HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1938, Page 11

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Make a sowing of Swedes for winter use. Sow Silver! Beet, Perpetual Spinach or Spinach Beet. Make sowings of Beetroot, Carrots and Peas. Keep Runner Beans closely picked. If there are any signs of insects spray,with lime sulphur 1-120. Onions will benefit by applications of liquid manure, but do not apply while the soil is dry; give clear water first. Spray the cabbage and cauliflower seedlings as soon as up with a nicotine spray to prevent the diamond-back moth. Melons, cucumbers and marrows should have the tips of the leading growths pinched out; the best fruits are developed on laterals. Cut Vegetable Marrows as soon as they are a useful size. Cutting early means a lengthened cropping period. Hoe and thin Parsnips. Allow each plant 6i'n at least. FRUIT GARDEN. Spray Apples and Pears for codlin moth and black spot. Use lime sulphur, 1-120; add arsenate of lead at the rate loz to each two gallons of spray fluid. Thin out heavy crops of fruit. This is advisable with all sorts of fruit. Spray Plums, etc, for brown rot, leech and bronze beetle. Use solution as advised above for codlin moth. Go over the stone fruits and cut off any dead twigs. This will get rid of the source of curly leaf, die back and brown rot. FLOWER GARDEN. Complete planting of Dahlias. Cuttings can be easily rooted and will give late autumn blooms. Sow Portulacca. Single and double varieties are procurable. Portulacca does well in hot, dry positions. Remove the seed pods of Rhododendrons and Azaleas. Pruning should be done now. If foliage turns rusty looking spray with white oil, 1-80. It is advisable to consider-rt a necessary part of the cultivation and spray every summer. Hydrangeas producing plenty of flower should not lack moisture and some applications of liquid manure. Thin out the flower stems of perennial Phlox and Michaelmas Daisies. Wistarias are making rapid growth at this season; prune back shoots not required. Rambler Roses are /commencing to push up strong basal growths; these must be preserved to flower next season. Frequent hoeing of the Rose beds will improve the growth of the plants and hasten the next crop of flower.