HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 17 November 1939, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. From now on lettuce are best sown thinly in drills and thinned out. Plant out celery and leeks in well-manured ground. Thin out the root crops as soon as the plants are large enough. Keep the soil well hoed between the seedling crops. Sow cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli for autumn and winter use. Seed sowing failures should be made good at once. Onions for pickling purposes can be sown. The main crop of onicns should be cultivated. At first signs of mildew spray with lime sulphur I—l2o. Pinch the tips out of marrow and pumpkin plants when six good leaves have been made. Sow mustard and cress for salad purposes. Use fresh soil for each sowing; do not cover Seed; water as soon as sown; shade and do not water again. It is ready to cut as soon as seed leaves have developed. Sow dwarf and runner beans for successional crops, but beware of frosts in Masterton. Plant out tomatoes, cucumbers, melons and pumpkins. Their seed can also be sown. Beware also of frosts. Sow a succession of spinach. This can be sown between long maturing crops. FRUIT GARDEN. Thin out the weaker shoots of the raspberries as they progress in growth. As a control for the raspberry beetle, dust with derridust when the blossoms show white. Look over the fruit tree grafts and any that have failed may be budded 'over later in the season. Spray apples and pears with arsenate of lead to control codlin moth. Spray the peaches and nectarines with lime sulphur, one in 120, as a preventive of brown rot. Some thinning of fruits is necessary if crop set is heavy. Spray citrus fruits with Bordeaux 4-4-40 when fruit has set to control fungoid disease. Cut out the branches which are carrying “bladder plums.” FLOWER GARDEN. Sow hardy perennials and biennials out of doors in a cool position. Rock garden plants of a spreading nature benefit by pruning as soon as the flowers have faded; use the shoots for cuttings. Plant out zinnias, asters, salvias, petunias, marigolds and celosia. Border carnations are running up to flower. Flower stems should be supported early to prevent them becoming “knee-ed.” Plant out dahlias and chrysanthemums raised from cuttings. Lift and divide polyanthus and plant on a reserve border. Newly-planted shrubs will need attention to watering should the weather be dry.