WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4739, 2 September 1893, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS. Kitchen Gakdbn.— -The advent of September ia a reminder that all seed sowing for main crops must be done. It; is the great seed-sowing month, during which all seeds germinate freely ; the youngr plants come Btrong, and if the conditions are favourable, and the soil well cultivated, a good crop is a certainty. Early sowing is a golden rule in this climate ; if it is neglected the season is practically lost, owing to the many adverse influences seedling plants have to contend with in their young stages. There must, therefore, be no delay ia sowing onions, carrots and parsnips for the main crop; also of the autumn section of broccoli, such as Veitch's Autumn Giant and Protecting and Walcheren cauliflower to succeed those already advanced in frames or in other sheltered places. Sow also seeds of all the different kinds of v/inter greens and Brussels sprouts. These seeds require to be got in early, as the plants cannot well be grown too large before winter. With regard to sowing broccoli more discretion is needed. If the plants are intended to be grown in an upland district, sow early ; if for a lowland poßition, the end of October will be soon enough. The Savoy cabbage is one of the most hardy subjects of its kind extant, but it must not be sown too early. The best practice is to bow at the end of this month, and again at the end of October. Sowings of lettuce, both cos and cabbage varieties, and leeks should also be made. As soon aa circumstances permit let the asparaguß beds be attended to. They should be forked over* carefully breaking down all lumps which would be likely to interfere with the fre9 growth of tho heads; a few days after forking let the surface be raked over and the soil made .fine. Any fuitber preparation of ground forcanlidowera should be done, as the time for' setting out these plants will soon be here. FiowEE Garden.-— lt is desirable that all shrub pruning, hedge-cutting, shrubbery clearing up »ud pointing over, turflaying, levelling and sowing grass seeds, ■verge cutting aad rolling, walk-repairiag uud re-3tirf acing sbould be completed at once, bo as nob to interfere with the work of attending to the welfare of spring flowers and bulb 3, Beds containing these require pointing over and ia some instances . picking' over, to remove decayed foliage, for the frost has been rather severe on inyosqtia, wallflowers, &c, and 'some of the surfac 3 rooting Herbaceous plants will be found upheaved, requiring to be. pressed back "into t'ae soil. Stieh autumn-sown, as^ have survived the v/inter should be thinned out, fresh sowings being made to provide a succe3B'.on of flowers. The following sorts are well adapted for present sowing :—Candytaits, Clarkias, Collineiaa, escholtzias, . Godetias, larkspurs, ]imnantheß, mignonette, dianthus, nemophila?, silenes, and Virginian stock. The hardy fernery and rcckwork notv require their annual putting in order. In theformer remove tho dead fronds, and with a hand, fork Btir up the soil and remove weeds, also give additional soil to suck plants as are likely to bo benefited by it, and rearrange and make additions &a desired. Among the hardy ferns, clumps of snowdropsy'daffodils, wild 'hyacinths, primroses and- foxgloves are- quite at home, and give additional interest to the fernery. Bockwbrk gardens require similar attention as to the gtnaeTal clearance of weedsand pointing, over, but the \ybtk mnet be dofle Tjtith mtore care, as it is easy to destroy a Choice Saxifrage or other a'pitie gem. whichifc w*juJd be difficult to replace. GBißNriou3E.~Th&:^work' under glass increases as tue sun gains power. C ftttingn in •" stare pots have be^uu to grW, and must be potted off singly. Poti Crowded with seedlings of choice plants bo given a chance to develop oy prjefeing out rbund the side 3 of large pots or into boxes. A good practice is to harden ofi a pot of choice Eeedlinga, gradually planting them out in a sheltered placa on the border juat as they are turned out of the pot. The pricking out of seed&ij? plants frequently mults m the loss of tbe whole, bub by the Dlau advised strong specimen* are often secured, which bloom freely. But the habit of the pjauts must be studied a? regards the situation in which they are placed. A pot of seedling hepaticas or saxifrages would speedily disappear if placed where the full bias© of the sun could x«aoh them. Aa a rule all young plant* should be put; ia a Bhaded position until they have become eatablidheut Many of the bulbous )

section of planta are now ia full bloom, and to render them durable thay will not only require a certaia amount of shade, but they must have free ventilation on calm days and be watered according to their requirement?. Those ■who have orchids will now give them their annual overhaul by removing all the old moss and broken bricks. Tho plan's should thea be carefully wabhed in tepid water, all deal bulba, leaves or roots b&ingr removed. Aftar thia they may be rebasketed in fresh mess and clean drainage material.