IN THE GARDEN

Wairarapa Times-Age, 9 May 1941, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Take advantage of dry weather to hoe freely between the crops which have not covered the ground. Keep the spinach bed and other small crops free from falling leaves, which will choke the plants. i It is a wise plan to double-dig several plots annually. Break down the leaves over autumn cauliflowers and broccoli to protect the hearts from frost. Where large onions are required the plot should be well prepared during the next few months by trenching. Mix basic slag with the top spit. FLOWER GARDEN. Gladioli should all be lifted by now and dried well before storing; discard diseased specimens. Rambler Iroses need their annual overhaul; provide fresh supports where'these are needed. The planting of tulips should now complete the bulb planting. Window boxes should be emptied of their contents and replanted with subjects for winter and spring'blooming. Old beds of lily of the valley are improved by being lifted and divided at this season; in any case, a good topdressing will do good. FRUIT GARDEN. Where quinces have been badly affected with the leaf spot, the leaves, as they fall, should be raked up and burned. The same applies to figs 'affected with leaf rust. s I Plant out strawberries as soon as the plants can .be obtained. Plum trees are notorious for producing suckers; these should be traced to the point of origin and removed. 1 In some gardens it may be necessary to. remove young fruit trees to new positions; early in May is the'best time. Trees that are vigorous but unfruitful should be. lifted and replanted if small enough; if too large, root-prune them.