GARDEN COLUMN.

Grey River Argus, 26 February 1927, Page 1 (Supplement)

GARDEN COLUMN.

(By “Vega”). PROGRAMME OF WORK. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Attend to the digging or trenching of all vacant spots; bury all harmless i weeds and other debris; carefully fork ( out sorrel, docks and convolvoli. Ground turned up now receives the full benefit of the hot, dry weather. Prepare ground for a first batch ot anemones and ranunculi, to be planted . early in March. ! Caterpillars are now becoming destructive, affecting chrysanthemums, dahlias, zinnias and many other plants. Spraying with arsenate of lead, Joz. to the gallon, is the most effective remedy. 1 Carefully stake Michaelmas daisies, heleniums, solidagos and perennial sunflowers, loosely arranging the stems ■ to show off the flowers to best advant' . age. without crowding them. I Attend to boxing-off seedlings of cyclamens, pansies, polyanthi, prim | roses, cinerarias, primula sinensis and I obconica, and keep a careful look-out I for caterpillars on the cinerarias. Hoc or lightly fork between the rows of chrysanthemums ami the soil among dahlias, and also through the ; rose beds and other places, not interfering with annuals that are growing closely together, and cover Dm surface. | Tn applying artificial waterings, which are necessary for some plants during dry weather, sec that the soil is well soaked and regularly given, otherwise more harm than good often results. I Viiilefs are liable to bo attacked with

red spider during the hot summer months. Well water tliu plants and afterward spray them with Gishurst’s compound. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. In sowing or planting crops, never put in more than can be properly cared for; every plot of ground cropped more than can be well looked after lessens instead of adds to the success of the grower. The growth of weeds has this season been abnormal, necessitating constant attention to keep them under control. Hoeing, to be successful, should be done while the weeds are quite small, or, if possible, as soon as they show above the surface. Attend to the harvesting of onions, shallots, garlic and other crops as they mature. Potatoes especially need careful watching owing to the tendency of the tubers to make secondary growth, in many instances even before the. tubers have properly matured. Cucumbers will need to be kept well supplied with moisture, while a close watch should be, kept for aphis, and, if necessary, spraying should be done. Continue to spray tomatoes for both fungoids and caterpillars, mixing a little arsenate of lead with the Bordeaux solution. Keep all side growths removed and give an occasional application of manure water to assist in developing tin* crops. Kumeras are now running freely. Occasionally lift the runners to prevent them rooting into the soil.

Celery and leeks must in no case be allowed to suffer for the want of moisture. Keep the soil loosened by occasional hoeing or forking. No effort should be spared v.lmn favourable conditions prevail to sow and plant as many varieties of vegetables ass the season will admit. BENEFITS OF SOIL PREPARATION. Whether for hedge, shelter, or for ornamental purposes, it is especially essential that the preparation of the soil should be thorough. To n(‘gleet this work until the time of planting arrives is often the cause of failure. Any trees that are worth planting should have naturally been well grown and cared for and to succeed after planting need somewhat similar conditions to | enable them to become well established before the spring growth sets m.