WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5068, 29 September 1894, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS. . Kitchbn Garden. — Tbo Bpall of dry weather recently experienced will soon put the ground into a fit condition for cultural operations and seed sowing. The eeason is fully a fortnight behind hand, and much j work is in arrear. Too much activity j cannot bo displayed in getting all kinds of j vegetable seeds into the ground. Make also moderate sowinga of cauliflowers, , early broccoli, Savoys and Brussels sprouts. Tbe latter cannot be raised too early, as tbey have a long period of growth before them. Tbe general planting of early kinds of potatoes should now be proceeded with i the early and dwarf growing kinda are most suitable for small gardens. Tbe old-fashioned plan of putting the potatobs 2ft Gin apart, and planting main crops of boVecoles, Savoys, and early broccoli between when the potatoes have been earthed up, has much to recommend it in gardens of limited area. Look over and fill any vacancies among cabbage and lettuce, and use the boa freely on favourable occasions to keep down weeds. Sjjt a wherries, if manured and treated as directed last autumn, should now be trimmed over and useless or decayed. 1-a.v.es removed, afterwards hoeing over and raking down the space between tbe plantß. When tbe ground bas been well prepared before planting, strawberries are better for not having the ground disturbed befcwten the roots. FiiOWEB Garden. — Many planta are sow to move this season, and great care will be necessary in working in herbaceous boiders to prevent injury to plants which have not appeared above ground, where the labels have been displaced. But the loosening of the soil io very desirable to enable the superfluous moisture to escape, and to alldw the heat from the sun to ba absorbed by the ground. Any planting of deciduous trees and shrubs should be finished as early as possible, and mulching all late planted trees, bnt especially all that Are valuable and not easily replaced. The pruning of all deciduous shrubs must bo completed at once. Dress the surface of beds and borders, and repair and put in proper neatness and order the edgings whether of box or grass. Sow. seeds of choice deciduous shrubs and trees that it may be desirable to increase ; the seeds of evergreens may bo -sown later and in accordance with the general character of the weather in spring iv different localities. Early blooming shrubs, tike camellias and magnolia conspicua, ] ehould be protected at night by covering j them with some light material, ss late J frosts aro very destructive of the blooms, j Prom this time to tbe end of the month is the beat period of the season for planting evergreens, and arrangements ohould be made accordingly. . Greenhouse. — At this season of the ■jte'ar, when bright, hot days alternate with dull, cold weather, the plants under glass require careful attention. A sudden burst of sunshine will often ran the temperature up to lOOdeg, and much mischief may be done unleßs it is kept down by ventilation. Attention to this and watering are the chief things in the daily routine of management of glasa houses thia month, -specially where the gIaES has been cleared of shading material during the winter months. There are many of the green- j houae bulbous plants which should be potted now. Among them are the Hcemanthns, Gloriosa Lily, Begoniasof the tuberous Beotion and Gloxinias. All these like a light compost to grow in and the drainage must be efficient. Pot on such plants as have f reached the \bot_om of the pot, and prick ] ont seedling's of choice plants when large \ enough to handle. It~i3 in tbe young! »tage that plants require unremitting J attention, and the stronger they are grown j tbe better will be the future specimen.' j