WEEKLY CALENDAR

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XVII, 10 December 1927, Page 15

WEEKLY CALENDAR

THE FLOWER GARDEN

Much dry weather is now expected and the Hower gardens will want copious waterings it the annuals are to dower well. Rose trees in bloom require to be kept moist it continued blooms are wanted. Any sign or rust on chrysanthemums should be immediately dealt with. Strip off the affected leaves and spray with lime and sulphur. 'Dahlia bulbs are growing last. Tie the stems securely to the stakes as they grow. Thu following seeds should be non sown in boxes and transplanted when hig enough to handle: Asters, Cosmos Petunias, Marigolds, Celosia, Cockscomb, Zinnia. Kochia and Portulacca.

Gladioli and ’Xmas Ldies will soon be at their best. Stake all those in a windy situation as the stems are inclined to snap oft. Well rolled cow or stable manure should be heaped round the roots to help keep the taoisutre in the ground. Lilac trees hmslied dowering should be cut back to allow the new growth to appear. Hydrangeas will soon be in dower. Water with Sulphate ol Iron or Alum to produce that beautiful blue shade, loz. per gallon per week. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Salads during the hot months are favourites with us all. Prepare now by sowing mustard and cress, lettuce, beet, leeks, celery and radish. Herbs for Xmas will want attention and constant hoeing between the plants will help. Plant out the following vegetable plants: Tomatoes, Cape gusebernes. cabbages, broccoli, lettuce and kumeras. Plenty of water is necessary when planting and every night until established.

Spray the plums and peaches with lime and sulphur to prevent the brown rot. Arsenate or lead should be constantly used on the apples for moth ravages. Peas and beans should be sown in succession every fortnight if a continuous crop is required. Strategem Kas and Canadian Wonder French ans are the best varieties.

Rock melons and pie melons are always tasty. Sow the seed immediately in rich soil and water until they germinate. Marrows, pumpkins and cucumbers that are backward ean be pushed on by using nitrate of soda, loz. per gallon.

THE GREENHOUSE.

Now that the warmer weather is here glass houses will require shading to protect the tender foliage tram the sun. Lune used as a wlnte-wash is one of the easiest and quickest methods. Mealy Bug is quite busy on the Bigonias, ferns and palms, etc. Spray with Black Leaf 40, If teaspoontuls per gallon of soapy water. This will also kill greeu aphis and spider on the young maiden hair fronds. Tuberous Bigonias and Floxinias should be potted up tor making a show later on. Lae only the best soil richly manured and sanded. Some of the annual loliage plants make a colour display and brighten up odd corners. Coleus seedlings are now to be had and Celosia if potted look quite gay and effective. TABLE FOR SEED SOWING. HOW MUCH SEED TO SOW. Beans, Broad Windsor—Half a pint will sow a 25 foot row. Beans, Long Pod—Hall a pint will sow a 35 foot row. Beans, Dwarf French or Kidney— Half a pint will sow a 35 loot row. Beans, runner—Sow in lines, seeds six inches apart (usually a double line to the row). Beetroot—Half an ounce of seed will sow a 25 foot row. Broccoli. Brussels Sprouts, cabbages, cauliflowers, etc.—Half an ounce of seed will sow three square yards of seed-bed. the seedlings to be transplanted at least two feet ’ apart eacn way. Carrots—One ounce of seed will sow a 100 foot row. Carrot seed should always be mixed with sand before sowing. Celery—Half an ounce of seed is ample for a 50 foot double or a 100 foot single row. Celery—Half an ounce of seed is . Cress—Half an ounce of seed wili sow a 50 foot drill. Cucumber—This is usually sown single in small pots or, an inch and a half apart in pan* lw*ek—Half an ounce of seed will sow a 50 foot row. Lettuce—Half an ounce of seed will sow a 60 foot row. Onion—Same as leeks. Parsley— Half an ounce of seed will bow a 40 foot row. Peas— On good ground, one pint will sow a 75 foot row. Peas are Baaally sown much too thickly.

Potatoes—Reckon 11 to 121 b of seed tubers to the rod of ground (301 square yards). Radish —Half an ounce of seed will sow a seed bed of three square yards. Tomato—Seeds should be sown at least an inch apart in pots, pans or boxes.

Turnip—Halt an ounce of seed will sow an 80 tool row. \ egetable Marrow—The smallest packet ot these, and of tomato and cucumber seed, will usually suffice tor the requirements of the average amateur gardener. To get early plants, vegetable marrow seeds require some warmth, either of hot water or manure. A halt-dozen plants will suffice lor the average small garden. PUMPKINS, SQUASH OR GOURDS. • These are popumr names of many varieties and species of plants belonging io Hie cucumber family. Thes are lender, hail-hardy annuals, natives of warm countries, and cultivated the world over. They cross readily wiui another, and so make ii dimcuii to keep one variety dislnie; it other sorts are grown in the same .lijir.ct and happen to be flowering

al tile same lime. Thus we have hundreds of varieties of squashes and pumpkins of all shapes and sizes. Their cultural requirements are simple. It the plants are required to be grown quickly they should bi planted on a bed oi manure, and beHr; gross feeders, will thrive well. They can also be successiully grown on ordinary ground without manure provided the soli is moderately rich. The seed should be sown from September to December on small hillocks, four feet apart each way, three or four seeds being planted on each hillock, and when germinated hoe out the weak plants, leaving one or twp strong plants. Vegetable marrows and squashes are suitable for training over trellis or summer aßbours.

Squashes and pumpkins will soon be bearing flowers plentifully and often amateur gardeners complain that the flowers are falling off without any fruit setting. This is probably due to faulty pollinating. The only remedy is to pillinate by hand. Two sorts of flowers are produced on the plants, those with an embryo marrow immediately behind them (the females), and those which are backed merely by a stalk (the males). Every morning when the sun is shining pick one or more of the male flowers and strip away the petals, and rub its central column against the centre of each female flower. In the rubbing pollen will be transferred from pale to female, and thus the work of nature will be assisted. When your pumpkin vine swings its best and biggest fruit over into your neighbour’s backyard, don’t wait until night to secure what is justly yours. Rather follow the intention of the all-wise Solomon in regard to the baby—halve it.

being very rich in nitrogen was doubtless the cause of the splendid muscular development among the peasantry. For the cultivation of the main crop of peas a rich loam will give the best results—a composition of which lime is a principal ingredient. For the early crops a very warm situation is necessary, the ground in all cases being well drained. Manures should be applied according to the quality of ilie soil. Very often peas thrive in ground that was manured for the lust crop, blood is an excellent manure for peas if applied dry and raked in. Ou no. account use uitraie ol soda, as tins turns the foliage yellow, if using manure in the drills when sowing peas, cover with two inches o. soil before planting the seed. Guano is the salesi artificial manure to use at the time of planting. Rotted stable manure is easny the best manure 11 well dug in betore planting. When the ground is ready mark the distance between the rows. If the ground room is limited, the dwarfed varieties such as William Hurst, Little Gem and American W onder, should be plained 2 loot din. apart. The intermediate varieties should be 3 foot din. apart and the tall varieties about d feel between the rows. 11 the ground room is limited then the distance may be decreased a little, but it is well known that peas with plenty of room thrive and bear heavier crops.

Do not sow the Seeds too thickly ; lib. will sow a3O foot row; taller varieties, lib. will sow id to 80 ieei in length. When the taller varieties are up din. to Bin. they should be staked before the haulm bends.

KENTIA PALMS, THE KING OF INDOOR PLANTS.

Kentia palms are among the most ■popular of indoor plants. Many house-wives find it extremely difficult to grow these handsome plants. A few simple hints on their cultivation should be appreciated. Periodically they should be re-potted. A mixture of nice fine sandy soil should be used, and the bottom of the pot must have ample drainage. The leaves should lie sponged -once a week with fresh water so as to keep the pores free from grit or dust. During the summer. Kentia palms should bo watered twice 'a week and through the winter months about once a week. Place the pot in a bucket of water, and leave it to soak, then let it stand to drain.