HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 February 1939, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Vacant ground should be dug over and prepared Tor a winter crop. Potatoes that are ripening off should be lifted. Once the tops have dried off there is no further gain by leaving the tubers in the ground. Spray Brussels Sprouts, Cabbages, etc, with arsenate or derris to control white butterfly.

Sow Turnips, Swedes, Spinach and Lettuce. Another sowing of Dwarf Beans can be made; keep present crops

well picked, for if a few mature seeds, the crop is finished. Make a sowing of Cabbage and Cauliflower for autumn planting. Encourage all the growth possible on asparagus beds; take measures to prevent the tall tops (from being blown over by wind. Spray the Tomatoes with arsenate of lead' to prevent the caterpillars from spoiling the fruit

Make another [sowing of Peas. Dwarf or medium varieties will'give a late crop if sown now.

Plant out Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts. These can occupy ground which has carried a crop of early Potatoes. A sowing of Carrots can be made. Shorthorn oi* stump-rooted sorts can be sown. Make plantings of Celery. Water and shade the plants till they make a start. FRUIT GARDEN. and Pears with arsenate of lead to control codlin moth. Plum or Pear leach or slug can be controlled with arsenate of lead. Do not let fallen fruit lay about on the ground; collect it up, and if useless, bury or burn it. Cut out any dead twigs on the Peach or Plum trees. There are easily seen at this stage; browp rot overwinters on these dead twigs. The late Peaches should have another spray with (lime sulphur 1 in 120 to control the brown rot. The summer pruning of Apple and Pear trees can be done at the present time. Unprofitable varieties of fruit headed back can now 1 be budded with fresh varieties on the young growth. Any trees showing branches with silver blight should have these cut out now that they can be seen.

Raspberries suffer more from dry conditions than any other fruit; keep them well supplied with moisture.

FLOWER GARDEN.

A mulching of decayed manure, old leaves or lawn mowings will benefit and save a lot of watering.

Dahlias can be mulched. Keep plants staked and tied. Cut out weak shoots. Spray if caterpillars appear. Chrysanthemums will need attention to staking, etc. Allow only two or three shoots from the break. Buds that appear now should be pinched out; they are too early to be of any use. If caterpillars appear spray with derris dust or arsenate of lead. Remove the dead pods from Azaleas and Rhododendrons. Now is a good time to spray with white oil to control red spider and thrip. th rip.

Lift Narcissi, clean, grade and store them; do not let the bulbs lie

about in the sun longer than sufficient to dry them. Lift and replant Lilium Longiflorum, also L. Candidum and L. Umbeilatum.

Lift Freesias, .Lachenalias, Spanish and other bu<lbous (Irises, also Bellodonna Lilies.

Prepare the ground for bulb planting. It should be prepared and

manured a good period before planting takes place. Old plants of Viola and Pansy can have the long shoots reduced and

a little soil sprinkled among the plants. Sow hardy annuals in vacant spots for late flowering. Prepare the trenches for winter sweet peas in good time. Thin out the growths of Rambler Roses, removing the old growths that have flowered.

A mulch of manure applied to the Rose beds will encourage late flower.