THE BUSY MAN’S CORNER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 874, 18 January 1930, Page 28

THE BUSY MAN’S CORNER

AMONG THE VEGETABLES BLIGHTS.—At this time of the year tomato and other blights are very prevalent. Badly affected tomatoes are not worth spraying and so should be pulled out and burnt. Where one stem only is affected, cut away with a sharp knife. To prevent the blight spreading, spray with Bordeaux Powder or lime and sulphur as directed on the bottle or packet. WEEDING.—Keep the garden regularly hoed, is important advice for January. If this is regularly done, the weeds that rapidly appear will be held in check and your various crops will benefit exceedingly by the surface cultivation. RAISING SEED.—Where facilities offer for raising seed in boxes for winter crops or in a sheltered corner, gardeners should get busy. Sow seeds of broccoli, red cabbage, borecole, Brussels sprouts and curly savoys. Keep the boxes or beds well watered and the plants will soon appear. Sow thinly to ensure sturdy plants. Don’t wait, but prepare the ground now for planting out later. SALAD CROPS.—Radishes, lettuce, mustard and cress should still be sown every other week to ensure a constant supply of these necessary ingredients for salads. Don’t try transplanting lettuce now: simply thin out. All these crops should be grown quickly to be successful and so plenty of water during the hot days will be necessary. PUMPKINS, MARROWS, ETC.—Where plants are freely nipped off to prevent further unnecessary growth. Plenty of flowering and setting fruit, the ends of the runners should be liquid stable manure is essential at this period. Failing this, a mixture of potash, super and ammonia. Water round the plants, loz a gallon. Keep the hoe busy round the roots and the surface soil loose. BEANS.—French beans are indispensable and should be sown every other week. Canadian Wonder is the leading variety. Butter beans may still be sown, Purple Podded being'a prolific cropper and standing the drier climate. Keep the pods picked daily on the already bearing plants, otherwise they will ripen and run to seed. THINGS TO SET.—Cabbage plants, Early Drumhead and Savoys, Cauliflower, Early London, leeks, London Flag, and celery. These two crops should be planted in trenches. Silver beet and spinach for fowl food and table use. If ample water can be given later, growers in selected positions may fluke a crop of sweet corn. AMONG THE FLOWERS AUTUMN FLOWER SEEDS.—Xext to spring sowing, autumn setting of flower seeds is the most important. Now we have to prepare for winter and early spring flowers and so extensive sowings should be made. Sow in boxes the following: Iceland poppies, cinerarias, stocks, beauty; nemesia, antirrhinum, carnations, lobelia, gaillardia and calliopsis. Sand mixed witli the surface soil will help the plants to root better. LAWNS.—Vacant ground may now be dug over and finally raked for sowing early in February. On no account dig in perennial weeds as they will only come up later and spoil your turf. Established lawns that are thin in patches should be top-dressed with fresh soil before sowing, lib of seed will sow 25 square yards. HINTS WORTH NOTING.—If gladioli are given occasional applications of weak liquid manure when coming into bloom, the size and colour of the flowers will be greatly improved. If the rose bushes are judiciously cut back they will yield a second crop of flowers in March. Prepare ground now for the planting of bulbs early next month. Anemone and ranunculi seed may be sown now for making bulb for next season. MARIGOLDS FOR BLOOMS.—Vacant plots in the garden should be filled with marigolds. They are free bloomers, flowering a few weeks after planting. The dwarf French are handy for edging and borders and the taller varieties for massed bedding. Well grown, these plants will flower well on to the winter. AUTUMN FLOW ElßS.—Many annuals may now be planted for flowering within the next few months. Here a f«w of the best that will do well in any garden: Sunflower—Plant in hot position, according to height. Grown to various heights. Verbena—Plant in hot position, Bto 12 inches apart. Grows to a height of from 6 to 18 inches. Portulacca—Makes brilliant low border. Transplant three or four inches apart. Phi ox Drummondi'—Beautiful annuals, suitable for massed bedding. Wonderful range of colour; especially suited for the warm districts. Highly recommended for beds and borders. Mexican Sunflower—Grows fence high. Flowers profusely; each bloom gorgeous. CHRYSANTHEMUMS.—Keep the plants well hoed round and free from weeds. Any signs of aphis on the foliage may be killed out by using Black Leaf 40 or Katakiller Powder. Plants showing early buds should be disbudded if larger blooms are expected. Liquid manure applied round the roots will be a good stimulant.