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Farm and Garden Operations for September.

In Europe March. Average temperature

Auckland 55.8, Wellington 51.2, Christchurch 50.8, Dunedin 47.4.

Farm.—During this month expect tine showers which warm the earth; the weather gets mild, the days lengthen, and vegetation shows life in every direction. This is the best time to put in main crops. Finish sowing oats and spring wheat if not already done. Choose a fine day for sowing barley. Sow spring vetches, good crop to clear ground; so thick. Drilled wheat and beans may be hoed. Land must be got ready for potato crop; plough it up, let it lay two weeks, plough again, roll and harrow, then Draw Drills two and a half feet apart. Prefer large potatoes cut to small ones; large seed, cut, yields far more weight per acre. After planting, split the furrows to cover them. Harrow Drills about two weeks after planting; see that harrow do not tear up seed. Finish grass sowing; if autumn sown has failed, add more seed; bush, harrow and roll. See our "Guide to farming" for cheese making, 2s.

Kitchen Garden.—Two sowings of peas this month, the rows single, from three to five feet apart, medium early and wrinkled marrows, sow; broad Windsor beans, kidney beans on sheltered ground; sow parsley, early horn carrot, celery for main crop, onions, parsnips, beet, cabbage and cauliflower, in beds for transplanting; snow's winter and grange's brocoli, for early spring; early dutch turnips, spinach, radishes, and small saladings for succession; prick out early sown lettuce, and make another sowing. Make fresh beds of thyme, mint, sage, tarragon, and pot marjoram; so sweet bazil; earth up and stake early peas, cabbage, and cauliflower; fork over asparagus beds; dig and trench vacant ground.

Fruit Garden.—Finish planting, stake and mulch round newly-planted trees. The pruning and planting-out ought to have been done last month. Prune and lay hedges; plant forest trees for shelter on exposed side of the orchard. The peach trees will now be covered with flourish. The fig trees will show their young fruit and leaves, and the vine will burst out at every bud.

Flower Garden.—Sow hardy annuals; cover one-eighth of an inch. Sweet peas and larger seeds will require more covering; tender sorts defer sowing till beginning of next month, the soil frequently stirred; examine for slugs evening or early in the morning All alterations should now be finished; camellias and azalias, pick off dead blooms and frequently rake the surface. Anemone, ranunculus, spanish iris, narcissus, and jonquils may be planted to come in succession. Gladiolus plant; herbaceous plants divide and plant; stocks sow; lawn grasses sow. See to your bees; repair the boxes; clear every corner of cobwebs, beetles, slugs, &c. See our "Handy Book on the Honey Bee," 1s.

Greenhouse.—Give thorough overhaul; move plants outside; whitewash interior walls; clean the glass. Re-pot plants in same or larger size. Shake out gloxineas and achimenes at rest for last three months, and re-pot in a size less. Gesnera zebrina cut down and rest for two months; shift plants requiring it; stir soil of those shifted last month; give a good watering, and keep house closed for a few days.