HOME HUSBANDRY

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1940, Page 2

HOME HUSBANDRY

WORK ABOUT GARDENS ACTIVITY FOR THE WEEK The home gardener who wants best results for his labour should this week work to a time-table on the following lines: — ln the Flowcr Garden. Continue to plant gladioli in succession for later bloom. Divide and replant herbaceous plants which are overgrown; the central portions usually become exhausted, so choose vigorous shoots from outside for replanting. Make sowings of hardy annuals in the open ground. thin well out when the seedlings come up. Prepare ground for planting out chrysanthemums in good time so that it may consolidate before planting. Tree seeds of most kinds can now be sown in the open ground. Dahlia roots may be stood on a Warm border and lightly covered with soil to start into growth.

In the Greenhouse. The boxes of seedlings will need daily care, , or they soon become drawn and spindly. Tlie pricked-off seedlings should be transferred to the frames as soon as possible to harden off. Cover at night for a week or two. Make up baskets of achimenes and basket begonias for summer display. Cacti are starting into growth and should be repotted where this is needed; in any case, see that the drainage is in good order. Repot palms, ferns and aspidistras or topdress with some good soil. Increased water supplies will be needed in the greenhouse, but see that the water is at the same tempersture as the house. In the Vegetable Garden. Plant out cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce in well wbrked ground. Sow can-ot for main crop when the soil is fairly dry; this crop should not be sown in wet soil. Sow peas for succession, French and butter bea: for an early crop in warm positions. Sow celery and cape gooseberries in frames for later plantings. Plant out tomatoes in warm positions, shelter on cold nights. Sow seeds of pumpkins and marrows on prepared mounds, covering with a sheet of glass. Spray the potatoes with Bordeaux to prevent blight. In the Orchard. When the blossom has fallen from the peach and qectarine trees spray with lime sulphur 1 in 120. Spray the apples with Bordeaux at winter strength when the "green tips" show. Citrus trees should have their attention to pruning when the crop has been removed. Stir the soil beneath the bush fruits such as gooseberries and currantst this is the means of bringing harmful pupae to the surface to be picked up by birds. Remove the first blossoms which show on the strawberry plants. Late planted fruit trees should be watched so that they do not suffer from want of moisture; it is a good plan to mulch the soil around them.