THE GARDEN.

North Otago Times, Volume CVII, Issue 17748, 11 March 1927, Page 6

THE GARDEN.

WORK F.OR THE WEEK. Seeds to Sow — Gabbage, cauliflower, Lettuce, onion, spinach, turnip. Whai to Plant — Cabbage, endive, Lettuce. This is the season for weeds to make rapid growth. The days are gelting shorter, the sun Jcss powerful and conditions are favourable for weeds. Even in the best kept gardens weeds will comc up. Probably they are blown from some unoultivated patch nearhy and germinate after a good rain. These seedling weeds should he dealt with at once, because the time will soon arrive when hoeing will not he very destructive owing to the danip condition of the soil and the atmosphere. Promptly clear away the rcmains of all exhausted crops and burn or hury all rubbish to destroy the larvae of any insects there may be on it. Onions— Sow the autumn crop at onee. Be careful not to sow tlie seeds too deeply. If the seeds are on heavy land cover them with -Jinch of soil and if on light, onc : inch. Cabbages for early spring use j should be set out as soon as pos- | sible. Give the quarter a thorough | preparation. Manure it heavily, and ! if there is any black ash from a i rubbish fire spread it over and fork ! it in. Don't plant starvclings. Tt woulcl he more profltable to make anotlier planting of seed at this late hotu* than to set out stuntcd plants that have remained too long j in the seed hed. Stuntcd plants are j apt to send up a small spike of j blossoms that are nseless, instead of ! lieading up.

Potatoes — Lifting and storing those that are ripe should have prompt attention, espccially on heavv land. Disease seems to develop more quickly on heavy land, so the sooner the tubers are stored the better. This worlc should he done on a warm day, so that the polatoes will get quite dry before they are put away. Have a quantity of slaked lime handy, and give the tubers a liberal dusting, whicli will improve the flavour and help them keep Should any show the sliglitest signs of disease, do not put tliem away with the hgalthy ones, but use them immediatcly. Ilardy Frults. Bush Fruits — Where new plantations of currants and strawberries are to be made. prepare the land at once. Deep cultivation is quite as necessary for busli fruits as for any other crop. Dig the ground two feet deep and if it is inclined to he Inmpy hreak it down as Iine as pdssible. Bush friiits pay for manure and unless the soil is really ricli, give it a liberal dressing with ricli rotten manure. By preparing tlie .^oil at once it will liave tinm to settle down before the transplant1 ation of tlie buslies. When allocating position for the different lcinds, rememher that gooseberries should have the driest and best drained. back currants the wettest, and olhers the intermcdiate positious. * '• Greenhouse. With the advent of March the management of greenhouses will require different methods from those adopted during the summer months. Watering and ventilation are the two most important items of management. Watering should he dorie in thc morning, so that all surplus can soak away by night. leaving ihe atmospliere as dry as possible during the danrp hours of night. Manv greciihonse plants have nearly finislied their season's growth, and will not need much. water, wliile otliers that liave suceulent foliage will absorh niucli water from Ihe atmospliere. 1 . ' 1 '