo hoed up, and kept loose and open. Any appearance of blight upon the young plants should be checked by the application of fresh slaked lime, applied in the early morning while the plants are damp with dew. A good sowing of turnips should now be made for autumn use, selecting a variety that comes to maturity quickly. Towards the end of the month a selection of various kinds ot herbs should be cut and dried in bunches in an airy shed. Shallots, as they begin to lose their green tops, should be gently raised with a fork, so as to partially expose their bulbs to the sun; afterwards they should be taken completely out of the soil and laid on the ground to ripen thoroughly. They will last all through the winter if stored, in a dry place. FRUIT GARDEN.—AII young strawberry runners that are required for planting out next season should be secured by pegging down to the soil, and all others, together with the dead leaves, should be removed and the beds lightly pointed over with the fork. Whore raspberry canes are any way weak, cut away the old canes as soon as the fruit is gathered, so that the youn.o- canes shall receive all the support possible in order to build up strong canes for another year.

FLOWER GARDEN.—Phloxes of the herbaceous variety should be kept lied up to their stakes, as when in flower the heads of bloom when wet with ram are liable to break off. Pentstcmons should be gone over i'.. picutlv, and all the old faded flower spikes cut out. which will allow the later spikes to develop. The layering of carnations, picotecs, etc., should be completed as early as possible now in order to allow . them to become well rooted before the winter sets in .Frequent examination of chrysanthemums should be made for a sniail green caterpillar at the points of the shoots, as if n«t. destroyed much injury will _ be j caused to the young points. At this time of year roses arc likely to be attacked with mildew upon the leaves, which, if neglected, results in injury to next season's wood, as unless the foliage is kept healthy it cannot ripen the wood properly. Flowers of sul- ; phur should be dusted upon the parts attacked, and one or two dressings will bo found sufficient if not left too long before first applied. GREENHOUSE AND FRAMES— ' Primulas as soon as strong enough should be placed three or four plants around the side of a 4in pot, as they will make better progress there than if potted singly for some time, as they are thus encouraged to greater root action. Early-sown cinerarias ,

should, as soon as they have three or four small loaves, be potted singly in 4in pots and kept in a shady, moist part of a frame, not exposed to bright sun. Gloxinias should be given the warmest part of the greenhouse, and should never have the rays of the sun upon them. If given warmth and moisture they are easily grown, and no flowers are more beautiful for greenhouse decoration in the autumn. The plants are easily raised from eeed sown in a warm, close frame, or may be propagated by inserting the full-grown leaves in pots of sandy soil, kept under a bell glass. VlNEßY.—Grapes ready for thinning: Attend very carefully to the top growth. A weekly stopping and tying where required will be none too much. If leafgrowth, or, rather, shoot-growth, be kept well in hand, strength will be reserved not only for the fruit, but also for maturing, etc., of the home bud for' the next season. One leaf loft at each stopping will keep all in bounds, and will he sufficient for all root purposes. Be careful of main leaves; do not injure them. Very often the front of the vinery border gets dry. Give tins a good watering.