THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 252, 14 January 1928, Page 24

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

THE FLOWER GARDEN January, the last month of summer with its 31 dry days, is here. Seedling planting is about finished and preparations should be made for the planting of all spring flowering bulbs. Dig the ground over, applying lime and bonedust to all beds intended for early spring bulbs. Recently planted seedlings will require shading from the hot sun and ample waterings applied in the cool of the evening. Hoe continuously among the beds of flowers and kill the crops of weed seedlings. . _ . Hardy plants that stand the dry weather for flowering in late autumn may still be set sucb as portulacca, French and African marigolds, petunias, zinnias, cosmos, amaranthus and celosia. Preparations should now be made for-the sowings of many early spring seeds. Sow at once, winter flowering sweet peas, delphiniums, Canterbury bells, calliopsis, gaillardias, etc. For sowing toward the end of the month, boxes should be ready for cineraria, nemesia, stock, Iceland poppy, lobelia, antirrhinum and pansy. Prepare the soil well, using only the fine sieved material mixed with sand. Dahlias are now commencing to show flower and many new varieties will soon be on view. Now is the time to apply liquid manure every few days to the plants. Dahlias are gross feeders and the more they are fed the bigger and larger number of blooms will they produce. , „ , , Chrysanthemums affected by the rust should be sprayed with Bordeaux powder. Pinch the tops out of the stems if good branched plants are wanted. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN With the dry humid weather the cabbage fly will soon begin to make its appearance. Nothing destroys the plants of the cabbage kingdom quicker than this little pest. Spray with a combination of black leaf 40 and arsenate of lead in soapy water. Various crops of vegetables should be set for winter use:— Celery, leeks, silver beet, Brussels Sprouts, borecole and savoy cabbage. _ Early potatoes are again available for those who like to dig a crop about May. These should be laid out n the sun to be greened and sprouted. The following seeds may still be sown:—Dwarf peas and beans, radish, broccoli, beet, turnips, cress, mustard, lettuce and spinach. Matured onions should be properly dried and stored away in a cool, airy spot. Garlic and shallots, if properly dried off, should be divided and the seed for later planting kept separate. Early celery should be hoed up as they grow and plenty of water used. Peas and beans should be picked as soon as they are ready otherwise the plants will stop bearing. Melons, pumpkins and marrows should be hoed round every week and applications of nitrate of soda, loz to a gallon of water, used after each cultivation. Thin out the rows of vegetable seedlings as they require it. This is best done in the cool of the evening when they will have a few hours to recover before the sun rises.