WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7329, 15 February 1902, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

- To Gardeners. Kitchen Garden. — Tomatoes have become such, ah important, item in the culinaTy department, that they must be grown, ana, ; 'if possible, a constant "supply .'provided nearly the. whole season, round. . This- can be done in gardens where there are a few 1 frames, and a fairly large greenhouse. Cuttings taken now and grown on will give fruit "during May and June, while seed sown now will give plants that . should" fruit from .July until the , spring crop is available. The plants should be grown in pots, and, as fast as one size is filled with | roots, shift the plants to pots two sizes larger until they are in ten or twelve inch pots. Give plenty of light and air, water sparingly during dull weather,- and, the results will weE :.repay ~>the trouble. Should a change dish foe wanted when vegetables are scarce in the winter, green tomatoes boiled gently until soft and served with white sauce, will prove useful. Referto previous notes regarding thinning seedling crops, and remember winter spinach requires more room to develop than the round seeded variety. Sow parsley for spring, and finish lifting second early pota- • toes. Vinery. — The second early houses will be cleared by this date. Give the vines all the ventilation possible at the side, as well as the top. Syringe the roots and. foliage thoroughly once a d^y { and. twice "on very hob days. Remember the vines are now developing the 'buds that will give next season's fruit, therefore they should riot want for water or food. The stronger the buds the larger the truss of bloom — if the 1 ' wood is thoroughly matured ; and this is secured by giving plenty of air and moisture. The vines in the early house should have all the sub-laterals removed, and the laterals partially cut back. Cease syringing, and so encourage the vines to go to rest— the sooner the foliage ripens and falls the earlier will the vines start nest spring. Should any of the vines have red spider or thrips, these can easily be destroyed now the fruit is cut. Soft soap and Little's blight epecinc used warm wiE soon clear these troublesome pest& Unless they are killed now, there is a danger of their hiding away for the winter and giving more trouble next spring. Flower Garden. — The heat and drought have been too much for many annuals. Such plants should be taken up at once, as if left they only make the garden look untidy, and spoil the effect of those that are in bloom. In place thereof sow some spring-flowering subjects or plant bulbs. Dahlias will need to be kept tied, not in bunches, but loosely, to prevent them from being broken by wind. If flowers' are wanted for exhibition the growths and buds must be severely thinned. Salpiglossis is making a grand display and each plant < hoiild be staked before the weight of bloom bends it down. If this occurs, the flowers become covered with* dust, which quite spoils them for cutting. A good soaking with water once a week will keep them in good condition, and ensure a, supply of bloom for a long time. Greenhouse.-i-Cyclamen plants raised from seed early in the spring should be large enough for the second shift — use fourinch pots for all the strongest, and threeinch for the smaller plants. They need careful handling to ensure success, one of the most important points being to avoid putting the corymb (cr bulb) too deep in the soil, as when they are planted too deep there is a risk of losing both leaves and flowers during dull, damp, cold weather in the winter. The corymbs should be about half covered with soil, because they send out roots from the side as well as at the base. Be careful with watering until the roots get hold of the fresh soil. Too much water will check growth by making the soil cold and sour. The best method of watering for the first few weeks after repotting is by the syringe ; twice a day in ordinary weather, but on hot days four times would be necessary. Give plenty of ' air at night, and. shade during the dav Although the Persian cyclamen is treated as a greenhouse plant, there is no reason why it should not be grown successfully in sheltered positions in the flower garden The drainage must be perfect, or the leaves and flower stems will damp off during wet weather, and the plants must be sheltered ' from strong winds,, or most of the leaves •

will be blown off during a gale. Hyacinths for early flowering should be potted up at once in good soil ; four-inch pots will be quite large enough. Cover the bulbs with about twelve inches of ashes until the pots are filled with roots. Chrysanthemums, The, latest batch will be ready for the final shift, and they must be put into an open sunny position. These plants are too often neglected for a few weeks after being re-potted. 'This is a great mistake, as they require constant attention. Some varieties make too many shoots, and these must be reduced so that each one left can ' get thoroughly ripe; while others are inclined to run up with only a few shoots, James Weston for example. These must be stopped to form nice bushy plants for house decoration. The pots should be plunged, or covered with some material to protect the roots from the hot sun and winds. Such as are being grown to produce large blooms will now be showing their crown buds, and those that give the better flowers from this bud should be disbudded, while those that give the best results from the terminal bud must be allowed to grow on until that, bud is formed. Watering chrysanthemums from this date until the flowers are open is of the greatest importance, and experience is the only satisfac- " tory teacher as to how each variety should be treated. Too much water causes thin flowers and poor colour, while too little checks development, with smaller blooms ■as a result.