HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 27 November 1940, Page 9

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK z VEGETABLE GARDEN. Many successional sowings should be made of radish, lettuce, endive, carrots, turnip, peas and beans; make small, .sowings frequently. Runner beans .should be well staked before the runners become entwined or alternatively pinch frequently and grow as bushes. Marrows, pumpkins and squash should have the growths trained out; if allowed to become too dense, the blooms do not set. Continue the earthing-up of the later potatoes and spray to 'prevent attacks of blight. > FRUIT GARDEN. Berry fruits of all kinds will repay for feeding with fertilisers unless the, weather is dry; in that case give a good watering first. Strawberries will be ripening their fruits and to .ensure .a good crop the plants should not be allowed to suffer from dryness at the root, though as far as Masterton ! is concerned there has been too much water to be beneficial to strawberries. Keep the young canes of loganberries and other bramble fruits tied up to the supports; these canes will carry the next season’s crop. A preliminary thinning of apples may take place -where the set is too heavy. FLOWER GARDEN. Remove all runners from the violet plants, as they only serve to exhaust the crowns.! Carnations should be disbudded to improve the quality of the blooms. Look over the rose beds for signs, of mildew and insect pests, which soon do much damage. The more tender bedding plants can now be placed in their permanent quarters. As the bulbs ripen off they may be lifted'if desired and well dried in the shade before storing. Leave no bulbs exposed in the sun to the attention of the narcissus fly. i