FARM AND GARDEN

Taihape Daily Times, Volume 7, Issue 104, 5 January 1915, Page 7

FARM AND GARDEN

KITCHEN GARDEN. The planting out of the various autumn and winter crops wil now require a large share of attention. Dull, showery weather should be chosen for the operation. In the early part of this month plant out main crop of Brussels sprouts in rich ground, also late broccoli, Savoy, Drum-head or Green curled. In the warmer districts the late varieties of cauliflower are preferable to grow than broccoli—Veitche's Autumn Giant, Asiatic or Eclipse. Plant red Dutch cabbage for pickling, and successional plantings of cabbage and cauliflower. Leeks, if sown early, will now be strong enough for transplanting, and where required of large size should be strong enough for transplanting, and where required of large size should be planted in trenches, and treated after the manner requisite to grow celery; manure liberally. The planting out of main crop of celery must also be made, to afford a long season's growth, to produce full-sized heads. Make successional sowings of carrots, cress, mustard, lettuce, radishes, spinach, turnips, and swedes; also, a smal bed of green-curled endive for transplanting next month. Make a sowing of cabbage; for general use the Enfield Market is a good variety, but for maturing early and fine quality Nonpareil and Yates' Ist Early are desirable kinds; also cauliflower. Keep up sowings of peas and French and runner varieties of beans. Train and pinch back shoots of tomatoes, cucumbers, melons, and pumpkins. Attend w'ell to hoeing and stirring the surface of the soil amongst all crops, so as to destroy weeds and encourage growth of plants. Water when necessary all newly-transplanted crops, more especially celery and leeks. Rough dig all gtround that is unoccupied, so as to have same in good tilth for autumn cropping.

ORCHARD. This is the proper month for budding. Cherries are usually budded first, then plums, followed by pears. February ir the best month for budding peaches anil nectarines. Summer pruning still goes on. Mulch as much as possible, if it be only with grass, straw, etc., etc., ™ keep the roots cool. Clean gooseberry suckers, and remove all the suckers except three or four from raspberries. Remove laterals and superfluous wood from vines. Keep the hoe going, and burn the weeds. Look out for ripening fruit, and take careful note of qualities and quantities, and periods when ripe, to guide you in grafting or in buyingnew trees next winter. Remove strawberry runners if not wanted. FLOWER GARDEN. Walks should be frequently rolled, verges and edgings clipped or trimmed, and the lawn mown weekly. In dry seasons mulching the flower beds is of t*m utmost benefit. When watering, the soil should be thoroughly drenched. In the mixed flower balsams, cockscombs, zinnias, fushias, etc., should receive an occasional watering of liquid manure. Dahlias, carefully tie up a,nd thin out. Propagate carnations, pinks, and picotees, by layering or by cuttings; antirrhiums, pansies, and pelargoniums from cuttings. Chysanthemums, psn?,y back so as to cause four or live shoots to bieak; givo liquid manure once a week. Lift all early flowering varieties of M »bs cs they dry hefore stciing. CHasbovs regulate Bid »i© up neatly. Clip hedges. Throughout the whole department the surface of the soil must be kept well stirred by frequent hoengs. Early flowering Narcissi should be planted. TARM. Harvest operations are in full swing in most districts during this month. Wheat is ripe for cutting whenever the grain can be squeezed without yielding a milky juice. After this process the ripening stage merely thickens the outer coat of the berry, causing in milling a larger percentage of bran at the expense of the yield of flour.- Careful expriments made prove that to allow wheat to become dead ripe before harvesting injures both the quality and the quantity of the produce as flour. Stack without delay as soon.as the sheaves are fairly dry in the stooks. There is more cause to fear bad weather than a little sap in the stalks. If thatch has not already been secured, no time should be lost in getting it, as it will lie found a great advantage to.be able to thatch stacks immediately, as mainstacks get wet to the ground through delay in thatching. Care should 'ue taken to form good stack bottoms, aw many tons of sheaves are wasted annually through neglect of this precaution. Feel the sheaves in the centre of band; if dry, they can be stacked; if cold and clammy, they are unfit. Oats should be cut while the straw is at4ll actually somewhat green, otherwise much of the grain will lie. losjt by shedding, especially in windy weather. For hay, oat? may be cut as soon as the grasn i.s fully formed, and while the crop is still green. Maize must bo kept clear of weeds. Cultivate constantly between , tho rows until the crop is two feet high. Sow swedes in first and second weeks of this month. Sow soft turnips any time during this month. Lambs may be weaned at end of tkis moatk, and, if possible, put on rape or some fresh, clean feed. Stock rape only when It is dry—say, about 10 o'clock in the morning. Avoid putting stock on it when wet, as they may get blown. Stubbie latfds may be stocked witn