Gardeners’ Calendar for February.

Wairarapa Standard, Volume XX, Issue 2026, 4 February 1887, Page 2

Gardeners’ Calendar for February.

Flower Garden. -Thin out wetk laterals of dahlias, take off all deformed buds, if fine flower* are desired, and K ivo them waterings of liquid manure. Bud roses. Layer and put in piping* of carnations and pinks; propagate pai.sics from small side shoot*; they make better plants than older cutting*. Th in out lale annual*, end water when needed. Put in cuttings of pentetemm r, vei!>ena, shrubby calceolaria ire*;.-;d other bedding plants, for next reason. In striking: geraniums, take cuttings that have been well exposed to tbe sun; withhold watering the plant* for a few days previous to taking off the cutting*. Give atteution to cleanliness by keeping the weeds down and removing decayed flower*. Save choice flower seeds as

they ripen. Fruit Garden —This is the month for budding fruit tree*. Ketnove *U stray shoots and cross branches. Thin out gooseberry and currant trees, if not done last month. Apple tree* that are affected with the woolly aphis should be gone over with a small brush, with neatsfoot or castor oil; two or three handsful of slacked lime incorparated with the soil at the ia very beneficial and effective. Kitchen Garden.—Sow in the first week, in a cool and shaded place, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, savoy, Brussels sprouts, and spinach, and plant out from last mouth's sowing* at any time with change of weather, and pres* the soil firmly around tbe roots. Keep the hoe at work, and prevent weeds from seeding Make a sowing of lettuce very thinly, to remain either in rows or beds ; if transplanted at this time of the season they are more likely to run to seed. Sow China rose radish ; this is the best for autumn and winter. Take up autumn sown onions as they ripen, and bend down tbe necks of spring sown on**. Make a sowing of stone turnip and early horn carrot ; and do not neglect to plant out winter cabbage, Ac., for winter use. If they are not wellgrown on this coast before winter seti in, the sharp frosts and cild rains pre» vents them from doing much if planted late in the autumn.