HORTICULTURE.

Otaki Mail, Volume XXIII, 13 December 1920, Page 4

HORTICULTURE.

VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow runner beans, carrots, celery, radish, lettuce, cabbages, turnips, etc. i Thin parsnips, carrots, onions, and other crops that require it. Do not thin out too severely the first ' time. It is better to do the work ; gradually. Make the soil firm about the remaining seedlings as the work proceeds. Clear away at once all seedlings that have been pulled oui, and also decaying cabbage and lettuce leaves, fur they only harbour pests ir' left about. Plant cabbage, lettuce, and the like, also tomatoes. „ If pumpkins, melons, cucumbers, etc., have failed, try again. The latter like l>ght, rich land. Being quick-action plants, it is necessary to provide plenty of easily attainable nourishment. Plants started in poor soil are not worth cultivating. Tho old hole plan, where a few buckets of ripe manure have been •.lumped into the earth and well t:odden down afterwards, will do for the business. Put on. a. light sprinkling of earth, press this with your feet, and start and drop three or four seeds to c.ich hole. Another scattering of soil and manure in a layer not more than half an inch thick finishes the job. You will then water each hole for luck. If there is any refuse from the burning heap handy put in a spadeful in each hole. Vine vegetables look for , this delicacy. | Give rhubarb plant., liquid manure i every two weeks, and remove at, once iviv flowers that arc formed. Push on with (.he planting out <> j cabbages, cauliflowers, broccoli, and 1 :.i-'.y. wherever necessary. Plant il ( pc--3ible, just i'Cfore a shower of ram j but do :H7; plan!, when the ground >■ : very wet. Make the earth quite mm I plant'. Jo not :t>.fisr Uom drynt-., J' : ™„ y time Ihs c-ncouiagemeut ( ! safelv through the summer. The l'lowci (iarden. Give stimulants to sweet peas when showing flower bud-. Pel down verbenas and petunias. Plant salvia'.., balsams, sunflowers, and zinnias. Remove seed puds from rhododenJ drons and azaleas. ' Hoe herbaceous borders frequently. !Tie up young growths of climbing roses. Keep the dead blooms off dwarf roses. Disbud roses required for exhibition, and give plenty of stimulants. riant dahlias and chrysanthemums. Prune shrubs such as lilacs, guelder rose, spiraeas, as they go out of flower. Keep border carnations well tied up. Remove suckers from roses. The Orchard. Keep the ground under the leaves free oi weeds and ihe top soil loose with the hoe. Tlnn fruits where necessary. Spray apple- and poars with arsenate ot' lead for codlin moth. spray with lime-sulphur for black ■-pot on pears. •Spray with bordeaux or lime-sulphur for brown rot. stop vines two leaves beyond the bunch.