HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 21 April 1939, Page 2

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Cabbage and cauliflower can be sown; water and shade will be necessary if the dry spell continues. This is a good time to make a sowing of parsley. Parsley makes quite a nice edging plant. Celery and leeks will take abundance of water while weather is dry. Once the (asparagus tops begin to yellow they can be cut down and the bed cleaned, but do not cut them down too soon. Collect and store pumpkins and marrows. Beans that have been [left to dry for seed or\winter use should be collected and shaken out of the pods. Harvest the onions; use any thick-necked or soft bulbs first. To keep the bulbs plaint the tops into ropes andi hang from the roof of a dry shed. Thin out the advancing crops of turnips, carrots and beetroot sown last month. Lift and store the root crops in districts subject to heavy frosts. Fork up the soil between the earliest planted winter greens and remove yellow and decaying leaves. Onions should be sown for transplanting at once. Work the soil to a fine tilth before sowing. Make a good sowing of broad beans; give preference to a site that is well drained in winter. Leeks have made plenty of growth and should be kept well earthed up to obtain a good length and blanched stem. FLOWER GARDEN. Planting of anemones and ranunculus can be continued. Daffodils and narcissi should be planted as soon as possible. Annuals that are over should be pulled up and the ground cleared ready for planting with spring flowers. Early flowering sweet peas that are up should have small sticks placed to them. Liliums can be planted. Early lifting and planting is advisable with these bulbs. Do not let the bulbs dry more than possible. Gladioli can be lifted. Clean the corms and collect all the small cormels; these can become a weedy nuisance if left to lie about. Prepare the ground for new lawns. Have the seed ready for sowing as soon as ground is moist. ' Meanwhile keep the surface loose with frequent use of the rake. Stir the soil between anemones as soon as they show through the ground; keep the surface soil loose at all times. Evergreen trees.and shrubs can be planted any time now. Prepare the soil for planting roses; these are best in beds by themselves. Where roses have suffered from black spot, collect the leaves and burn them; it Is also advisable to remove the top few inches of soil and bury it deeply. FRUIT GARDEN. Trees that have been cleared of fruit should be gone over and any useless or dead wood removed. Useless .trees should be cut out and the rubbish burned. If a .tree is not worth spraying and looking after cut it out. Where it is proposed,to plant new trees prepare the ground. Select the trees and place your order for early delivery. Loganberries and raspberries, red, white and black currants should be pruned and manured. Fruit trees badly infested with woolly aphis should be given a good cleansing with insecticide, or a supply of the parasites obtained. Now is a good time to apply lime to the stone fruit trees; this should be applied at least once in two years. Plant out strawberry plants as soon as they can be obtained. Cleanliness is a great factor in orchard work. Keep down the weeds and destroy all rubbish and diseased wood by burning.