WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), 30 September 1893, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS. . Kitcjhen Gabjden.— Tender vegetables in frames, such as cucumbers, tomatoes; and marrows, will need constant attention! during the young Btages, to prevent the plants being' overcrowded in the boxeß or pots in whiph they are raised. As a general rule, when seedlings have developed the rough leaves they may be removed from the Seed pan, and, in the case of oueumbelv. or marrows, put in small pots, one plant ih eaoh, and returned to the warm frame.. With tomatoes, if the seed haa been sown too thick, the young plants may be jftricked out in boxes of light turfy soil thi^e inches apart. Under this treatment they will soon become sturdy plants, and irhen hardened to bear exposure they will lift with plenty of -sail adhering to the roots, a condition which guarantees their f niture success.. Many young plants are annually lost through want of preparation beforehand and careless transplanting. An early supply of French beana may be had by sowing next month in cold frames on Btrips of turf grass-side downwards. The plants can be thus grown on withont injury from frost, and planted oat with, the turf in which they growing in the second week of November. Scarlet runners may be sown at the foot of a north fence, and if there is shelter on the western aide they generally escape the late spring* frosts. The hoe must mow be freely used between the lines of oniSfhs, carrots, &..,to destroy the weeds and to (encourage growth by keeping the surface. b^U loose.. An open surface ako tends to preserve > moisture ill the soil beneath, a fact, well known to cultivators. Plowbe Gabden.— Spring flowers are now at their beßt, and Avery attention should be given to ueatheßßi as. unless the environments ot choice flowers are in keeping with them much of', their beauty is lost. Therefore war must be- waged with the weedß, the . soil must be loosened bo as to present a freah surface, and all dead stems of ohry« Banthemums' and the like must be out away, so as to leave nothing but the freeh youug growth. There is a want of variety in most gardens ; a standard or pillar rose is rarely seen, and excepting the climbers against verandahs, such a 'thing as s_ climber trained round a pole is unknown. This is probably due to tbe fear of nor'wester?, but aa there are sheltered plaoes in whiob such cb'mbers may be grown, there is no reason why the system should not be introduced. Poles of totara 10ft long, plaoed in holes 2ft deep and well rammed, will last for years, and round them may be trained a great variety of both annual find perennial climbers. _ Of the latter ia .obcea scandehs with its bold foliage; iristolochia sipho, with its curious flowers; bhe anuija or moth trap plant from Chili j the Virginian creeper; the Australian .ollya heterophylla, with neat foliage _nd blight blue flowers; eooremo. carpus scftbra, Teoomas ef AvwtH

' ; i species, everlasting pea, jasmine, Wistaria, honeysuckle, M&urandyas, and the white and scarlet oydonia japonica. The clematis furnish a wide' field of choice, both in colour of flowers and diversity of foliage. , Among the annual climbers a good strain ' of sweet pea is always charming, the canary creeper and nasturtiums of the Lobbianum type are also easily grown and > very attractive when well done, and con- ; vdraluß major should have a place. These eliH-bers would introduce a new feature to our gardens, they would oooupy very little .{pace and vary the dead level monotony fhich usually prevails by presenting more pointa of interest and' attraction. . Gbmnhottbe.—^A considerable amount t& care is requisite now in the management of the house, as bright, hot days are ; often succeeded by cold, dull ones, and ! plants jh a state of tender growth are ' nableto suffer if cold currents of air are 1 allowed tb enter by the ventilators. It is therefore quite ati necessary to keep the house closed on suoh - days as <ifc is yh§n a nor'-wester is blowin g. Watering dhouldbe done in the morning, and any plant '• which, has become dry should Save the ball well saturated. Achimenes nas>y now- be started in pans containing a <jompoßt.of rough peat and eand. Tuberous begonias which have started may also be potted in a eimilar mixture, with the addition of one part of leaf mould. The drainage must be efficient, as the plants require copious supplies of water in the growing season, which should pass away freely. ■ j