HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 January 1939, Page 2

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sowings of Dwarf/Beans can be made according to space and requirements. A sowing of Runner Beans made now will give some good pickings in the autumn. Crops of early Potatoes that are ready to lift should be lifted as soon as possible. Do not let the tubers lie out exposed to the sun or daylight longer than possible. Sow Swedes and Turnips for autumn and use. If a shortage of Carrots is likely, make another good sowing. Choose showery weather for the' planting out of Cabbage and Cauliflower. Spray the Cabbage and Cauliflower crops at regular intervals with nicotine and soap to deter the diamond-back moth. Watch the Celery crop for any signs of rust or the leaf-mining maggot. Make a sowing of Mustard and Cress. Quickly and easily grown, this is unequalled for sandwiches. > Further sowings of Lettuce will be necessary to keep up the supply. Manure and moisture and a little shade are required at this time of the year to produce a good Lettuce. _ift Garlic as soon as the stems begin to sere and dry. Bunch the stems together and hang to the roof of a dry, airy shed. Spray the Cucumber and Pumpkin vines! if there is the least sign of mildew. Powdered lime and sulphur in equal parts and dusted on the foliage is also effective. Lift and store onions when matured. Dry well before storing in an airy place. Cut and dry Herbs, and make a sowing of Parsley for winter ;use. Keep the Bean crop picked; if they are allowed to ripen, seed production will cease. FLOWER GARDEN. Make the first sewing of Beauty Stocks in January. Use new or sterilised soil to sow in and protect from aphis. The lifting of the" Daffodil bulbs should be commenced as soon as possible. Do not let the Daffodil bulbs lie in the sun long after lifting. Allow them to dry, then' clean and store in a ldry, airy, shady, place or shed. Anemone seed can be sown this month if there is ithe accommodation to give it proper attention. Where there is not proper facilities for|watering, etc, it is better to leave the'seed sowing till March. The layering of Border Carnations can be done at any time now. The sooner the layers are down after the plants (have finished flowering the better, as the plants will then be rooted well enough to get them planted in early autumn. Violet runners will need watering if the weather is dry; sprinkle overhead freely ;to keep down the red spider. Cut back Pelargoniums when the flowering is past; insert the cuttings in a sunny position in the garden. Pinch and tie up growing out of character, keeping each to its allotted space. FRUIT GARDEN. Spray Apples and Pears with arsenate of lead to control codlin moth. Thin out any heavy (crops of fruit. No matter what variety, It is always an advantage to thin and prevent over cropping. A certain amount of stopping or summer pruning can be done to young, newly-planted trees, especially thosei that are not fruiting. Out door vines should have the laterals pinched at four leaves beyond the bunch and the sub-laterals stopped at the .first leaf. Spray stone fruit (to control brown rot; also for leech and shothale fungus use lime sulphur and colloidal sulphur. Fruit tree can be budded when the bark lifts easily and mature buds can be obtained.