WORK IN THE GARDEN.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 13, 23 September 1927, Page 8

WORK IN THE GARDEN.

(By OLD TIMER.)

The coming month will be a busy and a highly important one from a culturist's point of view. The hoe should be freely worked amongst all growing crops, especially those consisting of young seedlings. This is very desirable after nice growing showers of rain. In connection with this beneficial practice of hoeing or soil stirring comes the equally important one of crop thinning. Thus in process of hoeing1 the young seedling crops of oiuons, turnips, parsnips, carrots, etc., may be rapidly thinned by the intelligent use of this handy tool. It is important to complete this thinning out process .as soon as possible after the young seedlings are large enough for the purpose, and in doing so save the strongest young plants. This is important in such root crops as carrots, parsnips, and so on. The strongest young plants possess the more robust underground growth. The needful thinning out of onions, turnips, etc., require also to be done when the plants are young, to obviate their being drawn and weakened by too close contact. When hoeing such crops do not be satisfied with simply chopping up weeds, or thinning out the seedlings, but take care to hoe somewhat deeply, and so move the soil as -well as possible amongst the crops. Peas are such an important crop that the maintenance of a constant supply in season is desirable. Successional sowings should be made to meet demands. Do not sow too thickly; one pint of seed is ample for a row twelve to fourteen feet in length. Those who have not sown onions in sufficient quantities, as-ad-vised last month, should do so now. Having advised the planting of potatoes in a previous issue, it is only necessary to say here that where, owing to the exigencies of weather, this has not been done, it will be as well to do so as early as possible during the present month. Sow broad beans, turnips, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, etc., where necessary. Continue planting out cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce plants. Immediately plants from the early sowings of cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce, etc., are large enough, thin out and transplant to their permanent quarters. The chief object in all good vegetable growing should be to give all a full and uninterrupted growth throughout. IN THE FLOWER GARDEN. "I maintain that as a constant, continuous, life-long source of complete relief and innocent diversion from the work and from the sorrows of life, the recreation of horticulture surpasses all."—Dean Hole. The end of the present month should see the hnishing up of all planting of shrubs, roses, hedge plants, etc. The coming month can be devoted to seed-sowing of hardy annuals, and the planting out of halfhardy annuals that have been raised in frames, or to be procured from the nurserymen. Hardy annuals such as calendula, clarkia, centuarea, eschscholtzias, godelias, larkspurs, linaria, mignonette, nasturtions, nigella, poppies (various), and scabions, are easily grown from seed in the open border, and thinned out do better, as most of the above fail to transplant well. In planting annuals it is advisable to choose a moist, calm day, when the soil is moist. The present is a suitable time to plant sweet peas, gladiolas, cornus, and all half-hardy annuals. Keep all beds and borders forked over and free from weeds. Loosen the surface of the soil where it has been beaten down with the continuous rain. This stimulates growth and sweetens the soil.