HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR.

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 September 1938, Page 4

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR.

VEGETABLES AND FLOWERS. WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Onions can be transplanted. A spring sowing of Onions can be made. Make the bed firm and rake the surface smooth before sowing. If you have not yet sown Parsnips, delay no longer. Sowings of Cabbage, Cauliflower and Brocolli can be made. Plantings can be made if available. Separate clumps of Chives. They make cleaner and longer grass if separated ever year. The herb border must be lifted and planted yearly if it is to be a success. Sow Lettuce, Radish, Mustard and Cress to keep up the supply. Make a sowing of Leeks. These must be transplanted as seedlings before planting permanently. FLOWER GARDEN. Fnish pruning Roses; clean and manure beds. Clean Border Carnations, pulling off diseased foliage and spraying plants Fill up gaps in beds of Stocks, Nemesia, etc. Surface soil should be kept loose by hoeing. Chrysanthemum cuttings can be taken. Pull suckers off with a few roots attached. Sweet Peas are growing fast; they must be kept tied to their supports. Remove weak lateral growths. Do not cut away bulb foliage until it has (matured. If it is unsightly tie it together and plant or sow annuals between them. Sows seeds of Asters, Phlox Drummondii, Nemesias and other halfhardy annuals. Now is the time to go over bulbs, such as Daffodils, and see that their positions are clearly marked, labels firm and names legible. It is too late for this job when foliage has matured. See that Roses and other climbing plants are securely tied to wires or supports. » Border perennials must not be overlooked. Plant these now. FRUIT GARDEN. When the blossom has fallen from the peaches and nectarines, spray with wettable sulphur or colloidal sulhpur to control disease. The grafting of fruit trees can be undertaken when the sap is rising; it is better to be late than too early with this operation. Raspberries, Loganberries and other berry fruits will appreciate a good thick mulch of manure at this season as they are shallowrooted. Plant out tomato plants for the main crop; these do not require too rich ground at first; commence to feed when the first fruit have set j Plums should be sprayed early to control the leaf curling aphis; nicotine sulphate and soap is a good spray.