THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 104, 23 July 1927, Page 26

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

The weather during the month of July is always uncertain and gardeners are dubious about buying seeds and plants through the week unless the week-end promises fine. Early potatoes may now be set in sheltered spots. If the ground is not ready for planting lay the seed out on bags to sprout. Early Puritan, Gamekeeper and Arran Chief are all reliable varieties. Vegetable Seeds to Sow:—Beet, broad beans, cabbages, carrots, endive, cress, lettuce, mustard, spring onions, parsnips, peas, spinach and turnips. Vegetable Roots and Tubers to Plant:—Herbs, artichokes, asparagus, potatoes, choko, rhubarb, horseradish, garlic and shallots. Onion seed for late crops should be sown at once. Sow in a firm seed-bed and thin out in their early stages and be SLire at all times to keep the beds free from weeds otherwise the young plants will become weak and spindly in the growth. Prepare beds for early spring planting, digging over well and liming thoroughly. Leave the soil in the rough state so that the August frosts will sweeten the ground. Plant all fruit trees, citrus trees, ornamental trees and shrubs, roses, cannas, hedge plants and creepers. In the cold bleak situations the planting of citrus fruits may be postponed until warmer weather, in this case select and reserve your trees before the best specimens are snapped up. THE KITCHEN ORCHARD Thin out branches and shoots of old neglected fruit trees. Cut away any unnecessary wood to an outside bud, afterwards burning the old prunings. Currants, gooseberries and all small fruits will need attention. Cut back currants to 15in. from the ground. Thin out the stems of the gooseberry and topdress the soil with blood and bone. Clean up the rows between the strawberries and hoe ligtly between the plants. Dress with stable manure if not already done. Apply slaked roche lime to soils inclined to be sour owing to the wet winter, at the rate of £lb. per square yard and fork in lightly Spray the fruit trees with red oil as a winter dressing. Pick a day when the sun is warm; this helps the oil to penetrate into the various crevices of the bark and so kill the dormant diseases. Lemons showing any sign of scale or black smut should be sprayed with oil before the disease takes too firm a hold. THE FLOWER GARDEN. July month is often very disheartening to the lovers of flowers. Not only are flowers scarce but seedlings planted out often perish with the wet or are eaten by the vermin. Select only the hardiest of flowering plants that will withstand the cold. Flower Plants to Bed Out. —Antirrhiniums. poppies, nemesias, cineraria, (if sheltered), dianthus, sweet william, canterbLU’y bells, pansv, viola, larkspur, scabious, primula and calliopsis. Flower Bulbs and Roots for July:—Gladioli, liliums, Japanese iris, cannas, calceolarias, michaelmas daisy, helenium, agapanthus, amaryllis and lily of the valley. Slugs and snails cost the gardener pounds a year. Why put up with these vermin? Consult your neighbour and together declare war on pests. Commence by cleaning up along that weedy fence, dusting lime and alum powder as you go. Remember the nurseryman is the only'one who profits from slugs. Sow the following flower seeds now:—Cornflower, sweet peas, linaria, pansy, Virginian stock, lobelia, gaillardia, solpiglossus, poppy, mignonette, sweet sultan, etc. Chrysanthemums are beginning to throw up young suckers from the old stools; carefully lift the varieties required and plant in boxes until fully rooted. Rock gardens are becoming increasingly popular. Now is a good time to obtain suitable plants for this work. Do not be satisfied with planting the ordinary everyday plants. These can be had from any old piece of cutting. Don’t convert your rockery into stones covered with creepers for you are only wasting good stone.