THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 68, 11 June 1927, Page 24 (Supplement)

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Plant the following flower seeds in pans or shallow trays: Cineraria, stocks, Iceland poppy, pansy, gallardia, calliopsis, nemesia and antirrhinum. The following can be sown in clumps or drilled along borders in sheltered spots:—Mignonette, linaria, alyssum, Virginian stock. Rose trees and all ornamental shrubs may be planted from June till August. Plenty of well-rotted leaves or stable manure trenched under the plants will give the best results. Primula malacoides, a pretty mauve flower used with nemesia strumosa, makes a fine display bedded together and flowers for weeks on end from August. Prune your rose trees before any new growth' starts. Cut away all dead wood and thin out any unnecessary branches. Use sharp secateurs and make a good clean cut, always cutting to the outside bud. Keep the hoe constantly busy among the flower beds. This will help to dry up the soil and so prevent damping off. Slugs and snails are again making their appearance in large numbers. Lime tobacco dust and Kilslug are effective destroyers. Lawns showing signs of moss should be limed with air slaked roche lime. This will sweeten the ground and kill out the moss. Blood and bone and superphosphate are the best top-dressing manures for present use. Rockeries are now looking bare and dismal. Cut back the finished geraniums and untidy looking plants. Fill up the spaces with bright annuals for spring flowering. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Broad beans can be planted any time during June and July. Broad Windsor and long pod are the two best varieties for private gardens. If the seeds are soaked in bluestone water before planting, the spores of the bean rust will be killed. Plant silver beet plants in rich soil 15 inches apart and 18 inches between the rows. Plenty of water is required for this crop which makes an excellent dish when properly cooked. The following vegetable seeds may be sown now:—Onions, carrot, parsnip, beet, radish, lettuce, broad beans, early peas. The following plants are ready for setting:—Onions, rhubarb roots, asparagus, strawberries, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce. Transplant onions into rich soil well cultivated, plant 12 inches apart and 18 inches between the rows. Onions must be kept free from weeds. Blood and bone mixed with the soil will give them a good start. Obtain any fruit trees that you may want. Early planting is advisable as it gives the tree a chance to become established before the sap rises. Do not listen to doubtful advice but ask your nurseryman which varieties do best in your district. In gardens protected from frost, potatoes may be planted. Arran chief is one of the best blight resisting varieties and a heavy cropper. Where potatoes can be planted earlsf peas may also be THE FRUIT GARDEN Give all fruit trees their winter spraying of red oil. This soaks into the bark and kills any vermin that may be lodged in the bark. Commence pruning at once; cut away all ingrowing and unsightly branches. ANSWERS TO PUZZLED GARDENERS. F.R.C., REMUERA. —The named roses published in last week’s issue are all dwarf varieties The following are four good large flowered climbers: Ards rover, crimson, Miss M. Manifold, scarlet, Souv. L. Viennot, pink and Marchiel Neil, golden yellow. Rambler roses belong to a different type called Wichuriana roses. They are small flowered blooms in clusters. The following are the fourbest varieties: American pillar, pink, Emily Gray, yellow, Hiawatha, scarlet, Romeo, red. P.D., ONEHQNGA. —No. 1: The grass referred to makes splendid green manure but if cut too close takes longer to decay when ploughed in. If possible after cutting let grow for two or , three weeks.

No. 2: Depends on how extensively you crop the ground and how much humus the crops require. Although it is not often done the ground should be trenched after each crop. The more manure dug into the ground the bigger the crop should be. No. 3: Raised beds are preferable only when raising quantities of seed for planting out. No. 4: Your soil should not be in a sticky condition. In the spring sow plenty of mustard and lupins for digging in. This will help to stimulate the soil. At present keep the soil constantly hoed and trench when the ground is in a drier state.