Garden Operations.

Patea Mail, 18 March 1882, Page 1 (Supplement)

Garden Operations.

FOR FEBRUARY.

(From Milts, DicTc and Co.s Almanac.)

Kitchen Garden.— -The operations recommended during last month are suitable for the early part of this month, and all vegetables for Winter and Spring use ought to be sown or planted out at once—such as early and late Cabbages, Savoys, Curled Greens, Cauliflowers, Turnips, French Beans, Radish, Endive, and Lettuce. Attend to the earthing up ef Cabbages, &e. Plant out Celery, and draw earth to those already planted that have begun to grow up. Care must be taken, however, and not cover their hearts. See that Carrots, Parsnips, Beet Root, and Turnips are not left too thick. All Onions that have become yellow in the leaves should be lifted and dried, turning them occasionally, so as to dry equally. Leeks may still be transplanted into rich soiUbut they will not get any size if neglected longer. Earth up, if in drills, those already planted. Take up early Potatoes and early Carrots. Sow Onions for early Spring use. Fruit Department.— Remove all superfluous breastwood from wall and espalier trees; nail in and tie all useful shoots. Standards, especially Apple trees, have to be looked over, and freed from vermin. Bud fruit trees of all sorts without delay. Gather fruits as they ripen. Remove old canes from Raspberry bushes. Stir up the soil around the stems of the various sorts of fruit trees, and support those that are heavily loaded.

Flower Department. —Bud Roses; insert cuttings of Tea-scented, Noisette, China, Bourbon, and Hybrid perpetuals, and clean those that are dirty with green-fly. All cuttings, whatever their .length may be, should be put three-fourths of their length in the ground, and the top one-fourth above the ground, firming well, and shading if necessary. Stake Dahlias, Hollyhocks, Poppies, and Sweet Williams, feeding freely with liquid manure. Propagate by cuttings all bedding plants, such as Geraniums, Calceolarias, Verbenas, Fuchsias, Heliotropes, Petunias, Pents f emons, Veronicas, Pansies, Hollyhocks, Ageratums, Antirrhinums, and Cupheas. Dress and trim hedges; overhaul flower borders, as many of the perennials will have done flowering. These should be cut down, and the blanks filled up with pot plants, or other suitable material.