TIMELY SUGGESTIONS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 30 November 1938, Page 8

TIMELY SUGGESTIONS

HINTS FOR WOMAN GARDENER. Now that the spring blooming is Over and we have entered into the first month of summer, all the old, spent plants must be removed, and the ground dug out deeply and enriched with some good compost in preparation for new seedlings from the seed beds or boxes. It will be necessary to protect the Seedlings, as their roots are easily Scorched by a hot sun, so give them a good mulching of well-rotted manure, leaf mould, or grass cuttings. This will help to conserve the moisture, and to keep the ground cool and moist. It also prevents caking of the soil. Many young seedlings are lost through their inability to push their way through soil that has become hard and caked on the surface, This mulch can be dug into the soil after the hot weather is over. It is a good plan to keep back a few seedlings in the seed beds or boxes, in order to fill any gaps that may occur through plants dying off after transplanting to their permanent positions. Lawns and edgings will require Constant mowing now, especially after the regent liberal rains. Change the direction of the mowing each week and it will keep the surface even. When trimming the lawn edges with a turf-cutter, cut on the slant — not straight down, as this way the edges break. If cut on the slant, it is an easy matter to keep the edges trim afterwards by running the shears along. All hedges, except the flowering variety, should be trimmed. Flowering hedges should not be cut until the flowering period - is over.

Lifting of Bulbs. There are many differences of opinion regarding the lifting of bulbs after the spring flowering is over. Where the space is required for other plants, obviously the bulbs will have to be lifted. Put them into a shady corner of the garden until the foliage has browned off, then lift them again, and when they are dried and cleaned they can'be stored in a cool, dry place until the planting season comes round again. Chrysanthemums and dahlias, if not already staked and tied, should be attended to straight away. It is disheartening when these plants have made good growth to find them battered to the ground after a storm of wind and rain. Prevention is certainly better than cure in this case. War must be declared oh snails and slugs, and kept up remorselessly, if young seedlings are to be kept intact. The most effective way of getting lid of them is to go round the garden at night with a torch, and pop every snail you find into a bucket which has a layer of lime in the bottom. Lime, or equal quantities of lime and tobac-co-dust mixed, if scattered over the beds and around the plants at night when the pests are on the prowl, will effectively destroy them provided that the lime is fresh. Lime is useless after it gets wet. After watering the garden, drain the hose thoroughly, coil it neatly, and place it in a dry place where the sun cannot reach it. Extra Care in Summer.

During the heat of the summer potplants require extra care, especially as-.regards watering. The small quantity of soil in the pots dries cut very quickly, so see that they get plenty of water. A little charcoal dust added to the compost for pot-plants will help to filter the soil and counteract acidity.

To prevent the breaking of plants when watering, drive stakes into the ground at the corners of the flowerbeds, and bring the hose round the stakes.

Give your ferns some cold tea every other day. It helps the growth and gives them a better colour. Rhubarb roots will benefit if tea-leaves are placed round them. When sowing seed in seed-boxes, paste the label from the seed packet on the side of the box. You will then see at a glance what has been sown.