GARDEN NOTES.

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 35, 12 November 1920, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES.

SUMMER SPRAYING. Early in the spring months mildew becomes prevalemt, more especially upon apple trees, attacking the imdeveloped leaves. The damage this disease cau&es upon young apple trees a.t this season of the year if-left unchecked is enormous. Those who grow apples to any extent sliould seriously attend to the keeping down of mildew. Trees planted in an open, sunny, and airy position are rarely affected to any alarming extent. Trees in cold, damp, and shady positions — placea where cold currents of air are prevalent — are always more liable to this diaease than those in open situations. Bordeaux mixture is the best for spray, ing to eradicate mildew. The summer formula is 41b sulphate of copper, 41b fresh rock lime, 40 gallons of water. Dissolve the sulphafe of copper in 20 gallons of water; slake the lime glowly, and make up to 20 gallons; strain this milli of lime into the solution of sulphate of copper, stirring briskly whilst adding the oixe to the other. Sulphate of copper is easily dissolved in hot water. Where only a few trees are kept it will not be necessary to make the full amount, but care must be taken t-o use the proper proportions. Badly-affected ti',ecs will require two or three sprayings, about 15 days between each spraying. This is also an excellent spray for apple and pear scab, shot-hole fungus in apricots and plums, rust attack on peaches and plums, and also peach curl or blister. THE CODLIN MOTU. The moths appear early in November, and the females lay their eggs- on the blossom or in the eyes of the fruit. The caterpillars hatch out and at olice commence to bore towards the ccntre. When fully grown the caterpillars bore a way out, find suitable hiding-place, spm cocoons about themselves, and in time turn into pupae, from which months emerge in due course. Bands of sacking. folded and securely bound round the trees stenis near the ground (after all loose bark has been scraped off) are very useful as traps, as they cause ascending and descending caterpillars to hide and collect in tlxein. The traps should be frequently examined and the pests destroyed. Spraying the trees with paris green immediately the blossom has fallen and before the fruit turns down is a good remedv, whilst alrfallen apples should be cleared away as soon as possible. THE VEGETABLE GAR-.EN. Take every advantage after rain to earth 'up potatoes. It often happens that the gronnd is of such a nature that it is almost impossible to do this work satisfactorily when very dry, therefore take every opportunitv of doing this whilst the ground is workable, for it makes a vast difference to a crop of potatoes whether moulaing be properly done or hall-done. This should be done before the tops aretoo large, as the less injury the tops get the better crop will be produced. There is still time to sow onions for winter use, if this has not- already been done. Though they will not.be so large, ' they Lecome large enough for ordinary kitchen pnrposes ; indeed, medium-sized tubers keep longer, and will probabiy come in after .autumn-sown ones are past in. the spring, which is a great Consideration where they have i , be supplied n early all the year roimd. Make the ground rich by deep digg'ng nd manuring, aird make it very smooth and level by raking and treading. Eirm it must be for good, sound tubars cannot be procured upon loose soil. If the ground be loose, they grow rapidly enough, but all to neck, like a young leek. Autumn-sown onions should have occasioual waterings during dry weather. T'hin out spring-sown ones before they get too large. Keep down weeds. Thin out. such crops as turnips, earrots,' onions, etc. iransplant cabbage and cauliilower, ^and sow for succession peas and French beans. W'hen these have been badly blackened with frost it is as well to sow again at once, . for they very rarely recover sufficiently to . be of mueh goocl. Marrows also wiil not stand sharp frosts, and it will be advisable if these are badly touclied to replatit them also. Plant out leeks in trencbes as for ceieiy, and give a good soaking immediately after planting. Dig in good manure in the trenches, but do not tread the soil. Plant deeply, and cut off just a small amount from the tipa of the leaves when planting, This strengthens the plant by diverting the sap into other channels. Stake runner beans. Drive in long sticks on either side of the row, and they are made more steady if tied at the top. The plants are also the better of a little earthing up on either side to form a kxnd

of channel. Thi8 tends to retain moisture longer, and keeps the roots cooler. They are very much the better of a good soaking during dry weather. Early-sown bi'oad beans that are setting or have set the first lot of beans should have the extreme points of each stem pinched off. By this means a better crop is secured. Sow for succession lettuce, radish, mustard -and . cress.