THE WEEK'S WORK.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 83, 8 April 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE WEEK'S WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Anemones and Ranunculi can be planted. Hurry on any bulb planting that remains to be done. Chrysanthemums are developing flower buds. Weak liquid manure should be applied until petals show colour. Disbudding of flower buds and the removal of lateral shoots must be continued. Let each shoot that is left growing be capable of carrying a bloom. Dahlias are still good. Now is the time to select new sorts to add to the collection next season. Also mark sorts which are to be discarded. Many shrubs, such as Rhododendrons and Azaleas, can be layered. New lawns that are to be sown this autumn should have the surface prepared by raking so that it is ready for seed sowing when the rain ccmes. ' . t Hoe and clean up the beds and borders. Once the ram comes there will be little opportunity for further hoeing till spring. Sow Anemones, Ranunculi, Polyanthus and Primrose' seeds. Plant Stocks, Antirrhinums, Hollyhocks, Iceland Poppies, Wallflowers, Canterbury Bells, Sweet Williams. Seedlings must be pricked off as soon as possible. Do not leave them in boxes or pots to suffer. This work should be pushed on before weather gets cold. Sow annuals, such as Alyssum, Virginian Stock, Beauty and Ten-Week Stock. Pick up fallen leaves so as to give the garden a clean appearance. THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Earth up Celery as required. Remove lower leaves and side shoots before adding soil. Leeks should have frequent applications of liquid manure. Pull earth to plants as they grow. _ Cabbages and Cauliflowers should have some soil drawn up to them to keep them steady during winter. Harvest Potatoes, Kumaras, Pumpkins, Onions as they mature. Store in dry, well ventilated quarters. Tomatoes must still be attended to in regard to disbudding, tying, etc. Put a few sticks round the Asparagus bed to hold the tops from breaking. To break off the tops is detrimental to next season's crop. Clear away spent crops and dig over ground. If not required for some time sow down in Oats, Rape, Lupins or some soiling crop. Sow Onions for planting *in spring. A clean piece of ground free of weeds should be chosen and should be firm before sowing. Wake a sowing of Endive for winter saladings. Plant out Cauliflower, Cabbage, Lettuce and Beet. THE GREENHOUSE. Give plenty of ventilation according to the plants growing. Fumigate once a fortnight to keep clear of aphis and red spider. Let water be applied as necessary; to overwater now is to cause mildew, etc. , . Begonias, as soon as they are over, should have the watering gradually withheld, until they have dried right off. A good method of storing is to leave the bulbs in the pots, laying the pots on their sides. , . Gloxinias are also nearly or quite over and should be treated in a similar manner. Should rot appear, scrape out the bad place with a knife and rub in sulphur. , Use good soil, and although the plants will stand all the cold weather we are likely to get, a little shelter will be a benefit. At the same time keep them hardy; a hardy, sturdy, well-grown plant will always produce a better bloom than a weak plant* Verbena and Pentstemon seeds may still be sown for producing plants for flowering early next spring. These subjects do much better when taised from autumn-sown seed. Seeds of Ten-Week Stocks should be sown at once. Sown now, the plants will bloom early and the results are far and away ahead of spring-sown ones.