THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 218, 3 December 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN It is indeed a great satisfaction to know that our gardening column is being appreciated and proving so helpful and instructive to to the gardening community at large. From far and wide we daily receive letters from grateful readers who have benefited by our remarks and advice and I take this opportunity to thank my gardening readers. Now that the warmer weather has started constant watering will be required. Peas and beans specially want plenty of moisture if they are expected to continue bearing. Pumpkin, marrows and cucumbers can still be sown if one is prepared to water well. Sow in groups of three or four and thin out as required. Plants already established should be well mulched with manure of old vegetation. Continue planting tomatoes, cape gooseberries, kumeras, celery, lettuce and cabbage. Pick out a dull or showery day for transplanting. Spray potatoes and tomatoes with Bordeaux powder for prevention of blight.. Mould up potatoes as they grow. Pincli out the side growth of early tomatoes and tie up as they grow. Continue to sow the following seed: —Carrots, parsnips, beet, radish, spinach, parsley, leeks, broccoli, borecole and savoy cabbage. Dwarf peas and beans can still be sown every fortnight. Lawns are looking dry and brown in places. Water well with sulphate of ammonia, loz a gallon. This will bring back the nice green appearance and also kill out annual weeds. Lima, haricot and runner beans should be sown at once. Haricot are splendid for winter use. The purple podded butter beans are a comparatively new bean and can be thoroughly recommended. When boiled they turn green. THE FLOWER GARDEN At this period of the year there are many flowers just finishing blooming which, if cut back, should continue flowering next month. Cut back delphinium, anchusa, lupins, doronicum, roses. If liquid manure is applied to carnations, sweet peas and stocks, their period of flowering will be considerably lengthened. Disbud carnations and roses if large blooms are desired. Water copiously gladiolii now showing bud. Plant the last of the dahlias and chrysanthemums. Plant out the following seedlings:—Kochia, petunia, marigold, aster, zinnia, phlox, cosmos, antirrhinum, pvrethium. The old flowers should be cut off the geranium bushes if continued bloom is required. The trailing asparagus is now throwing new shoots. A dressing of ordinary table salt will strengthen and feed the plant. Hydrangeas are now in bud. If a good blue is required feed the plants with sulphate of iron or powdered alum every week. Sow the following seeds for' growing in borders:—Virginian stock, phlox, marigold, mignonette, linaria, candytuft, leptosyne and alyssum. Pot plants will now want frequent waterings. Soak twice a week in a bucket of water and manure any sickly looking plant with potash and ammonia. Christmas time draws near and everybody begins to think of presents Many people have everything that money can buy and you are sometimes at a loss to know what to give. A nice pot plant is always acceptable and often expresses your feelings better than words.