BUSY SEASON AHEAD

Wairarapa Times-Age, 24 July 1940, Page 9

BUSY SEASON AHEAD

WORK FOR JULY AND AUGUST. July and August are busy months in the garden. As a rule the weather is not too dependable at this season, and every favourable opportunity should be taken to catch up with any arrears of work due to the past weeks of almost continuous rain. Foremost of the work which should be done as soon as possible is the cleaning up and digging of any spare ground. Weeds have made a good growth, and if turned under at once will decay, and add a certain amount of humus to the soil, but if left will flower and sed, and also harbour hosts of pests. In the flower garden the beds will need the surface stirring, weeds pulled out, and, in most cases, gathered up and carried away. Any fallen leaves should be gathered up. Complete the planting of hedges, trees, shrubs, and. roses as soon as possible.

Any remodelling of existing beds or borders, or making of new ones, should be undertaken so as to have them ready before next summer. Lawns which are being prepared for spring sowing should have the surface stirred occasionally to keep it free of weeds and to obtain a fine tilth ready for the seed sowing next month. In the vegetable garden the preparation of the ground for onion planting should be undertaken. A few rows of early potatoes and also peas should be planted in a warm and sheltered position. And standing crops of cabbage cauliflower, and such like should have the surface soil stirred and weeds cleared away or turned under. A little nitrate of soda or sulphate of ammonia given to cabbages or lettuces, which may have stood through the winter will give them a start again. The asparagus beds should be cleaned and a top-dressing of manure given. A little sulphate of potash at the rate of half an ounce to the square yard is good for asparagus, and should be applied now. If stable manure is in short supply, give four ounces of superphosphate per square yard. In the fruit garden, pruning and spraying of standing trees is urgent work. The planting of any new trees should also be undertaken at once. After the end of July planting is done at a loss of energy in the tree. Next month the ground under the fruit trees should be manured and dug over ready for the spring flowering. In the greenhouse the work goes on more regularly, the weather having less effect. Nevertheless, with the coming of August, the pressure of work begins to be felt. Many plants that have been resting during the wintcnwill begin to show signs of growth, and repotting and top-dressing will be necessary. Seedlings that are in boxes should have the surface of the soil just broken with the point of a label. Plants such as primulas, cyclamen, cinerarias, which arc in (lower or coming into flower, should be given occasion doses of liquid manure. A current of fresh air is essential, but cold draughts must be avoided, or mildew and damping will soon appear. Any watering that is necessary should be done in the mornings, so as to allow any surplus moisture to evaporate before night. Above all. watch for aphis and fumigate at the first signs.