HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 October 1941, Page 8

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Lock over the transplanted autumn-sown onions and also shallots. If they are being raised out of the soil, they must be made firm. There is ample time yet to plant, both of these crops, i Brussels sprouts require a well-tilled and firm-rooting medium. The site can now be prepared so that it will have a chance to consolidate before planting time. If seasonable weather prevails it will be possible to get busy with the hoe, and all crops will benefit by a loosening of the surface soil. Autumn-sown broad beans, peas and cabbage plants will ail need hoeing up. This will destroy seedling weeds. Sow Crimson Globe beet now. FRUIT GARDEN. Lime sulphur is'one of the safe'sprays to use as the leaf buds begin to lopen. It may, also be used just as the flower buds begin to open and again after they have withered away. Many fungoid diseases will be checked by these sprayings. Where there is a shortage of organic manure and no| chance to spare any for the strawberry bed, a good general fertiliser can be substituted and hoed in. Use the hoe or cultivator freely between the trees and bushes to keep down seedling weeds and expose harmful grubs to the attentions of birds. Usually peaches and nectarines set far'too many fruits. The earlier the number is reduced after the blooms have set the better. Otherwise there will be exhaustion of tho trees. FLOWER GARDEN. The sowing of hardy and half-hardy annuals can be carried out in the open ground during the next few weeks. Make a point of having a reserve border of these popular annuals, for they will provide plenty of flowers for house decoration. Evergreen trees and conifers can still, be planted, but they will need frequent soakings of water should the weather prove dry during the next few weeks. A daily spraying with clear water will greatly encourage root action in these late-planted subjects. Cannas can be taken from their resting quarters,and the oid stools started into grdwth. Wherd these plants are left irt the ground all winter it is a good planjto lift and divide them now, discarding the old worn-out pieces and planting only those with a strong growing point.