WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 8832, 19 January 1907, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

To G&rdenors. Garden. — -During the excessively hot, dry weather gardeners must Water some crops to keep them growing, particularly those of the brassica family. This involves a lot of extra labour, but if these crops are to be a success -next winter and spring this extra work must be performed. To neglect it means wasting all the labour that has been expended in preparing the ground, . raising the plants and putting them out. Cauliflower, brooooli and Brussels sprouts can never give the same returns after once they suffer a severe check from drought. Cauliflower will "button," broccoli will come in a long time before they should, and : Brussels sprout* will fail to give those !_ard, .compact buttons so much admired 'by cooks. Add to these troubles a sure and certain attack of "fly," and the extra expenditure in watering will prove very remunerative. Thoroughly soak what plants are watered, and do 'this as late in thekday as possible. The neort morning the surface should be broken up by hoeing, or some loose, dry soil spread over the wet surface, if it is not possible to mulch th© crop with manure. Many; crops are going past rather rapidly this summer. Those that are over should be cleared away Immediately before they harbour mildew and insect pests. Burn the remains and prepare the ground for another orop. A plot of ground should Ibe prepared for winter onions. A quarter that was heavily manured for peas would be suitable for this crop, as it would have been broken up quite eighteen inches deep. Give a very liberal dressing of soot and old lime rubbish, and well work in by putting the Planet Jr. through it -several times during the next two weeks. This constant disturbing of the surface will not only sweeten and aerate the soil, but all insect life will be brought to the surface to be eaten by birds or destroyed by the hot sun and winds. Runner beans 'should be syringed on very hot days ; this * will • > assist the ciop to ffet and keep the plants free from red spider. Should this troublesome pest appear, spray with soapy water or a good insecticide. Dwarf beans are suffering from red spider how, ahd if it is not checked or desfcroyed the crop will be much less in bulk and inferior in quality. Celery should have constant attention, as the foundation, of .the crop is laid during the next few we*-*ks. Water and a little fertiliser should be given, and the soil about the plants kept open. Green •phis has appeared in some gardens. A careful watch should be kept for this bisect, as once it firmly establishes itself on celery plants the leaves begin to curl, and so a lot of work will be •ntailed to eradicate it. Some weeks Ago we advised dusting the plants over Jmh a liberal application of scot. This _j a splendid fertiliser, and gives the leaves a dark green, robust appearance, as wall as making them distasteful to the aphis. Soot applied to turnips, parsnips, beet, and so on, has the •same effect, producing a healthy tone In the plants. Vinery. — The present spell of hot •"•feather is good lor vines where there is a plentiful -supply', of water, b:it where this is scarce trouble may be ex--pected very soon. Mildew and red spider are certain to be rife in vineries tliat receive only intermittent attention. Mildew is often attributed to isrer-watering, but very frequently it . k caused by want of water. This may be proved during very hot summers by watching %he vines. Those that are planted outside will not be so likely to be attacked as those that are plantid inside, while mildew will more often ■appear just after a very dry spell than after a wet one. Early crops' being over, all the ventilation possible should be giv?n to the early houses. It would be a good plan if the entire roof could be removed for the next four months, as this wouHL give the canes a chance if benefiting from the night dews and autumn rains. As the roof cannot be removed, the hose or spray-pump should be brought into use, and the rods', walls and every part of the house well damped several times each week Irom this date until the vines are pruned in the autumn.