THE BUSY MAN’S CORNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 868, 11 January 1930, Page 26

THE BUSY MAN’S CORNER

AMONG THE VEGETABLES LAWNS.—Bare patches in the lawn may be sown from now onward. One pound of seed will cover 25 square yards of surface. Bonedust and superphosphate mixture will make an admirable topdressing manure. TOMATOES.—The earliest planted tomatoes will by this time be in full bearing, and must be carefully attended. Remove all fruit showing grub marks, and those the ever-present “black spot” or “ sunburn.” This is not, as many imagine, caused by the sun, but is a fungus disease of the fruit. Pick the fruit as soon as ripe, keep the plants well watered and pruned and, above all. securely staked. Loosen the soil surface after each watering, which should be given at regular intervals. THE HERB BED. —Most necessary work at present is the overhauling of the herb bed. The old clumps which show signs of drying off can be lifted, the beds manured and the younger rootgrowths replanted. All the tops should be cut off and put aside to dry before being placed in airtight jars for future use. THINGS TO GROW.—Lettuce (annual): Sow seed where plants are to grow and thin out quickly. Make bed rich, feed hard. Don't transplant from now on. Thin out seedlings to six inches or so apart. Use lots of liquid manure. Cabbage (annual): Sow seed in open, grow quickly, manure land, bed out early, keep clean with hoe, plant 20 to 24 inches apart. Sow either St. John’s Day, 'Winter Savoy or Early Drumhead. Beetroot (annual): Either sow seed in seed-bed or transplant seedlings, 6 inches apart will do. Beet is hardy. Use narrow beds for carrot, parsnip, turnip or beet. Cauliflower (annual): Sow seed of any early variety in a bed well out in the sunlight. Select a good, deep soil and rush the plants along. AMONG THE FLOWERS CATERPILLARS AND APHIS.—AII leaf-eating insects should be kept in check by spraying with arsenate of lead, £oz a gallon of water. Aphis and black spider may be checked by using Katakiller or Black Leaf 40. EARLY SWEET PEAS.—-Sweet peas should be sown right away if early flowers are desired. A good mixture is better for the amateur as in this he is sure to get a good range of the best varieties at a fraction of the cost, of buying named sorts, and the mixture will make a better show. MANURE DAHLIAS.—Liquid manure is helpful about this time; sulphate of ammonia and sulphate of potash applied at the rate of an ounce to the gallon of water alternately each (once) week will make fine, healthy plants and large flowers. FLOWERS FOR WINTER.—Pansy, Iceland poppy, stock and early flowering wallflower seed if sown now will result in a nice crop of blooms in winter. It pays to have good strains in these lines. The new rose-coloured Iceland poppies are very nice and useful for decoration. BULBS FROM SEED.—Ranunculi are always popular and seed of some of the best strains should be tried. Sow seed in a seedbed or box. It is rather slow in germinating, so don’t say the seed is no good. Keep it well moistened and the germination will be very large. Freesia and anemone may also be tried this way.