HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 11 August 1939, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Dig and manure all vacant ground. Make up a hot bed for raising early seeds. Dig and trench all spare ground. Sow a few early peas when the ground is dry enough. A few potatoes can be planted in a warm, dry position. Make new plantations of rhubarb. Sow a row of carrots and spinach for early spring use. Cgntinue to prepare ground ready for spring crops and continue to sow and plant cabbage and cauliflower. [ Celery seed should be sown under glass for the main crop supplies. Examine the seed potatoes set up to sprout and remove weak shoots. Potato onions and shallots can still be planted when the soil is dry enough. Chives can be lifted, divided and replanted now. This plant is excellent for flavouring salads, Where the cabbage are backward, apply nitrate of soda, one ounce per square yard, well hoed in. Where heavy soil was ridged up last autumn, the plots should now be levelled with a fork; choose dry weather for the operation. A few rows of early turnips should be sown at the first opportunity. s FLOWER GARDEN. Peonies are best left undisturbed. Established specimens will appreciate a mulch of well-rotted manure now. Box edgings can be trimmed and any gaps made good by replanting. Prune the Jackmanni section of clematis by cutting back to good sound buds. In the lighter soils make a planting of gladioli for early bloom. Delphiniums starting into growth are an attraction for slugs; apply remedial measures in good time. Plant out pansies, violas, nemesia and stocks for successional bloom. Keep the bulb beds free from weeds and the soil stirred over after heavy rains. Sweet pea seed can be sown in pots or boxes or even in .the open in favourable localities. New rose beds should be made and trees can be planted. Any trimming or shaping of shrubs can be done now. Prune climbing roses; tie in any long growths. ' Put in chrysanthemum cuttings as they are available. Border carnations should be gone over and cleaned of all decaying and dead foliage. THE FRUIT GARDEN. Prune fruit trees and spray directly after flowering. Spray with caustic soda wash to clean off moss and lichen. Pick up and burn all prunings. Fruit .trees that are to be root pruned or new ones that are to be planted should receive attention at once. Dig the ground under the trees with a fork. Peach trees affected with leaf curl last year should be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture. Clean up any arrears of pruning before the buds swell, and destroy any mummified fruits from last season. The soil round the base of the trees should be given attention, either by digging over or replacing with fresh soil. As soon as drier conditions prevail, complete the plantings of fruit trees, before root action starts.

Examine the black current bushes for any sign of “big bud.”