OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Otago Witness, Issue 2815, 26 February 1908, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

KITCHEN GARDEN —As the autumn ■eason advances the eradication of weeds becomes more tioublesome; but they must be kept down, as they draw out eveiy paiticje of moistme m the soil, to the detriment of the crops. The ground' set at hbeify by the removal of exhausted ciops should be utilised by putting hi large bieadths of tuimips for winter use. It is best to sow them in drills which have been previously well ■watered, unless, of course, the ground :s vi a damp state at the time. of sowing. If turnips are to bulb this season they miht %>e encouraged to come forward su once, or they will onlj make tops, which bolt m .spring. Where plants are obtainable, cabbages ,should be put out to come m m May Soil up celery and attend to that intended for Ifite use. The soil between recentlysown onions, »pinach. and\ carrots must be hoed occasionally, a nd thinning out should fee resorted to the moment the plants are fit Garlic, shallots and onions are all ready for lilting Tins should be done, and the bulbs clued and stored away during the prevalence of dry weather. Peihaps it is not generallj known that i miner beans need not be sown every year, as the loots live through the winter, and grow stionger each yeai — at least for thiee or foui yeai<=. The ground should be carefully foiked up and cleaned about them euily in the =pnng anu a good dressing of old manure given. FRUIT GARDEN.— The dry season hag liuriied on the lipening of "fruit It is usually a difficult matter to hit the exact time when fruit should be gatheied and m the case of early and mid-season peais, if they are not picked in time, they become 2otten in a. few days. Whe;: the fruit will separate from the stem on being lifted up, it is fit to^ gather; but this is not always a safe guide, *nd it is better to risk a little shrivelling by gathering too earh'. In or"dinary seasons Williams's Bon Chretien and Duchess d'Angouleme should be picked about the middle of February, and the autumn Bergamot about the first week in March Much damage is often done to the trees by careless gathering, the fruit buds for next season being pulled off with the fruit. The best time to gather fruit is in the morning, when cool and dry. It will keep better «nd be of finer flavour than when picked during the heat of the day Pears — in fact, all fruit — should be handled like eggs, the slightest brui=e in some varieties causing decay. FLOWER GARDEN— A good selection of autunin-b.ooniing rc-es — such as souvenir cle Malmaison, done de Djjon, and Belle Lionnaise — 1« of the fir^t importance as they will always furnish blooms let the season be

■what it may To keep them giowmg and flowering -without check, ,remo\e all bad flowers, cut off straggling sheets, and mulch , round the roots of the plants Mildew and '' epider have been veiy destructive When destructive on panics they may be checked in the ear.y stages liy dusting the plantwith a mixtuie of hme and sulphur, but the "lound " r RPPVTTnTTair v i, ■ 1 t. t. co^f ßha^,fsWd U be 81 ss acta et tl't ?.& tered position to ripen their «ood. Cuttings, however, should be put in at once, and pushed forward to make nice little flowering specimens in a waim house during winter | Attend to previous instiuctions as to watering and \enhlation