THE WEEK’S WORK.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20233, 17 February 1934, Page 23 (Supplement)

THE WEEK’S WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. £take tall herbaceous plants. Michaelmas Daisies should be staked. Prepare ground for planting bulbs. Now is the time to place your order for bulbs selected at the spring Lift Daffodils, etc. Commence the planting of Soliel d Or. Verbena and Penstemon cuttings root easily at this time. Cuttings of Bedding or Zonal Geraniums can be taken. Anemone and Ranunculus seed can be sown now. Finish layering Border Carnations. Disbud and thin out unwanted Dahlia shoots. Chrysanthemums must have attention to staking, topdressing, etc. From now on the first bud that shows on Chrysanthemums should be “taken." Prepare ground for early-flowering Sweet Peas. Early-flowering Chrysanthemums must be disbudded. Feeding is also necessary. . » Pansies and Violas can be propagated from cuttings. Sow hardy annuals. These will stand till next spring before flowering. Thin out old flowered growths of Rambler Roses. Tie in the young vigorous growths which are coming away at the base. THE GREENHOUSE. Pot Lachenalias. Sow Schizanthus. Cut down Pelargoniums. Azaleas in pots must be kept watered. Syringe the tops with clean water every morning and evening. Sow Mignonette in pots for winter blooming. Now is the time to prepare bulb bowls for indoor decoration. Pot up a batch of Freezias. Keep Ferns moist. To allow them to dry out now will ruin them till next spring. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow Cabbage and Cauliflowers. Hoeing between growing crops is most important just now. Keen Runner Beans closely picked. Allow no pods to get stringy. Attend to earthing up the early planted Celery. Tie stems together and pull off any side shoots or bad leaves before putting in any soil. Sow a few Shorthorn Carrots and short-rooted Beet. Sow Cabbage Lettuce. Prepare ground for sowing Onion seed. Harvest Onions, Shallots and Garlic. Making a sowing of Yellow Turnips. If Cabbage are attacked with aphis or fly, spray with a coal tar disinfectant 1-150. Remove spent crops as soon as possible and dig over the ground. If ground is not wanted for a time, sow oats for digging in as a soiling crop. Tomatoes need staking, tying and spraying. Remove some of the lower leaves that are turning yellow. Lift Potatoes when ready. If saving seed, choose the best and strongest roots and save both large and small. THE FRUIT GARDEN. Spray Gooseberries as soon as fruit is picked. Spray late Apples with arsenate to control late brood of codlin moth. When gathering Apples handle carefully so as not to bruise. Peaches for bottling should be gathered when firm but fully coloured. When a tree has been stripped of Peaches, give a pruning, cutting away some of the old fruit wood, and allow light to get to the branches that are left.