HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 November 1941, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Fruit, Flowers and Vegetables WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow French, runner and waxpod beans for succession; sow peas for later crops. Plant out the early celery and leeks in .well-manured ground. Plant out cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce from the early sowings, and spray to combat the diamondiback moth., Watch for mildew on the onions; it is a wise precaution to spray or dust with sulphur compounds early. Do not overlook the earthing-up of potatoes, but do not earth-up to a sharp ridge which would run the water off. Keep seedlings thinned out as fast as they grow large enough to handle, and firm the soil Tound those left in the ground. FRUIT GARDEN. Spray the oranges with Bordeaux 3-4-50/ when the set; as a precaution against wither tip. Thin the fruits on the various trees where the! set/is too heavy; this will result in a crop of better quality fruit of equal weight. Raspberries and Jogan/berries should be sprayed with derris when the blossoms show white, with a repeat spraying in ten days. Look over the fruit tree grafts. Any that have failed should be removed and the shoots thinned in readiness for inserting buds. Attend to the stopping and trainingi of grape vines; stop two; leaves beyond the bunch of fruit. After the blossom falls from the apples and pears 'they should be sprayed with arsenate of lead against the codlin moth. FLOWER GARDEN. Bulbs may be lifted as soon .as the foliage has'ripened; if left in the ground, rake the soil over well as a precaution against bulb fly. Keep the plants well staked in the herbaceous borders and remove spent blooms to ,'prolong the flowering season. Plant more gladioli for later crops ofjbloom and stake those already up. Polyanthus may be lifted, divided and replanted on a’ reserve border. Most tender annuals and .perennials can be planted safely at this season. Plant out dahlias and chrysanthemums in the prepared beds, but look out for frosts as dahlias are likely .to be nipped. Make, fresh plantations of violets, choosing the strongest runners. Lilacs should be prunedl or thinned as soon as the flowers are past; give the bushes a good'mulch of old ( manure for the summer.