HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 18 August 1939, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow a pinch of parsley seed on warm border, or along the edge of a path. Make successional sowings of peas when the soil is dry enough to work. Put in trays potatoes to'-sprout ready for planting. Plant potatoes as ground and circumstances permit. Manure and prepare the ground for tomatoes as soon as possible. Make up hotbeds for starting kumara plants. Plant out cabbage, lettuce and onions; make a sowing of lettuce seed in boxes. Sow tomatoes and cucumbers under glass. Make a sowing of cabbages and cauliflowers. FRUIT GARDEN. Manure and dig beneath trees. Any planting that remains should be done as soon as possible. Scions for grafting should be cut and buried in a cool, shady position. Prepare the ground for planting citrus trees. Any further pruning should be completed at once before the buds swell. Clean up all primings an destroy by fire, particularly dead and diseased wood. When the pruning is completed, apply a dressing of fertiliser in which nitrogen predominates. Fire pots should be in readiness in districts where the early blossom is liable to damage by frost. Spray peach trees with Bordeaux for leaf curl before the buds open. FLOWER GARDEN. Get busy and prepare the ground for spring planting. Stir the surface between the bulbs. i Keep down weeds so as to reduce the harbour for slugs. Trim hedges and clean up paths. Make a sowing of sweet peas. Keep the growths of sweet peas trained to their supports; ' remove weak growths. Young stock of chrysanthemums will give the,best results; see to the propagation of young stock now. Perpetual carnation cuttings rooted last month can be lined out in the open when hardened off. Continue the plantings of deciduous trees and shrubs. Take any lawn repairs in hand while the turf is still soft.