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New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 26, 23 December 1908, Page 33

NEXT WEEK’S WORK. By VERONICA. SEEDS TO SOW THIS MONTH. Flower. — Balsam, Cosmos, Mignonette, Nasturtium, Portulaeca. Vegetable. — Broccoli, Cabbage, Cucumber, Celery, Kidney and Runner Beans, Lettuce, Radish, Mustard, Cress, and Turnip. Flant Ont. — Kumcras, Celery, Cabbage, ■ Cauliflower, Lettuce, Balsam, Salvia, Dahlias, Celosias, Phlox, Drummondii, Cockscombs, Portulaeca, Petunias, Amaranthus, Zinnias. general garden work. The recent heavy rainfall has done an immense amount of good. Planting operations should now be .well forward. Every opportunity should be taken advantage of for planting out tender annuals. Celery and kumeras ought to be set out at once,' and suecessional sowings of kidney and funner beans, peas, and Baladings put in about once a fortnight. Thin out the fruit on plums where, heavy crops have set. This will give far better results than allowing the trees to carry too heavy a load. Lawns will require constant attention. Hedgings require trimming. Keep garden paths clean. The rain not only brings along growing crops, but also a bountiful crop of weeds. Constant hoeing will be necessary to keep them down. Thin -out all growing crops of turnips, carrots, parsnips, etc. Many crops are spoilt through lack of sufficient space in which to grow. Carrots and parsnips should have 3 to 4 inches between each plant, turnips and beet 4 to G inches according to variety and size of root wanted. Late planted potatoes should have the ground well worked between the rows before moulding up. Bulbs of hyacinths, narcissus, etc., when quite ripe should lie lifted, dried, labelled, and carefully stored. Attend to staking and pinching tomatoes and keep them Well tied up to support. See that carnations and piootees are properly -tied up and where fine blooms are required thin out the buds. Carnations will be greatly benefited by a mulching of manure. Chrysanthemums require staking and ty' ing up as they advance in growth. Climbers of all kinds should be secured to theirsupports. At J» HORTICULTURAL NOTES. Decorated tables, done entirely with sweet peas are very popular just now. The winning tables at recent Auckland shows were nearly all done with this favourite, flower .either in its own foliage or with the addition of some sprays of asparagus', or adiantum. The pale pink variety, Princess Victoria, and yellow shades lend themselves exceedingly well to this form of decoration. Carnations. are very late in flowering this season. Some beds recently seen were only just commencing to show flowers, the dry autumn is generally Assigned as the cause. Potato Blight. This dreaded plague has not boon much in evidence this season, yet there are places where it has been showing, and we believe, a mild form of blight has- been making its appearance in seine localities. This latter form destroyed the haulms, but does not touhh the tubers. Although we have been fortunate so far in escaping any serious outbreak, v,e still advocate spraying—it is always better to be sure than sorry*