HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 November 1939, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES

WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Plant out lettuce in good supply and sow more seed. Examine all seed beds and where there are any failures sow again at once. Sow runner, French and butter beans, marrows, pumpkin and cucumber. Seed sowing will be'in full swing now and every available space shguld bo filled. Continue to sow peas according to room and requirements. A sowing of runner beans can be made now. Deeply-worked soil is necessary if good results are wanted. Pwart‘ beans can (be sown in small quantities and in warm, sheltered positions, but beware of frosts. Earth.up the potatoes and spray as a precaution against “blight.” The'thinning of seedling crops should be attended to in good time; firm the seedlings that are left after thinning. Established beds of asparagus will need a top-dressing to keep up the crgp. Make a sowing of parsley for autumn and winter use.

FRUIT GARDEN. Watch apple trees for first sign of powdery mildew on foliage. Spray with lime sulphur 1 in 120. Remove surplus peaches where they have set too thickly. Thin gooseberries unsparingly if large berries are required. Spray stone fruits with lime sulphur I—l2o to control brown rot. Keep a watch on all fruit trees for any appearance of aphis and spray on its first appearance. Reduce the young shoots of raspberries to six to each clump. Shallow hoeing should be the rule for raspberries, as the roots grow near the surface. Spray the apples for codlin moth as soon as the petals have fallen. Do not omit the lime sulphur spray to the peaches at a strength of one in 120 as a protection against brown rot. Growths showing any signs of wilting on the fruit trees should be cut away and burned,

FLOWER GARDEN.

Remove spring-flowering plants from the beds when past their best and replace with summer-flowering plants. Newly-planted ornamental shrubs and trees should not be neglected; water regularly in dry spells and mulch to retain the moisture.

Lift, divide and replant chrysanthemums. Early-rooted cuttings will be ready to plant. Marigolds, salpiglgssis, dianthus, gaillardlas, sweet williams and coreopsis should be planted as soon as possible. Border carnationsiare showing for bloom and must be staked at once. Spray for aphis if it is necessary. Dahlia tubers, should be out ready for starting. Where they have (been left in the ground they should be lifted and divided. Delphiniums are growing fast and should have the growths thinned if good spikes are desired. Leave the strongest and best-plac&d growths. Herbaceous plants will need the surplus growths thinning out; these plants always produce too many to flower really weli. Rhododendrons and azaleas will appreciate a mulching of leafsoil. Seeds of most hardy perennials can now be sown out of doors in a cool position. Attend to the disbudding of roses if fine blooms are required.