OUR GARDEN CALENDAR.

Manawatu Standard, 2 March 1889, Page 3

OUR GARDEN CALENDAR.

OPERATIONS FOU TIIIO WEEK ENDING MARCH 2. „ , S GIiKEMIOI BE, Bu'bous or tuberous plan's that linve do no ilowering'iriut lie watered sparingly, no an to prsdually iliy off and l'ipeu Uio bulb. Gloxinias are now past their best, and arc shonini; si.nis of decay. Tl ese require careful treatment to nave ttie bulbs for another 'eason. As soou as the flowers fu-liv mid until ilie fo i<tge decays, the amount uf water given uiust bo gralua ly decreased, aiid when tlie leaves tiyu yellow the pots ina/ then be turned on their sido or placed on a dry shelf, where no drip can get into the soil. 'I ho bulba keep best left in the old soi l , not being disturbed in any way until tho following season. Tuberous be«o' nias still continue to giro a good display of bloom. Ag soou as tho flowering per'od of these are past, and the plants show uigns of decay, they should be 1 rented the same asgloxinjafe. Achitneiies and tydceuß are now coming into flower. These are very pretty mimraer flowering plants. Tlicy require to bp looked over d uly on account of th? caterpillar. This >» troublesome ptsl m yery partial to this variety of ] hints. hut by careful * . ventilation thiT can bo l;o|)t almost - entirily out of the house. I find by opening only the 'tup vontilator-, ■ keeping llio door and sido ventilators clo'&cd, that these posts rarely make tljeir appearance. Amongst other flowering plant!', allauiandas, stephcuotis, and diplndcnias are making a good display. These should be frequently watered with liquid manure. In foliage plants, inarautas, draeoenas, nlocnsia, Macrohizn, vaiiagata, - - ' fffTd A.~sft rin in gs i!aTithuriiuiis, pa.ii--0 diuius, palms, nud various other bountiful foliage plnf#», are now nt their best. These beautiful foli'•*ct phtuts, when well grown, are so (ustiiict in character and foliage that no greenhouse should be without them. Ferns: These universal favourites arc now in tho pink of perfection. There are but few plants I hat aro more interesting, or that give mora pleasure to tho cultivator, than tho fern, and none that aro more useful for decorative ptir- ' . poses. Tho great variety of foliage 'j£. 'and various tints of colours obtained ©k; at all seasons of tho year rendors them indispensable for greenhouse . , decoration, and when tastefully ar''taiiged". with foliage begonias and f '»/' prions, othor Due foliage plants, display. Wash the pots of all plants that require it. Plants thrive much better in clean pots than dirty ones. Occasionally Btir tho surface of tho soil, as the soil from constant watering becomes caked and hard. Primulas: Narly ■gj sown primulas should bo pricked off into pans or boxes as soon as the plants aro larga enough to handle, for/ if allowed to become too large 'lefore this is done, tho plants receive too great n. check. Make n sowing* of cinerarias and herbaceous calcolarias for early flowering. Prepare o pari filled with one pari loam, ono leaf mould, and ono smc 1 gifted'fine, and whero tliis is not ob tainable, any good light soil, witl , ono third sand, will do. Make i flue siir ace and sow the seed, cover : ~ ing lie seel lightly ; place in aclo i i ;■ frai e,, aid darken the pan witj -paj era until tho seeds gcrmiuftttf ttoy may be gradually J* WL^--