WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9040, 21 September 1907, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

To Gardeners.

Kitchen Garden. — All growing crops should be moulded up in order to protect small plants from strong or cold cutting winds. The soil should not be drawn quite close to the plants, but left so tihat a ridge is formed on either side of the plants. These ridges will protect them from the strong winds, while the trough will catch the rain water and conduct it to the roots. Broad beans in the open garden may require some support to prevent their being blown down by strong winds. This is easily provided by driving a few staKes firmly in the soil and running a length or two of binder twine from stake to stake on both sides of each row. Runner and dwarf varieties may be planted in gardens that are well | sheltered, but in cold situations an- | other two weeks will be early enough if late frosts are to be avoided. Peas should have short stakes put along both sides of the row as soon as the plants are through the soil. If stakes about twelve to fifteen inches long, and put fairly close to each, other, are used, they will encourage a more rapid growth and give the plants protection from both wind and sun. Early potatoes that are pushing through the ground should be covered with soil or strawy litter to keep them safe from frosts Late varieties should be planted when the soil is in a good condition, but on no account plant during wet weather. Tomato plants are being offered for sale at the seed 6hops, but it is a waste of money to purchase these plants unless the buyer has a glasshouse to put them in. 'I'he soil is too wet and cold, and as forsts, more or less severe, may be expected up to October 20, the risk is too great for these rather tender plants. Spinach should be severely thinned if large j leaves are desired, the plants being about nine inches apart in the row. When plants are crowded it is impossible to get laree, fleshy leaves. Hardy Fruit**.— Any grafting that I has to be done should be put in hand at once. Old apple or pear trees that have become useless from one cause or i another, may be converted into fruitful i\ trees by grafting other varieties therei on. Fruit trees, like many other things, are largely influenced by local conditions, and some varieties will give much better results than others. Therefore should one or more varieties fail to give satisfaction cut them down and regraft with varieties that are of proved merit in the district. Trees planted during the past season may require support against strong winds. Use good strong stakes, and take care that they are not bound too tight, or the bark will be injured. Another

loose is that the soil may settle down and not leave the trees more or less suspended. The soil around all newly planted trees should be hard after the heavy rains. Keep it as open as possible, aud thus encourage tne roots to grow taster. Apricote and other fruita growing against walls should have some protection frorm frosts. Butter muslin, thin scrim, and old fishing nets are quite dense enough for the purpose, because air is necessary for the bud 6. Flower Garden. — Where dahlias have been left in the ground they should now be lifted, the ground manured, trenched and a portion of the tuber replanted. Care must be taken that the portion replanted has live eyes, because some of the tuber may have rotted during the recent wet weather. Chrysanthemums growing in the borders may also be treated in the same manner. Lift the stools, dig the ground deeply, and replant a portion of the old stools. Of course the weather must guide the gardener, as it is not wise to work on the. 6oil when it . is very wet. Transplanting and seed sowini? must be left until the spil is in a fairly dry condition, otherwise only a email measure of success can be expected. — ____ _____ _—