THE WEEK'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 26

THE WEEK'S WORK.

* THE FLOWER GARDEN. ± * The improvement in the weather has made possible outdoor * * gardening operations. The chief work in most gardens ia * •js clearing up and repairing damage done by the storms. ijc Most of the deciduous trees have lost their foliage, and a final * clearing up can be given- Let it be thorough, and not only % 4= leaves, but weeds and other rubbish should be gathered up. * * Dahlias are now practically over, and in many cases have been cut $ •j- by frost or damaged by storms. Cut down the stems to about a * * foot from the ground. Let the stools remain in the ground for * a week at least, after cutting down the plants. -jc * Dahlia roots can be lifted after the tops have been cut down a * * week or more. See that the labels are securely tied to each root. % \ Clean off as much soil as possible, and let the roots dry in the # * sun before storing tbem. * Slugs are very much in evidence, or at least the results of their J * work is, just now. Small seedlings must be watched, and every- * % thing done to guard against these pests. Tobacco powder, J s|c soot, lime, Sanitas powder, are all useful under certain condi- * *tions, but none are perfect, and they should not be applied too * £ thickly. Weak solutions of lime sulphur solution, liquid sheep * dip, and such like are also useful. * % Alum and borax in small quantities are said to be effective against !£ ■*. slugs. The powder should be scattered on the soil around the 4= * plants. $ The planting of Roses, trees, shrubs, etc., is now in full swing, and .j. * with a few days' fine weather the soil is in good condition- The -ij X preparation of the soil should be done some time before the £ 4c plants are put in. -f * Orders for plants should be sent in as soon as possible to ensure * * getting your requirements. If left too late the best treea and # * varieties have gone. * Lawns should be repaired, any hollows being filled, and bad places % * prepared for resowing. A good dressing of basic slag should be * * given now. Lawns in many casea are bad and weedy, simply jjj j|c because of the want of manure. ' * * . Edgings should be trimmed, irregularities and bad places made up. *

* THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. * * This is more or less the off season so far as outdoor work is cob- * $ cerned, and the opportunity should be taken of cleaning, * repairing and sharpening tools. A lot of the value of the work # * depends upon the state of the tools. {£ * Stakes, Bean and Pea sticks, should be looked over; any beyond % * use should be made into firewood, and broken ends should be * $ resharpened. Lawn stakes and sticks should receive a coat of jjt paint. * * AH wooden and iron implements, such as wheelbarrows, harrows, * * scarifiers, should be painted. The handles of hoes, spades and # * forks, etc., should receive a coat of linseed oiL * $ "During fine weather any vacant plots should be deeply dug or J % trenched. Trenching is useful because it allows a lot of accumu- * *lated rubbish to be buried. $ % Odd corners and the base of hedges should be cleaned out. Woody * rubbish should be burned, and the other rubbish buried * ■$ deeply. # * Now is a good time to procure turf and stack it for use as a compost. * * The top six inches of an old paddock is best. If possible, * $ between every two or three layers add a little salt; it kills a lot :| . * of insects, and is also of manurial value. * $ Where the past rains have shown the need for improved drainage, * * the work should be undertaken now. Draining by means of * * '' field tiles is the best, but open drains about a foot wide, and of * % sufficient depth will carry, away a. lot of the surplus water. * y Tne drains should be sufficient to carry away the water quickly * $ and not allow it to accumulate. % Cabbages and' Cauliflowers will be benefited by a dose of super- * * phosphate, blood and bone, or nitrate of soda. Sprinkle the * £ manure close to the roots, and then scuffle it in with the hoe. * Clear away all old Bean, Tomato and other plants that have finished * $ their usefulness. If there is any disease dry the rubbish and * * burn it. ...__! * ' Rhubarb should be mulched with manure, and also receive a good * % dressing of superphosphate. Several applications of the latter J * should be given during the season. Nitrate of soda or fowl " # 3? manure should also be applied occasionally. # £ * Watch carefully any* crops," especially seedlings such as onions. * Hand weeding and a slight stirring of the soil close to the plants * will be beneficial. * KXXXXXXXX }[ ;t tt^-fr-*-*^*-****-^-**^^