FOR GARDENERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 430, 12 February 1909, Page 2

FOR GARDENERS.

WORK FOR TO-MORROW. The short'spell of hot dry weather iias -er* dered tlip. soil In most ; gardens' very, dry and; in need, of either 'rain or 'waterings. . 'For-'; tunatoly the abundance of : raiii which - has prevailed generally this season lias reinforced the city supply'to 'such, an ixtent that .'the'; solemn warnings of .last year' about the' use: of city water' for garden, purposes have not)'' yet been repeated. Liquid manure may well lie applied togrowing crops,' such as weak solutions of stable manure, 'poultry - hbuß'o . .cleanings, soot, suds/superphosphate, nitrate. of soda, or' nitrate of potashi -Tlie greatest care must be taken that the dose given '.is not too strong; it will poison and . destroy the roots in the ground, as will be shown by the; later appearance of the leafage. _ - L ■ : It is rather early yet to think of "winter--rains, but when these are likely to begin any cleanings that may have been preserved from'" he poultry house should' be sprinkled -over ■ he ground _ without: delay. Early., winter is J*" 1 ' !^ea * tlm . e for, applying the: permanent. lnanures, raid throughout- the summer, collections of snitable.material'for the tiurposs' may be continually .made, whether jt.-be iiiv the shape of. a compost heap: of. .weeds' arid. almost anything:that:will decay; or. in theshape of a. barrel containing the dried poul-" try-house cleanings mixed with •" fine -'soil, these things, will all be appreciated later on. and the. replacing of the elements of -nutri- . tion - which ■ .we .constantlytake from tho'soil; in tne. vegetables' Avegrow is of" tho greatest importance.if. we would- preserve thefertility of tho garden. Whether it bo pea ;or. bean ..haulms, ..or- cabbage, turnip, .and carrottops, .notlimg- should be thrown-'over-tho fence or burned s 'that; will restore: plant' food to the soil. ..

Then-, there are.. fences-. io bo kept clear: of i .This, being, the idle season ingar-,: dens, it will give opportunities for a general tidying-up of surroundings.' There are some gardens which are a model Of nea(»'.cssj which seem to sho.w'hothihg.to be' done, and ,yet'aroi' ; eloquent of the amount of work that has! tf' 1 ! e- ' : These;are often the;, gardens" ir : which the ladies of the house ..take an active interest, and. in truth many .of them can teach the. men goo'di.lessons in efficiency. Are there weeds growing.in the paths? Lot them oc removed before. they seed. Are : there • .rows.of old\peas and beans that'have given their crop: still littering the ground. Are , there cabbage plots well, niglit. depleted but.. not• put; in rcauiliess for the. nest crop ? Are V • the turnip and carrot rows: depleted and, given uo to weeds ? These . matters can all be: reotitied-now, and.when tlie time.'come.'j - for. further plantings Hhere will : be-'ho : dejays. -Meantime, while ■ the weather is dry. keep \ the : hoe agoing wherever the > groirad. has been, firmed by footprints. • / • " "v; , Plant out cabbage,' ; cauliflower, . broccoli, borecole, .brussels-. sprouts,': savoy, leek'' an'd' : celery.. ; Sow. cauliflower,'' _ mustard, and cress, radish, onion, , silver ■ beet. Earth up forward'-Selery plants and hasten their watering l 'and liquid '< manuring': I'mcli the ends of the vines of marrows and pumpkins ' if; they : are ' exiiend-:.. ing. too far, and thus assist : tlie development of the fruits already set. ' Keep thoi; tomato plants-.dishudded, : and, avoid letting .• the bunches of fruit'touch'the ground, whicS ; encourages them to decay. Where tomato plants have already been allowed to .grow into a bush of maiiy branches, it is'unwise'f toy'remove;the'.surplus branches, which have' ■" probably ■ formed bunches of blossoms, but. further extension'may^bßiprevented.by pinch-'■ ing, out the mere. tips, of all. the shoots, it is v required... to check. ..'A good ...outlook^ ; for.~ caterpillars on ! the fruits and blossoms should:: .be.'maiiitained at all VtHtiesyiip^cniafly' this season' ;of . caterpillar. pliguesr . lings aiid otherinsectivorous birds; be encouraged, in -air gardens' if the cats'. wilß permit'it.. ;Owing ,to ith.e .activity ;of potato;; blight, potatoes should be dug its fast. as\ they are Teady and stored; - • ; Fruit '.trees and rose trees may be budded'' this month, as described in The Dominion oil Wednesday. ;,Any.gardeners desiring.to have half a dozen kinds of fruit or roses growing on one■,trs'e'.-'Tnay;.haT6'. ; .:tKeir."'wisU fulfilled if tliey bud :successfuUy; this, monthi The .'operiitio'n'-is simple,:'but.;requires'.carei: and ;every."gii'rderier .shduld'.praoticernt'.,.'.lt-? does, not; involve the 'eutting; down.' of'thej trees lior'' their mutilation : in ajiy' injurious" way. -'r j';.:;-'