HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 13 January 1939, Page 9

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. As the early crops mature they should be removed to make room for others. When cucumbers are in full bearing, mildew frequently appears; dust with sulphur on the first signs of trouble. As the onion crop'commences to ripen, bend over the tops away from the sun; the ofternoon of a hot day is the best time for this. Keep the surface loose by frequent hoeing. I Sow Dwarf, Haricot and Runner Beans. Peas that are in bloom will,need watering to swell the pods. Runner Beans are beginning to set; pick the Beans close when ready. Keep the Onion bed clear. A sprinkling or soot or nitrate of soda will do good. Continue to plant out celery and leeks; make up the losses in the earlier plantings. Early varieties of cauliflower should be planted to give heads in autumn; watering and hoeing ifrequently are the main points in cuiture. Marrows and pumpkins should bewatered copiously during dry spells. Any idle plots of land should be ‘sown with mustard for digging in. FLOWER GARDEN. Water and hoe newly-planted Violets. Keep the dead blooms off the Roses. Shorten back any shoots that have flowered on the Dwarf Roses. Keep the surface soil loose. Give liquid manure and clear water. Stake Border Carnations; also disbud if large, flowers are required. Plant French Marigolds, Salvias, Cosmos, Zinnias. Remove any Ispent blooms as soon as possible tojprevent seeding. Brompton Stocks make a good display in late spring; sow now on ah open border. Perennial Phlox is shallow-rooted and soon feels the dry weather, mulch with lawn cuttings or old manure. Liquid twice a week will help the Sweet Peas; keep the seed pods picked off. Destroy the aphis when they infest the flower heads of lilies, or the buds will be crippled. Stake ail the tall-growing heraceous plants in good time before they are damaged by wind or rain. FRUIT GARDEN. Spray the late Peaches with lime sulphur, one in 120 to combat the brown rot; it is too late when the disease appears. As soon as (the culinary Apples are large enough, thin judiciously, for the apples are usable. Black aphis is prevalent this season on fruit trees; give a good spraying with insecticide. Spray Apples and Pears with arsenate of lead for codlin moth. Thin crops of Peaches and other fruits.