HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 22 September 1938, Page 4

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR.

VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS. WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Prepare ground for cropping when weather is favourable. Do not atempt to work heavy ground when it is wet. Rake over Asparagus beds and rake off rough material into alleys. The alleys between the beds should be forked over. A sowing of Turnip-rooted or Globe Beet should be made. A sowing of main crop Beet can be made. Broccoli can be sown. Be prepared to spray or dust this crop against caterpillars and other insect pests, otherwise it is useless to sow. Brussels Sprouts can be sown. These require a long season of growth and must be sown early to give good results. A further sowing of Shorthorn Carrots can be made. A well-drained soil is required. Sowing of Cauliflowers can be made. It is advisable to transplant twice or three times before planting permanently. Celeriac should be sown. This is a much neglected vegetable, which can be used as a substitute for Celery. A pinch of Celery seed sown now will give early plants. Chicory is seldom grown, but makes a useful change during winter when vegetables are Sow seed now. FLOWER GARDEN. Cuttings of Chrysanthemums and Dahlias can be planted Prepare beds for Dahlias and Chrysanthemums. Old stools of Chrysanthemums can be lifted and the rooted suckers planted up. Old clumps of Dahlias left lin the soil and sending up shoots should be lifted and divided. If no increase required, remove all shoots but the strongest. Border Carnations should have soil stirred around plants. They should be cleared of rusty foliage and dusted with flowers of sulphur. Sowings of Asters,may be made. Where wilt has been severe during previous years, it is advisable to sow the seed where the plants are to flower. Phlox Drummondii, Evening Scented Stock, Clarkias, Godetia, Sweet Sultans and Larkspurs can be sown now. ,Clumps of Delphiniums can be lifted and divided. Shoots when about six inches long can be taken off and rooted as cuttings. Clumps of Perennial Phlox, Michaelmas Daisies and Perennial Sunflower should be lifted and divided every two or three years. if left too long they make large masses, the centre of which is worn out and useless. The foliage of early bulbs,must not be cut away. Let it mature. If the clumps are not too large annuals can be sown or planted between the bulbs. Fill in vacant spaces in the beds of Stocks and Cinerarias. Tie in the shoots of Rambler Roses. Buds are now moving and there is a risk that they will be knocked out if growths are allowed to thresh. During the next few weeks Violet runners should be planted out to grow on for next season. Autumn-sown Antirrhinums can be planted out in the flowering beds; these will give a good show before the rest of the summer annuals. FRUIT GARDEN. To prevent leaf curl of Peaches or Nectarines spray with lime sulphur 1-IC. First spray for scab on Apples and Pears should be given when buds (begin to burst. Use lime sulphur, 1-10. This will help to control red spider. Grafts can be put on. Sap in the stock should be moving before the scions,are put on. Seal ends of the scion and cut surfaces of the stock with tar or other steriliser. Plums are now in flower. Apply a spray immediately after petals fall to control rust and bladder plum. Gooseberries should be sprayed with lime sulphur, 1-20.,. Add a little Arsenate of lead if the sawfly is in evidence.