HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 October 1939, Page 8

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. To keep up a regular supply of lettuce sowings should be made every 14 days. Make a liberal sowing of parsley for summer and autumn supply; thin the plants to one foot apart. Celery seedlings require pricking out. Spray with insecticide if there are any signs of the leafminer. For pickling purposes, make sowings of silver skin onions, which do not require any thinning. Mulch young carrots with lawn mowings to prevent attacks by carrot fly. Asparagus beds require a topdressing of salt, one ounce to each square yard. FLOWER GARDEN. Reduce the number of shoots on herbaceous plants if necessary. It is a good idea to plant ornamental grasses in flower borders, as they are attractive and useful as a foil for cut flowers. Plant out zinnias, asters, marigolds, phlox, petunias and other halfhardy subjects for summer flower. Thin out the sowings of hardy annuals before they have time to become weak and spindly. Rid the lawn of daisies and broad-leaved weeds by treating with sulphate of ammonia; repeat in three weeks if needed. FRUIT GARDEN. Strawberry beds require mulching. If leafy spot is noticed spray the plants. As a precaution against big bud mite spray black current bushes with lime sulphur. Water late-planted trees until they are well established. Autumn-fruiting raspberries cut down a few weeks ago are sending up shoots. They require reducing to four or five. Young shoots of stone fruits are often infested with aphis; spray before the foliage becomes crippled. Loganberries and raspberries should be dusted with derrisdust as soon as the blossom shows white, but before they open.