Garden Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 45, 3 February 1894, Page 10

Garden Notes

FEBRUARY. (By Murihiku) . ..During tins month and next also vent weeds from seeding; a little attention in this respect now will save a great deal of work later on. As recovery precan tion should be taken to precommended last month the planting of the'cabbage tribe for use during winter, if not already finished, should be completed at once, as these to mature properly require to be almost full-grown before winter sets in. Celery should also be got in without delay. A sowing of prickly spinach and golden ball turnip should be made for late use, and towards the middle of the month, in a sheltered position, early cabbage and cauliflower to plant out in .spring. Keeping these plants through the winter is generally a matter of difficulty, so that in choosing a spot for sowing one should be taken as likely to protect from frosts as much as possible. Shallots and potato-onions should be lifted when nearly ripe and either hung on fences or allowed to lie on the ground for two or three weeks, so as to be thoi'oughly dry before being stored away. In the flower garden care should be taken to see that dahlias, hollyhocks, and other tall-growing plants are securely fastened to prevent (injury from winds. With these and other flowering plant* the borders should now be quite gay. To secure good blooms for exhibition purposes they should be frequently top-dressed with guano, and during dry weather copious supplies of water or liquid manure should be given them. This and next month is the proper time to propagate, by cuttings, such plants as fuschias, geraniums, petunias, verbenas, penstemons, etc. They should be inserted in a mixture of good loam and fine sand, on a gentle heat if possible, and not allowed too much sunlight. This is also the proper time to propagate roses and fruit trees by budding. Seeds of Antirrhiniums, Sweet William, . Canterbury Bells, Brompton Stocks, &c., inquired for flowering early next sprung should be

put in now, and if under glass so much the better. They will be found to meet a want much felt at that season of the year.