WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 9214, 18 April 1908, Page 2

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

To Gardeners. . Flower Garden. — Summer 'flowering ©lants should now be cleared away, and tho beds filled with spring flowering plants. Unfortunately, many of these Ho not flower quite early enough to allow the summer flowering plants to be out out, therefore the scheme of plantW {or next season should be decided oft at once, and the beds planted according to the date they should be ready for planting again next spring. (Chose that are to be planted during the early part of October many have a few «ma& plant* of variegated hollies, konyimis, with email retmosporas in variety, the a** 063 between these beJngfiHed with bold clump of K a cood background for the bright SSes STellow narcissus in the spring. KHatest 6 pring plants are wallflow0* AsT these do not cease flowering S£& the end of November or early in JKmber they ehould be put in beds KrV tQ Vfilled with tender subiects, «uch as coleus, Irisene etc Banting trees and shrubs will soon SSnrattention, and there is no subject that needs more care or judgment than SS» Rant early is the advice, generally riven, without any reservation as to | Sndition of soils, aspect, or thesubfecte that are.-to.be. planed tbTsoil is well-draped and sheltered from rtrbng winds, early planting is Srrect but where the land is very wet during the winter months (June and SSy) evergreen shrubs should not be bknted until August. Deciduous trees and shrubs may be planted as soon as they lose the present season's leaves, as these do not suffer so much from being put into wet, cold soil as^ evergreen Shrubs and trees do. • Propagating roses by cuttings may be effected durInff thi« month with every chance ot success. Select firm, well-matured wood about eight to ten inches long, »nd if a small portion of last season s erowtn, or a heel, can be secured at the base of each cutting, a better proportion of the cuttings will take root, geleet a nice open position, well drained and put the cuttings about six inches in the soil, making the ground very firm at the base of the cuttings, but leaving the surface loose. If a rtock^ of half-decayed leaves is available, mulch the cuttings with about two inches. Quite a large number of favourite varieties may be raised in this way. - - Greenhouse. — Nerines : These autumnnowgpn&r.^greenhouse bulbous plants are old" favourites in some gardens, and are to be found in many, though not often in a satisfactory condition. Their culture is simple, and they are. equally useful for . conservatory decoration and cut .flowers for the vases. The flowers are^ fcorn©* on long stems and last in vases a long time. They are easily Sropagated by offsets- and seed ; they o not need a high temperature (about 40 to 65 degrees is the most suitable) ; the two most essential conditions being tolenty of sunshine and ventilation. Starting with a number of offsets, put these in a box about cix inches deep, twelve wide, and eighteen long. UAhcient drainage must be provide^ and about one inch of broken potsherds put over the bottom. A compost made wiSi om> half good loam, one quarter ©icb of leaf mould and rotted turf, with a good sprinkle of sharp, coarse Band, well mixed together will BUit these bulbs. Plant each bulb about one inch deep* and water sparingly until the-leaves begin to push up. U>ntinue this watering until the growth shows, signs of maturity, then give less and less as the leaves turn brown. Now place the box where the sun shines directly on to it, so that the bulbs are "Bopro>ed," so to speak, because this is the : secret of successftil flowering. Thebuibemay then be taken from the box and potted, putting three bulbs in a aix-inch pot, or two m a five, or one In a four-inch pot, using much the same oompost as advised *>r the boxes. About the end of December they begin to send up their flower ©terns, and this should be taken as the signal for using a little weak manure water. Perhaps the chief cause of failure is storing the bulbs in dark, damp quarters when they are leafless— they should be kept in the lightest place possible at all times, except when in bloom, when they may have a little shade. Once these bulbs have been successfully grown, they become great favourites, and deservedly so, for there are few more brilliant subjects than a pot of Nerine Fothergilli or N. Sarmensis, with four or five trusses of flowers. Always bear in mind, never stand or Btore the bulbs in a shady place. Win-ter-flowering begonias are very popular Sast now, Caledonia and Gloire-decLor-raine being the two roost in demand; but another variety, Gloire-de-Seeaux, introduced some years before these two, is well worth growing, and for arna- 1 te-ns who have but little artificial heat, it is much more suitable. It has a fine •turdy, busby habit, while the bronzy tint on its leaves make it most effective It is suitable for growing either as a small plant in a four-inch pot, or * large specimen, and it may be grown on during the summer in a cold frame or greenhouse. A compost similar to that for the tuberous varieties will suit it, with a little extra dash of i ■harp ean4,