WORK FOR THE WEEK

Wairarapa Times-Age, 8 January 1941, Page 9

WORK FOR THE WEEK

VEGETABLE GARDEN. A late sowing of peas may be made, choosing an early variety such as Greenfcast or English Wonder. These sorts will be ready at the end of March. Sow broad beans for late use. These will prove very useful and will come in when spring sown rows ara past. Sow Golden Ball turnips for late use, and thin out previous sowings. Summer spinach may be sown for quick use. This quick-maturing kind should be sown in small lots every few weeks. Lettuce may be sown or plants set out according to requirements. If sown thin in rows the lettuce may be used without transplanting. Stake runners beans and pinch all side shoots from tomatoes, which should also be staked. Plant out celery and leeks in shallow trenches in the bottom of which there should be a good layer of rotted manure covered with some good soil. Plant two rows in this trench and water after planting. Watch carrots carefully for signs of aphis on the foliage and when this pest shows pull off the lower leaves and spray with some good insecticide. Pinch the tops of forward beans and run cords along the sides to hold the rows in. Clear off all used crops such as cabbages, seeded turnips, etc.; these harbour weeds and pests and should be cleared off. FRUIT GARDEN. Beyond keeping a check on insect and fungus pest and gathering crops there is little to do in the fruit garden. Young fruit trees and especially newly planted trees should be making strong young growth; some of the inner buds may be rubbed off or shoots cut out leaving only those growths necessary to form a good shaped tree. Woolly aphis.blight may be spreading on apple trees and should be checked by spraying or brushing. Mildew is bad on tips of young wood and should be cut out and the tree sprayed with lime-sulphur. Grafted trees will require attention.’ Remove all growths below the graft and secure grafted parts from winds. If young plants are desired of strawberries cover the runners with soil or ashes. If not required cut off all runners and give plants a sprinkling of garden manure. Prepare ground for planting out new beds of strawberries which may be set out next month. Dig deeply, working in rotted manure. Old beds may also be broken up as soon as the crop is gathered and selected plants set back, Remove all old foliage. FLOWER GARDEN. Carnation layering can be commenced as soon as the shoots are long enough. Use a sandy compost for layering. This keeps moist and does not cake and crack with dry weather. Anemone seed can be sown now. Mix the seed with twice its bulk of dry sand before sowing. This separates the seeds and makes • thin sowing possible. Sow seeds of primroses, polyanthus and pansies for planting in autumn for spring flowering. 4. The staking and tying of dahlias and chrysanthemums will need constant attention. In the case of dahlias do sufficient pruning to keep the plants fairly balanced. Keep the garden trim and tidy, borders neat and the grass closely cut. Hedges can be trimmed. Prepare the ground for sowing winter or early flowering sweet peas.