THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 1004, 21 June 1930, Page 32

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

AMONG THE FLOWERS GLASSHOUSE. —PIants in the greenhouse, such as Rex begonias and foliage plants, should be kept fairly dry. Many ferns are still making growth and should be watered during the middle of the day. Overhead watering should be avoided as the water remains too long on the fronds. Palms and aspidistras may receive a little liquid manure. PERENNIAL BORDERS. —Gardeners with large allotments must find it a big expense replanting their various flower beds from season to season. Much of this work and expense may be relieved by th§ planting of suitable herbaceous and evergreen perennials. Beds,* either straight or curved, look very effective along boundary fences or in open ground. Dwarf shrubs and roses may be intermingled with perennials and groups of annuals may be dotted about to provide quick splashes of colour. PERENNIAL SUBJECTS. —ITere are many hardy subjects now available for present planting: Tall-Growing for Back or Centre Rows: Michaelmas daisy, white and blue; golden glow’, golden rod, helenium, bronze; delphiniums. campanulas, heliantlius. Medium-Growing Varieties: Heucliera, coral bell; pinks, sedums, pyrethrums, begonias, €*chevarias, phlox, perennial; iris, stylosa, Oriental poppy, pelegoniums, lilies, gladioli, geums, red and 3'ellow. NURSERY TREES TO PLANT. —Commence now' to plant roses, ornamental trees, flowering shrubs, creepers, hedges, shelter trees and all general nursery stock. Well-dug holes should be prepared before setting. Loosen the subsoil and incorporate well-rotted leaves with the soil. Select only well-drained spots for shrub and tree planting. BULBS TO SET.— -Gladioli cormes should be set from now onward. Where room is limited select only the best varieties. Dig the soil deeply and plant bulbs in sunny spot. Lily bulbs such as Christmas lily, belladonna and tiger lily, may be set at once. These like a semi-sheltered position w’here the sun is not too hot in the summer months. Lily of the valley cormes may be planted in a sheltered damp place. SEED SOWlNG. —Flow’er-seed sowing out of doors should be left alone until the weather gets warmer. Certain varieties for planting out in the spring may be set in boxes covered with glass or in warm frames. The following are among the best to plant: cineraria, nemesia, poppies, stock, pansj', primula, viola, lobelia, larkspur and cornflower. AMONG THE VEGETABLES ONIONS. —Onion seed sown earlier must be fairly well advanced by now r . Keep the rows well hoed betw’een and remove all weed grow’th. It is not too late to make another sowing, preferably Brown Spanish. Start and prepare the ground for transplanting the young seedlings into. Potash is their most important food. See that the soil contains plenty. BROAD BEANS. —These may be sown in successional crops from now on. Early Long Pod or Broad Windsor are the tw’o best varieties. Sow in drills four to six inches apart and two feet between the rows. When the plants are two feet high the young tops may be nipped out and used as greens. Broad beans are one of the hardiest crops and will succeed well through the northern winters. THINGS TO SET. —Tomato seed may be sown in shallow boxes for raising early plants. Ground should be dug over and artichokes set. Garlic, shallots, potato and tree onions may be planted at once. Roots of asparagus and strawberries are now available. Rhubarb roots, winter and summer, should be planted on beds of manure. URGENT WORK. —Force along the grow’th of cabbages and cauliflowers by using either nitrate of soda or ammonia. All vacant ground should be turned over and left in the sod for the winter rains and frost to pulverise. Divide up the herb beds, replanting the young side-shoots. Keep the hoe busy among the growing crops. FRUIT TREES .—Clean round the established trees, removing grass, roots and weeds Winter pruning may be commenced at once. Do not waste time. Spraying with Red Oil is a good winter dressing, killing out all dormant pests in the bark. Now is the time to purchase all new trees for this season’s planting. SMALL FRUITS. —•Passion fruit may be planted to cover old tree stumps or walls. Guavas are useful for a dwarf hedge round the kitchen garden. Loganberries may be set now. Gooseberries, two-year plants, will bear the same season if set now. Strawberries should be planted before it is too late.