THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 164, 1 October 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Gardeners! What is your back-yard worth to you? It pays to grow your own vegetables. It would be hard to assess the value in money and health that is gained when every space is used to keep up a continuous supply of fresh vegetables. Make a start now. Spring, the best months of the year are ahead of you and THE SUN gardening column is here to help you. Keep the hoe busy among the rows of onions, shallots and garlic. Every weed destroyed means a better onion. Sulphate of potash, ioz. per square yard is a great stimulant to this crop. Certainly it is early, hut we must now look ahead for next, winter. Sow the seeds of broccoli, savoy or curly cabbabe, red cabbage, Brussels sprouts and curly greens. If the seed is planted early, the plants have a better chance to get established before the fly starts. Christmas will soon be here and chicken is not half so nice without seasoning so attend to those herb beds. Divide and replant mint roots, throwing away the surplus. Cut back the bushes of thyme, sage and marjoram to promote new and tender growth. Sow parsley seed for a, fresh supply during winter. Sowing and planting must now be carried on at every opportunity. Always sow seeds in drills. It gives better facilities for hoeing out weeds, stirring the soil and thinning the crops when sown too thickly. Sow beet, carrots, cress, lettuce, leeks, spring onions, spinach and turnips. Peas and beans can now be sown and potatoes should receive attention. Plants of the following vegetables are now obtainable:—Onions, tomatoes, chives, all herbs, cabbage, lettuce, beet and cauliflower. Lime and tobacco dust will have to be freely used to keep the slugs and snails at bay. Asparagus beds planted early in the season should be heavily mulched to protect the roots from the summer drought. Strawberries are making strong growth owing to the wet season. Carefully weed and apply a mulch of straw. THE FLOWER GARDEN Spring, the season for embarking upon home beautification schemes is here. Although climatic conditions are not the best, do not delay, but commence now and make that plot of yours the home of your dreams. A house buried in the splendour of trees and flowers is of far more value than the same house unadorned both from a monetary and an artistic point of view. Flower plots and edgings round ornamental shrubs are often a puzzle to gardeners. Sometimes the soil is very poor owing to the numerous roots from the tree. In the latter case, much can be clone to remedy the shortcomings of the soil and the selection of suitable plants will certainly help. Dust the ground thoroughly with lime and dig in as much rotted vegetable matter as can be obtained, stable manure preferred. Any of the following beautiful annuals can be grown under these unfavourable conditions and can be relied upon to yield a fair display. For edgings, dwarf nasturtium, mignonette, Virginian stock, fibrous begonia and primula. For taller plants, petunias, escholtzias, cinerarias and marigolds are best. Set the plants closer than usual as they cannot be expected to grow as big as they would in open, rich beds. Flower seeds to sow now in boxes: —Asters, zinnias, cosmos, petunias, kochias, delphinium, salvias, stocks, calliopsis, wallflowers and poppies. Flower seed to be drilled thinly along borders: —French marigold, phlox, clarkia, candytuft, linaria, leptosyne. Look over the rose beds and rub off new shoots that are appearing wrong places. Cut away any dead wood and watch carefully for the green aphis on the new foliage. Black Leaf 40 is the best aphis destroyer used at the following strength: li teaspoonfuls to 1 gallon of soapy water. _ Now is the best time to overhaul the lawn. With a weed fork dig up any docks or daisies that have appeared during the winter. The sowing of fresh seed can be made to fill up the bald looking patches. Top-dress the whole lawn with blood and bone and superphosphate 4 ozs. per square yard. Plant clumps of michalemas daisy, perennial phlox, golden rod and golden glow, helenium, scarlet lobelia and all other herbaceous plants. Richly manure the soil as all this type of plant requires feeding. During October and November dahlias and cliysanthemums will be ready for setting. Have you prepared their beds? If not, commence now. Trench the ground deeply and manure freely. Sulphate of ammonia is a splendid slug and snail destroyer. Simply sprinkle the ammonia among the plants £oz. per square yard and this will effectively cure all pests. This also promotes growth to plants, giving that beautiful green appearance to all discoloured leaves. THE GREENHOUSE AND ORCHARD Orchids are now commencing to bloom. At this period do not overwater the plants as too much moisture will rot the blooms. Watch the plants carefully for small slugs that nip the flower, bud and so spoil a whole year’s growth. Palms and aspadistras may be repotted now. First, good mixed soil should be prepared with a sprinkling of sand for drainage. When repotting gently shake some of the old soil from the roots, care being taken not to break any of the fibres. The soil should be firmly pressed round the plants with the thumbs. Loose potting is undesirable. Cyclamen and primulas in pots may be watered well during their flowering period. Liquid manure will prolong the flowering period. Auricula plants are gross feeders, but repay any extra attention given them. These make splendid specimens for glass-house work. Gloxinias and begonias are now starting into growth. Prepare a mixture of leaf mould and sand and pot the bulbs into 5 and 6 inch pots. Cape gooseberry plants are subjects that can be grown among the fruit trees. They thrive in any warm situation and are easily raised from seed. Sow in boxes and treat similar to tomatoes. Final plantings should be made of lemons and oranges. Most fruit trees can still be planted, but if this season is missed you will have to wait till next year. Early peaches and nectarines have finished flowering. To prevent leaf curl spray with Bordeaux Powder, 2 tablespoonfuls to 1 the tree be affected, 3 tablespoonfuls. kerosene tin of water. This strength is only as a preventative; if