WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5409, 9 November 1895, Page 1

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS.

Kitchen Garden.— During a hot and dry season vegetable marrows are very serviceable, and even in a wet Bummer, if not too liberally treated, are very free and continuous bearing. In many, instances a corner in a sunny yard or frame ground is the only space that can well be spared for them, three or four plants being allowed to ramble over abed of manure and garden refnse. Sometimes these heaps are surfaced over with good loamy soU, but more often than not about a bushel of compost to eaoh plant is all they get. The plants should be planted from now until the end of November, and lightly protected in some way until a good start has been made. "V cry little further trouble is taken with them, nor is it needed, ai they soon cover the whole of the heap, and, aB a rule, grow rather too strongly, consequently heavy soaking* of water generally do more harm than good. Marrows' aie^much^^oxei.prpdi^lii: when gfowrTon a strip of ground sheltered from' strong winds, about eight feet wide. The ground should be double dag, mixing plenty of solid manure with each, spit. Should the surface be naturally heavy, or in bad working order, the charaoter of this is changed somewhat by a liberal dressing of rotten manure or leaf mould. The least that can be done is to mix some of this with the soil where the plants are to be put out ; and they will start away much better if given a little fresh loamy compost. Whether thus favoured or not, they very rarely fail to crop heavily without forming much fruitless growth. It ia not yet too late to raise plants, the quickest plan being to put single sound seeds in* four-inch pots filled with loamy soil, and if set in gentle heat and kept near the glass, fine sturdy plants may be had in a fortnight. The seed may also be sown where the plants are to grow, and thus raised, they are not long before they reach a bearing condition. Kidge cucumbera require very much the same treatment as marrows, bub, as a rule, they succeed better when given a little bottom heat at the start. The simplest plan is to mark out a piece of ground 4ft wide or rather less, and of any length, throwing out from 6i"u to 9in of the top soil only, replaoing this on the top of about 2ft of warm manure, The plants may be put out either under hand-lights, or only slightly protected. As they seldom grow very yjgprously, they may be planted about 18in apart each way, and allowed to ramble unchecked in all directions. Plants obtained from seed sown three weeks before they are wanted for getting out on the ridges, do better than any raised much earlier land kept in a starving condition until the weather admits of their being planted. The short prickly or gherkin are the best for pickling. All kindk of! French beans can now be sown with safety, and brqad beans may still be planted. As beans in garden culture are gathered young,' it ia obvious that any manure which it may be thought necessary to apply ought to be given so as to be available to the plants at an early stage of their growth. Stable manure in general will be found the best manure for beans, yet in caßes where the ground ia already rich in organic -matter, but deficient in the inorganic substances required by the crop, it is evident that its application 1 will not be attended with such good results as would follow the use of minera Imanures, such as lime, potash, magnesia and soda. On the other hand, when the soil ia deficient iv vegetable matter, but abounds in mineral substances, the application of such will, not, be bo. beneficial as that of organic . manures. The forcing or blanching material Bhould be cleared away from the clumps or crowns of seakale before it blanohes and weakens the second growth. The latter starts very thickly, and ought to be freely thinned out, two or three of the strongest being ample for each crown to develop. Crowded leaf growth leads to the formation of weakly crowns, arid from which the requisite stout and succulent growths cannot possibly be forced next season. A little of the shortest of the manure ought to be lightly forked into the surface, and a sprinkling of common salt will further benefit the seakale. The strongest plants frequently form a number of large flower heads, and these are, if cut early, an excellent vegetable, equal to the sprouting broccoli. Any way, theae flower heads' ought to be cat away early, as they weaken the plants considerably, and leave no good crowns behind. Especially is it necessary in the case of last year's Seedlings, these invariably flowering unless the crowns are cut cleanly over, either at planting time or shortly after. Slugs are very destructive among quite young seedlings, and directly they appear above ground they ought to be coated over with soot and lime. Iv showery weather the application should be frequently repeated, as this will keep the slugs away.

'FitOwsßi Gabdbn.— Continue to toll and mow lawns ; weed, and keep the beda and borders) raked. Plant out dahlias ; also, if weather is favourable, pelargoniums, petunias, verbenas, calceolarias, fuchsias, salviaß, and other bedding plants ; sow annuals and biennials, train creepers, clear suckers away from roaeß. Stick carnations and other plants that require support. Auriculas in pots after flowering should be placed in a cool situation, and proteoted from heavy rains. Shift eeed« liag»» Sow bslaama for late flowering,