HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 29 January 1941, Page 9

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Lift the potatoes when the tops have withered or they may be attacked by disease if left in the ground. The cropping of vegetable marrows ean be prolonged by cutting the marrows while young. Encourage the growth of vegetables by hoeing frequently >r> dry weather. Make another sowing of cabbage for later plantings. Sow peas and French beans for late crops. Sow garden swedes and turnips for autumn and winter use. Continue the planting of cabbage and lettuce in showery weather, keep the cabbage and cauliflower plants sprayed regularly to combat pests. Keep a watch on the potatoes for late blight. Feed the celery plants with liquid manure and remove weeds and decaying leaves from the trenches. FLOWER GARDEN. Layer border carnations in prepared mounds of soil; keep moist until rooted, Lift and dry narcissi bulbs, keeping in the shade away from the attentions of the narcissus fly. Plant freesias, lachenalias and museari for early flowers. The roses will require dead flowers trimming off. and the beds will do with a light forking over, with a dressing of fertiliser. Dahlias are making vigorous growth and should have the shoots thinned out. Mildew is prevalent on roses; dust with sulphur or spray with a sulphur compound. FRUIT GARDEN. Overhaul the strawberry bed if it Is to stand for another year; clean off all the old leaves and weeds, then give a good topdressing. Clean up all fallen fruit and destroy any that is diseased. Spray the later peaches with lime sulphur, one in 120, to control brown rot. Raspberry canes which have borne fruit should be cut out and the young canes tied in. Continue the summer pruning of fruit trees.