GARDENING

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 11930, 23 January 1936, Page 4

GARDENING

TO RENOVATE LAWNS. Where there are bare patches in lawns fork up the soil, make it firm by treading, rake it over, and re-sow with grass seed or plant small grass roots. If seed is used It must be sown thickly and covered with half an inch of finely sifted soil. If, after sowing or planting, the weather is very dry, the patches must be watered regularly. Where the grass is thin in other parts of the lawn, loosen the surface with a rake before scattering seeds. Then work the rake backwards and forwards over it to work the seeds into the soil, or a half inch of dressing may be used to cover the seeds. When this is completed, a light roller may be passed over the lawn. This will press the seed gently into the soil. A thick growth of grass will soon result if water is given regularly during lict weather. WINTER GREENS. TO PLANT NOW. Where seedlings of winter greens, such as savoys, autumn cauliflowers, autumn broccoli, curly kale and sprouting broccoli, have not been raised at home, young plants can be obtained at reasonable prices from nurserymen. These plantings are well worth while, to provide valuable crops in winter and early spring. Savoys must have a moderately rich and specially firm soil not lacking in phosphates. Prepare the site by digging Ift deep, breaking up the soil finely and mixing with each square yard half a pailful of wellrotted stable manure. Where the soil is heavy or medium, tread it down moderately; where it is light, use a light roller on it, or tread well.

Finally, rake the surface level and during this process spread and work in with fork or rake a dressing of superphosphate—an ounce to the square yard. Repeat this dressing of superphosphate once every following month.

Plant the young savoys 15in to 20in apart, according to the vigour of the variety. Generally, the early kinds are the least vigorous. In the case of autumn cauliflowers and broccoli you must prepare a richer soil. Dig 2ft deep and mix threequarters of a pailful of littery stable manure with each square yard of bottom spit soil. Add the same quantity of well rotted manure to the top soil.

Lime, in some form, is necessary to prevent cauliflower and broccoli from becoming flabby and long-jointed, so if possible mix lime rubble broken to marble size with both soil spits, at the rate of a quarter of a pailful to the square yard. Alternatively, rake in freshly slaked lime, 2 ozs per square yard, after moderate treating. Put the plants in 2ft apart. Late broccoli, while belonging to the same family, does not desire such generous manuring; an adequate dressing being half a pailful with each spit. They demand lime, however, and this should be given in the same quantities and same methods as for savoys. i