Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes.

Huntly Press and District Gazette, Volume 4, 14 January 1916, Page 1

Farm, Garden and Orchard Notes.

JANUARY. KITCHEN GARDEN. In the early part of this month plant out main crop of brocoli also celery and leek, if not done during latter part of last month. Put in cabbage and cauliflower plants for succession. Sow fortnightly cress, mustard and radish. Sow for succession small qantities of carrots, turnips, and round spinach. Sow a small bed endive for transplanting next month: also cauliflower in good rich soil. Keep up sowings of peas and French beans. Train and pinch back shoots of tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and pumpkins. Attend well to hoeing and stirring the surface of the soil amongst all crops as to destroy weeds and encourage growth of plants, Water when necessary all newly-transplanted crops more especially celery. Dig and manure all ground that is unoccupied so as to have same in readiness for autumn cropping.

FLOWER GARDEN.

The flower garden, or that part or it occupied by summer bedding plants and annuals, will now be at its bests, and the enjoyment of it will be greatly enhanced by keeping all its surroundings in trim condition ; walks should be frequently roiled, verges and edges clipped or trimmed, and the lawn mown weekly. All shrubs generally will present a lively appearance; thin and prune all superflous growth. To keep bedded out plants (such as alternanthera, ageratum, cineraria, maritima, iresine, lobelia, pelagonium, penstemon, petunia, verbena, etc.) within their proper , limits, strict attention must be paid to pinching and pegging into form. In the mixed flower garden balsams, cockscombs, zinnias, fuchias, etc., should receive an occasional watering of liquid manure. Remove all decayed leaves and flower stems, stake and tie all plants that require support against wind. Dahlias carefully tie up and thin out. Propogate carnations, pinks and picotees by layering; antirrhinums, pansies, and pelargoniums from cuttings. Lift all early flowering varieties of bulbs as they ripen. Climbers, regulate and tie up neatly. Clip hedges. Throughout the whole department the surface of the soil must be kept well stirred by frequent hoeings. FARM. This being the harvest month for the northern portion of New Zealand great care should be taken to begin your reaping before the wheat crop is over-ripe. Oats may be cut before fully ripe, as the straw is used for fodder. The earlier the sowing can be done the better, if the season will safely allow it, as there is more chance of the seeds ripening before the caterpillas make their appearance. Peas and beans should be ripe now, but there will be no harm in their standing until fully ripe. Both peas and beans should be more largely grown than they are, as they give an abundant and very useful crop. Linseed also gives a very large yield, and is useful to have in stock for very many purposes, as well as for the market; it is, however, a very exhaustive crop. Attend well to stacks, thatching and fencing. Good paddocks should have been prepared for your weaned lambs, and it is highly desirable that their paddocks should be frequently changed. The ewes and lambs also should be dipped in order to destroy the ticks. The ground will be too dry now for any further sowing, but it may advantageously be fallowed, and any weeds and fern dried or burned on the surface. If the season suits, Cape barley, oats, and vetches may be sown for early crops.