GUILD MEMBERS ADVISED ABOUT THEIR GARDENING

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 157, 21 July 1937, Page 11

GUILD MEMBERS ADVISED ABOUT THEIR GARDENING

Much interest was taken in the talk about work to do in the garden during the last fortnight in July and August, which was given by Miss Shaw to the members ot the garden eircle of the Hastings Townswomen's Guild at their meeting yesterday afternoon. Miss Shaw said that the soil should be well cultivated to gpt it to the good eonditiou i;eady for planting. Green rropa should be dug in before the end of the month and the soil worked very line and allowed to lde with the sun on it for a few days to make a warm bed for tlie seeds. A good manure suggested was 3 parts s'uperphoephate, 2. parts sulphate of potash and 1 part sulphate of ammcjnia. "Seeds which may now be sown are broad beans and eariy peas," said Miss Shaw, "and cauliflower, cabbage and lettuee plants. When these three are on the way they may be watered with a nitrate of soda solution, loz. of hitrate of soda to one gallou of water. Early in August sow carrot, turnip, radish, turnip rooted beet and parsnip seed. Parsnip seed must be fresh every year» and mi:;t not be planted too deeply — just twice the size of the- seed is about the best depth. " "A few early potatoes may be got ready for planting. Place them upright in shallow boxes to sprout, giving them plenty of light and air but no • frost, and have the end with most eyes upwglit. When. the potatoes are planted out leave just three or four eyes." Miss Shaw said that she had read that one should never pull big weeds out of the garden — they shoiild never oe allowed to grow. The soil should be ivept* clean by raking it over as soon -uis tlie seeds uegin to shoot. "Shrubs and trees should be planted before the end of the month," stpd Miss Shaw, "and , fruit trees *will be improved by lying • • them in a pit covered with soil for a week. Always be sure to plant shrubs and trees the same depth as they were at the nursery. lioses should be pruned before the end of the month, the weak and dead wood being cut out. Boses for exhibitioo shouid be pruned back well and polyanthus roses are best cut back almost to the ground. " (Jhrysanthemum cuttings should be planted out while the permanent positions are made ready," continued the speaker. "It ds . essential that the cutting should rest on the soil at tlio bottom because an air pocket preventa striking. 5 ' Miss Shaw said that seeds should be sown now for summer fiowering, and ia conneetion with this she gave several valuable suggestions whiijh were noted by the memoers. She suggested that nnstead of placing the packet on a stick to remember what had been planted, that if the packet was pushed mside a small bottle iio rain or bad weather would be able to damage it to prevent reading. For tsewing the seed when it was not very large Miss Shaw nept a small tin with a hole in the Ji j and shook at' out. While demonstrating with a box of soR just how to plant seeds, Miss Shaw gave the members much excellent advice. She said that the soil in the box should be two parts garden isoil and one part of sand, just dainp enough to keep its shape when pressed in the hand. With a long thin piece of stick, about an ineh in height, the depth for the seed was easily made, and seeds large enough to handle were planted about, an inch apart. They were then covered over with soil and pressed down with the stick. Very fine seed was mixed with sand, sprinjkled over the top of the soil and flattened down with the stick. When fine seed was mixed with the sand and scattered over the soil the little plants would not come up too close together. "The box of seed should be covered with a piece of glass and then paper," said the speaker, "and if the soil was damp no more water should be needed until the seeSs germinafed. The sun must not • shine directly on them and they should not be watered overhead, but by putbing the . box in a larger vessel of water and leaving it till the moisture just shows at the top. A very weak solution of Condy's crystals will prevent the plants from dying if they become too damp. ' ' The tiny seedlings should be planted out as soon as two little leaves are showing, and the end of a pencil will make athe holes for them. Tq get them in very straight rows it is best to have a board with nails through" it which may be pressed on the soil 'to leave the holes beautifully even. The little seedling should be held by its leaves and never its roots." Miss Shaw was heartily thanked for her most helpful talk, and the gardening enthusiasts felt that they had some busy weeks ahead.