HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 May 1938, Page 2

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR.

vegetables and flowers. WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Clear away spent crops. If ground is not required immediately sow down in a soiling crop. Turnips, Swedes and other seedling crops should be thinned as soon as large enough to handle. Silver Beet seedlings or plants should stand quite eighteen inches apart. Earth up late Celery. Choose a dry day for the work; first tie the stalks together with a piece of raffia to prevent soil getting into the centre. Trench vacant land, especially the area which root .crops are to occupy next season. Prepare ground for new Asparagus beds. You can grow Asparagus on almost any Soil, but to obtain first-class heads you must prepare and manure the ground well. Winter Rhubarb should have a coating of manure. If stable manure is not available, use a heavy dressing of superphosphate and old compost heap. FLOWER GARDEN. Clear away plants that are over so that the garden can be cleaned up for winter. , Cut down perennials that have finished flowering. Now is a good time to start renovation of the herbaceous border. Herbaceous-perennials that make large clumps are better for lifting every two on three years. Prepare new Rose beds. This is a good time to lift and renew oldestablished Rose beds. Evergreens can be safely lifted and transplanted at this time. Actually it is the best time* for moving Hollies, Camellias and Rhododendrons. Make new. paths and flower beds so that they will consolidate before spring. Square and trim edges of the lawn and flower beds. Edgings of Box should be trimmed. Where gaps occur replace with new plants or cuttings. ... . x Dahlias that have finished flowering can be cut down to within a foot of the ground. FRUIT GARDEN. Vine pruning can be begun. The sooner this is put in hand the better. Pruning of most fruit trees can start at once. Collect prunings. This is easier to do directly after pruning than if left. Clean up the ground under fruit trees. A lot of insects can be accounted for if this is done now. Prepare ground for planting new fruit trees. Gooseberries, Currants, Loganberries and Raspberries should be planted - early. Clear out rubbishy, useless trees.