WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5502, 29 February 1896, Page 1

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS. Kitchen Gabdest. — In dry weather the ground should be kept well hoed so that not ajvestige of weeds may be seen when wet sets in. There will then be less occasion to tread and puddle the ground in attempting tp destroy weeds when the state of the weather is unfavourable. Plant out cabbages two feet apart each way, to remain for hearting, also cauliflowers and broccoli. Continue to sow mustard and cress. Plant out successions of lettuce in sheltered situations, and tie up plants as they become fit. Another sowing of the sorts recommended at the begining pf the month may be made later on. Take up any onions that were not fit last month ; house those that are sufficiently dry. Cut down parsley in order that young leaves may be formed before- winter. Hoe and thin spinach ; also turnips. A small sowing of radishes may be made. A good supply of tomatoes can be had during the winter with the expenditure of less trouble and less heat than is necessary in the cas.e of cucumbers; and. in many instances there is nothing to prevent their culture in preference to or in connection with the latter. Much depends upon a good early start being made, the aim being to set a heavy crop of fruit before short and perihap3 sunless days are the rule. Young plants may be raised either from seed or well-matured cuttings, the latter being the most simple and the surest method of securing-- sturdy fruitful plants. Select medium-sized, healthy tops of firm, well-developed .side shoots, and after duly

M~u«wiiu:»wa»jAiMmw»i*i.*a-._ju»Miiu*iiwfaij*.>****uu.iii l i.mmwnag-* cutting to a pom 'b and trimming the lower leaves, dibble the m either singly into 3in pots, or in pairs -into 4in pots ; set them in gentle heat, shade lightly and water very carefully at first.; If kept very close and moist the cutting-*- are liable to damp off, nor will they do well if very heavily shaded. If it is decided to raise the requisite number of plants from seed tliis should be sown thinly in a pan or pot' of fine sandy soil, be lightly covered, watered and placed in heat to germinate. Directly the seedlings appear thin them out if at all crowded, and then set the pan or pot near the glass and give, plenty of air. When of good size and before they are m.iich drawn, dibble them either singly in1;o 4in pots, or else in pairs against the sides of 6in pots filled with light, "loamy soil, sinking the plants into this up to the seed leaves. Water carefully, -shade from bright sunshine, and keep r&l ;her close and warm till the plants have vrell recovered from the check given, after i vhich they must receive plenty of light am I air. Having* prepared a batch of sturd y, well-rooted plants, the next procw xling should be to get them establia hed in fruiting - pots before they beecai ie drawn and weakly. It is here that a iri istake is often m&de, as plants that are ke>p t too long in small pots become hard or stunted in growth, and. do not subsequently jinake nearly such good progress as do tho S( > better treated. After various trials we fi Bid tomatoes in pots set ,on a bed of rich soil into which they can root at leisure, the surest way of securing a good crop ; those p lanted in beds or ridges of soil are liable ■'io form a too strong growth, a poor set being the result. Any good loamy comp< js_; will grow tomatoes,

but they merit a mixture' of two parts of the best light turfy loam procurable to one of partially '.decayed horse droppings. Single pla-nts may be grown in llin pots, or pairs can be placed in 12iri or rather larger sizes, these being clean and lightly drained. At first the pots need only be about three parts filled with firmly-packed soil, thus allowing good space for subsequent top dressings. The plants for a time should be grown in a light airy house, and if all goes well a cluster of fruit will be set on each plant before they are placed in the forcing-house. A high temperature is not needed, as they succeed best in a house where the night temperature ranges from 55deg to GOdeg, with an increase in the day time of from sdeg to lpdeg. If much higher temperature^ with or without much moisture, are", maintained, the flowers are -weakened and fail to set. We would prefer the heat declined below the figures given than to exceed them with the help of much fire hea^ The first clusters of fruit ought to be freely thinned out, and all large, ugly flowers -removed early from the later bunches, or otherwise agood. succession of fruit will seldom result. Artificial impregnation* of the flowers is also i^ecessary throughout the winter, and this can best be accomplished with the aid^ of a camel's hair brush or the flowers mSy* be very gently rubbed together, so as.to:: lodge plenty of pollen on the pistils of each. Towards midday, or when the pollen is driest, is the correct time to attend to the proper impregnation of the flowers, and on no account, should" thiß be neglected, neglect to set the crops being the principal or most frequent cause of failure. _ The .plants ought never to become very dry at the roots, but little or no syringing ought to, or need be resorted to, unless red spider becomes . troublesome, in which case the leaves may be either freely syringed or else well coated with sulphur. Tomatoes in the open. — It should be remembered that all late-formed- side shoots should be cut away. All' branches should be stopped just beyond a newly-set cluster of fruit, and if the fciliage is very vigorous this ought to ,b)_ shortened back, but not wholly removed, or the fruit will, not swell so rapidly. ' Flower Garden.— The most necessary work will be to beep the beds free from weeds. Any beds that are kept exclusively for bulbs should be dug up, and before the bulbs are planted again some soot and lime had better be raked in.