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Farm and Garden Operations for February.

In Europe August. Average temperature

Auckland 70.1, Wellington 64.5. Christchurch 65.4, Dunedin 58.4.

Farm.—During this and last month the weather is generally too Dry and hot for sowing seeds, as they will not germinate; but there is plenty of work to be done—ploughing, harrowing, burning, fencing, ditching, Draining, cleaning out water-courses, carting manure, &c., and making preparations for sowing autumn crops in March or beginning of April. The main crop of potatoes may be taken up, and put away at once under cover; first, however, selecting your seed for next crop. Pick well-formed, smooth-skinned, flat-eyed, middle-sized ones. Some farmers will use none but large potatoes cut, leaving one eye in each set. Our experience, however, is in favour of smaller sizes, with the growing end cut off, leaving two or at most three eyes; and for seed the potatoes will be improved by being spread out in the open air to green before storing. After reaping the grain, put the cattle on the land to eat off grass and weeds, then plough up. Collect the weeds on the surface, and burn as directed for last month. In foul pastures or land full of roots and weeds, paring and burning is the very best method for clearing the land.

Kitchen Garden.—As the peas are gathered, plant late celery, savoys, cabbages, broccoli, and cauliflower; plant after heavy rain Be guided by the seasons in sowing and planting. Far better let the plants remain in the seed-bed till the nights get a little longer and the air cooler; insects are very troublesome at this season. In season—peas, tomatoes, rhubarb, beans, carrots, cauliflower, turnips, beet, cabbage, vegetable marrow, lettuce, radish, cucumber, and small salad.

Fruit Garden.—Gather fruit as it ripens; see that the young frees have a liberal supply of water, or the fruit may ripen prematurely and Drop off. Strawberry beds done bearing should have the runners cut away, and the hoe run through them; preserve as much of the foliage as possible, as that, in a great measure, tends to mature the dormant buds for the following season's crop of fruit. Cut away canes from the raspberries after the crop is gathered, and encourage the young growth for next season's crop; leave about four or five young rods, and destroy all the rest. Hoe all spare ground; trim hedges.

Flower Garden.—Operations this month—watering, staking, tying, bedding plants in full flower. Attend to mowing, sweeping, rolling, and keep the edges well defined, so as to give all a neat, finished appearance.

Greenhouse.—Chrysanthemums must be shifted into their flowering pots. Cut down pelargoniums done flowering and ripened their wood; set them in a shady place out of doors, till they break into leaf. Cuttings will strike freely out of doors or in a cool frame, if shaded. Heaths and all hard-wooded plants plunged in a shady place out of doors. As soon as cinerarias have formed suckers, shake them out and divide the roots; pot the best into four-inch pots for another season; same for the calceolaria. Keep this department gay with flowers in succession.