WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5733, 28 November 1896, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

TO GARDENERS. If itch en Garden. — The great thing to .be kept in view is a long-continued succession of crops, which can only be obtained by sowing a little seed and often ; for as a rulo the greatest scarcity of any given crop comes soon after over-abundance, for the very fact of anything being over-plen-tiful makes one careless of sowing, transplanting and other items of culture that are needed by successful crops, and then, when the glut is over, there follows a season of equal scarcity. All this cau bo rectified by timely forethought and attention to the minor details of culture. Beans, scarlet and other runners, that were sown last month, will need staking, and provision should bo made for sowing again, as tho sowings made at the end of November are frequently more serviceable than the first crop. In light soils it is advisable to sow in shallow trenches, for if left even j slightly below the general level/and a good mulching of manure applied along the sides of the trenches, there is little fear of drought affecting the roots and causing the bloom to drop off. Dwarf French beans are splendid crops for small pardons, and may be sown as lato as January with every chance of success. Sow the rows about two feet apart, according to variety. CanaI dian Wonder is a very fine variety, but needs more spaco than sucli sorts as butter or the negro. Beetroot will require weeding and thinning, and if any gaps are in the rows select <•_ showery day for transj planting somo from whero they can be ! spared. Sow a few more, as in showery seasons the earliest crop gets too large and coarse. Brussels Sprouts, if not already planted out, should be attended to without delay, as this vegetable can hardly be grown too strongly. Give plenty of space— 3ffc j between tho rows and 2ffc from plant to plant will give more sprouts than if the plants are crowded. Sow a pinch of cabbage seed, so as to have a good supply of plants as soon as the early potatoes are lifted. They aro excellent in autumn. Continue to plant out successions of Early London and Autumn Giant cauliflowers. Tlie former will come in during the latter part of summer, and the latter as soon as autumn conies on. Celery plants must be pricked out. They do well with about three inches of rich soil spread on any hard substance, as the roots get confined to the rich soil, and may be lifted without feeling the check so much as from loose soil. Cucumbers in frames and on ridges now need much attention as they grow very fast, and should be kept regulated, stopped and watered, and do not let the fruit get old before cutting, as it greatly checks the successful crop. Lettuce of either cos or cabbage varieties shoiUd be sown, in small quantities, about once a fortnight, and, after this date, it will be found best to sow in drills thinly on rich soil, and thin out the plants a little and allow them to mature without any check of transplanting, for, in very hot weather, while they are recovering from the check of transplanting, they will, if left undisturbed, be nearly fit for use, and the saving in labour will more than compensate for extra seed. Parsley is always in request, and this is the time to lay the foundation for W. Strangs and Co.'s registered brand " Excelsior " clothing for boys, youths and

a full supply next autumn and winter. Sow the seed in drills for convenience of cleaning, and have a portion oi the stock where it can be readily protected in severe weather. Tomatoes should be planted out now. Good, strong plants that have been carefuUyhardened-oftvare the ones to make rapid growth when planted out. Vegetable marrows should be planted. All crops that are above ground at this date need frequent stirring between the rows with the hoe to keep down weeds, and the rows should be hand-weeded and thinned as soon as the plants are of sufficient size to handle. Greenhouse.— No time should be lost now in shifting the chrysanthemums into their flowering pots, using rough, rich compost, and leaving space at the- top of the pots for a little rich top-dressing by-and-bye. Heaths of the hard-wooded kinds are not so much grown as they were a few years ago, and this is to be regretted, as they are exceedingly ornamental plants for a cool greenhouse. Cavendishii and the differentvarieties of Vontricosa are as easily grown as Hyemalis and Wilmoreana, and are very effective through the spring and early summer months. The principal items of culture on which success chiefly hinges are free drainage, firm potting in good fibrous peat made sufficiently porous with clean silver sand, and very careful watering. Keep tho collar of the plants well up in potting; if the plants are potted deeply they will become sickly and die. A close, stuffy, over-heated atmosphere wilknot suit heaths, and this is the reason why they do not thrive well mixed with soft-wooded plants. To do heaths really well they should have a small house to themselves, or at least be grouped only with hardwooded plants. In repotting heaths it is best not to have any fixed period for potting, but to shift each plant on just at the time that particular plant requires more space for its roots, but not to delay the potting too late in the season,, as the pots should be fairly filled with roots before the short days come.