IN THE GARDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 10 May 1940, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Plant shallots and potato onions; tree onions are also a useful early crop. Lift the kumara crop; sweat in a heap for a week before storing. This is a good season to apply lime to the soil where this element is needed. Lift roots of sea kale where these are required for forcing. In localities with a warm aspect a few rows of early peas may be sown. Plant out cabbage and cauliflower for spring supplies. Cut down the asparagus when ripened off and clean the beds of weeds. FRUIT GARDEN. Raspberries and loganberries which have not yet been pruned should be taken in hand without delay; spray with Bordeaux when pruning is finished. Plant out strawberries in well-prepared ground. Citrus trees transplant better now than at any other time. Vines under glass should be given all the air possible to ripen the wood. The fruit crop should now be all gathered and all diseased fruits collected and destroyed. • Attend to any trees requiring root pruning while there is still time for fresh root to be made. Make out the fruit tree order of trees that are required for planting in the coming season. FLOWER GARDEN. Plant evergreen trees and shrubs while the soil is still warm. Cut down dahlias as soon as damaged by frost; lift and dry the tubers and store away from frost. Spanish and English iris may still be planted, also tulips. Renovate weed-infested and moss-grown lawns and sow bare patches. Collect all the fallen leaves for converting into leaf mould. Plant lilium bulbs as soon as they are available; these bulbs should not be kept out of the ground any longer than is absolutely necessary. Plant out annual plants for the spring display in the beds. Stocks, poppies, calendula, silene, pansies, violas, annual carnations and cinerarias can all be planted now.