IN THE GARDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 2 May 1940, Page 9

IN THE GARDEN

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. The work of digging and trenching for next season’s crops shou (I be taken in hand in good time. Leave the surface rough. Lift any late crops of potatoes. Annual weeds are best dealt with in damp weather by skimming the ground lightly with a fork and turning the weeds in. Thin out the advancing crops of carrots and beetroot. Make a sowing of broad beans. Cut down the asparagus, clean the beds of weeds and apply a dressing of well-decayed manure. Lightly fork over and clean the ground between the rows of cabbage and cauliffower; remove all decaying leaves. K-eep the rows of autumn-sown onions free from weeds. Sow lettuce for winter use. If plants can be obtained plant out. A well-manured open position is essential. Look over onions in store and pick out for immediate use any that are soft or commencing to grow. Spinach can be sown at intervals of about a fortnight. Sow the seed thinly in drills a foot apart. FLOWER GARDEN. Evergreen trees and shrubs can be planted from now on. The autumn and spring are the best times to deal with these subjects. Continue to clean up the beds and borders of summer-flowering plants which have finished their flowering season. Replace with spring subjects such as stocks, Iceland poppies, calendula, cineraria, linaria and silene. Spanish and English iris can still be planted. The bulb planting should be completed now by putting in the tulips. Stir the soil frequently between the bulbs which are showing through the surface. Prepare the beds for planting roses to allow the soil to settle before planting. Propagate by cuttings a few plants of rosemary and lavender. Make alterations to mixed borders. Dig thoroughly before replanting and work in some decayed manure. Lift and replant border carnation layers. Plant in firm soil and on slightly raised beds. Sow hardy annuals. These make much stronger plants than spring sown. Sow thinly and transplant early. Early bulbs are coming through and the hoe should be used among them. Keep the weeds down before the bulbs get too tall. FRUIT GARDEN. Well lime the stone fruit trees, and, where brown rot has been in evidence, collect and burn all mummified fruits. Plant out strawberries; this crop needs generous manuring for the best results. Prepare the sites for planting fruit trees. Root prune over-vigorous and unfruitful trees. Cut out diseased trees without delay if intended to replace. Fruit trees that have borne heavy crops should not be allowed to suffer from lack of nutriment. .Basicjslag applied, now will-benefit next season's crops, Cuttings of bush fruits can still be inserted.