HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 12 June 1941, Page 8

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Rhubarb clumps which have been in,the same position for three years should be lifted, divided and replanted. Cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and onions can be planted while the soil is moist. Get ready all the vacant plots for the early sowings; the soil will improve by being turned up to the air and sunshine. If your garden is well sheltered and ! the soil reasonably light, a row or two of peas can be sown in Masterton this month for an early crop. Keep the soii hoed between winter onions and spinach whenever the soil and conditions are suitable. Weeds are best disposed of by lightly forking over the soil and burying them. FLOWER GARDEN. Plant roses, evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs, and do any transplanting that is required. It is frequently better to shift a valued shrub to another position, where is has more room, than to cut it heavily back. 1 Cut down the herbaceous plants that have finished their season and clean up the borders. Coarse sand will protect the bulbs of liliums and early-flowering gladioli where heavy frosts are the rule.! Plant out cineraria, stocks, Iceland poppies, calendulas, primula malacoides, .and make all preparations for the spring display in the beds. Keep the soil stirred between the anemones and ranunculus as soon as they appear through .the soil; keep up the cultivation until the foliage covers. FRUIT GARDEN. Plant out strawberries in well-prepared ground. Get rid of all 'dead and diseased wood from fruit trees as early as possible. When cutting out trees badly affected with silver blight, do not omit to grub out the stumps and large roots also. When planting fruit trees in low-lying gardens it is always advisable to place some drainage beneath the roots. Any varieties of fruit trees not proving profitable should be headed back for grafting in the spring.