THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 128, 20 August 1927, Page 26

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

THE FLOWER GARDEN One of the secrets of successful gardening is the mulching of beds and borders during late winter and early spring months. Stable manure and grass cuttings spread over the grounds stops the evaporation during the hot months and so prevents the soil becoming dry and cracked. Alany hardy annuals may be sown now to make a show for late spring and early summer. Sow Outdoors in borders or clumps Virginia stock, mignonette, alyssum, linaria, candytuft, poppy, linum. Sow in boxes, stock, pansy, nemesia, aster, cosmos, French marigold, African marigold, delphinium and calliopsis. Climbing roses now require attention, thin out the unnecessary growth, leaving only the main stems for training where required. Mulch the roots with manure and hoe between the plants. Dormant begonia and cloxinia bulbs may now be forced into growth for early flowering. As soon as they show growth from the crown, plant into 6in. pots of rich leaf mould and sand. Cyclamen and primulas are now blooming well, a weekly application of liquid manure will promote further growth and force more blooms. Ornamental shrubs should be planted this month. Until now the weather has been against tree-planting. All climbers and lawn specimens should be shifted without further delay. Deciduous trees may be pruned back to encourage the growth of the new wood. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Spring preparations in the vegetable garden should now be in full swing. The sowing of practically all crops can now be made. Sow the following seeds, thinly in drills: beet, carrots, parsnips, turnips, radish, parsley. Sow the following in beds or boxes for transplanting: cabbage, lettuce, cauliflower, tomato, broccoli, and Brussel sprouts. Early peas, William Hurst, and French Canadian wonder beans may be planted at once. Small sowings should be made is succession every two weeks throughout the season. Small sowings of celery to provide an early crop may be sown in boxes. Use rich soil finely sieved and taike care not to bury the seed too deeply. Solid White and Golden Blanching are the two favourite varieties. If the weather is favourable and the ground is in fit condition the transplanting of onions may take place. Plant out in rows 9in. apart and 12in. between the plants on rich soil. Dig the ground over thoroughly before planting. Sowings of parsley should now be made for producing greens for later cutting. All herbs should receive attention. Sage, thyme and marjoram are always useful. Divide up the old clumps and replant in a bed by themselves. Continue the planting of all fruit trees, apples, nectarines, peaches, plums, nuts, etc. Lemons and oranges may be Shifted now with every measure of success. All hedge and shelter trees should be planted out permanently during August to give them a better chance to establish themselves before summer. Blights are beginning to make their appearance in the gardens. Carnation aphis may be destroyed by spraying with black leaf 40. Black caterpillars are attacking the cinerarias. Arsenate of lead should be sprayed over these pests. Scale on the rose bushes will be cleaned off by using a lime and sulphur solution.