HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 December 1938, Page 11

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Seeds of Salsify and Scorzonera can be sown. Potatoes should be sprayed and earthed up as they need it. Plant Brussels Sprouts, Savoys and other winter greens. They can be planted between the Potato drills. The white butterfly makes it necessary to dust or spray all green crops with insecticide. Pinch back the leading growths of cucumbers, melons, pumpkins and marrows. Use the hoe freely to keep down weeds and to preserve a surface mulch of soil. Land cleared of early potatoes can be used for the autumn green crops. Watch for the leaf miner in celery plants; a dusting of soot or a spray with nicotine'will deter the fly from laying eggs. Leeks are now large enough for planting in rich ground. This crops is a gross feeder and should have plenty of manure. Sow a pinch of garden swede for earliest crop. Sowings'of Beet can be made. Use a main crop variety. Make a vowing of. Peas. Use one of the tall, lateisorts. Sowings of Dwarf Beans can be made to suit requirements. A late planting of Tomatoes can be made. Spray Tomatoes. Keep plants tied up> Remove lateral shoots. Celery trenches can be prepared and the plants put out as soon ,as they are ready. , Cucumbers, Marrows, Pumpkins, and Sweet Corn are good seasona crops. Seeds or plants can now be put out, FLOWER GARDEN. The Rose beds should be well cultivated. A mulching applied now will assist watering and flowering. Early flowering shrubs and climbers should be pruned as they go out of flower. . , , , Early flowering Clematis Montana should’be pruned fairly hard as soon as the flowers fade. Dahlias can be.planted. Drive in the central stakeibefore putting in the plant. Chrysanthemums can be planted now. Herbaceous plants should be staked-when a foot or so high. Thin outshoots of herbaceous plants, such as Helianthus, Michaelmas Daisies, Phlox, Delphiniums, Heleniums. Should 'caterpillars appear dust with/ flowers of sulphur (ten parts) and arsenate of lead powder (one part). Cut off the seed pods of Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Ericas. Tie up climbing Roses, taking care-not to.break young growths coming from the base of ramblers. FRUIT GARDEN. Take a weekly look over the fruit trees; then any infestation of aphis or other insect pests can be dealt with before too much damage is done. „ Look over the black currants and any showing signs of “reversion should be grubbed out. Spray with arsenate of lead to control bronze beetle and leaf rolling caterpillars. Spray. Peaches and Plums with colloidal sulphur to control brown rot. Pull away surplus suckers of Loganberries and Raspberries. Do not cut them off. Mtilth the canes. "