IN THE GARDEN

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 24092, 30 October 1943, Page 6

IN THE GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK (SPBCXUiIiT WBITTIS JOB Tffli SMSSj [By W. J. HUMM] ‘ VEGETABLES " ... At the present time there is ; much to be done ?n the= vegetable wavs die the ground and give it tune to 3 settl? before putting the crops in. Ground that is full of air Pocketsis bad for both seeds and plants. _Mak. e the soil firm and the seeds will germinate much better. Pay attention to all crops S need thinning. Experience has proved that if each plant dogs not obtain enough root and leaf spsee ni lts seedling stage it never develops as it Sh Flant main-crop potatoes; Airan Chief ; King Edward, Aucklander, Majestic, Dakota Red, and Arran Consul are reliable sorts. If possible, procure sets from certified crops. . Sow salsify and scorzonera. Sow small quantities of lettuce, raddish, turnips, beet, carrots, and spinach. Peas should be moulded up and staked, as soon -as they are well above ground. Keep up supplies by sowing a row when the last sowing is just above ground. Parsnips may still be sown. Prepare the position for vegetable marrows, pumpkins, and cucumbers. Sow dwarf and runner beans. Plant cabbage and lettuce plants. • ; Before moulding up the potatoes give them a'good hoeing and dust a little sulphate, of ammonia, around each plant; < . ■ ■ Plant out tomatoes. If the soil is heavy, give it'a dressing of lime. These plants like a sweet soil. Sow for winter crops, savoys, kale, broccoli, apd cabbages. Make a small sowing of parsley. FLOWERS Plant gladioli. Plant chrysanthemums and give them a well-drained, sunny position. The old plants that were not transplanted are making strong growth now. The growth of these may be cut back to within six inches of the base. This will cause the plants to become bushy, and produce more blooms. Lift and: divide dahlias. These plants give much better flowers, if the plants are lifted, divided, and replanted each year. Select a sunny position'for them. When preparing; the soil give .it a dressing of carbonate of lime.' Plant summer-flowering chrysanthemums. Azaleas and rhododendrons may still be planted. Sow aster seeds in the open. A? soon as the seedlings' are large enough they should be thinned, out. Experience has proved that asters do much better when they are left to bloom’where they are sown. The transplanted plants are more subject to-wilt disease. Dig the soil deeply. If the soil is light dig. in some well-decayed manure. Before sowing the seeds, give the soil a ! good watering with water containing Condy’s crystals., Use this at the rate of .loz to 25 gallons s df water. Repeat this at intervals of three, weeks throughout the growing period. This will collar-rot, towhich aster plants are subject, If long, stemmed sweet peas are desired, thin out all spindly growths and remove some of the new flower stems. .Dust a little superphosphate and sulphate of potash ; around- the' plants and hoe in. Top-dress about the base of the plant with well-decayed manure and give the plants a good - watering,'; If sweet pea .blooms- are needed later,’ make a sowing now in a sunny,-ope,n position. Plant out bedding plaints..Give the soil a good wording before doing so. Blood and bone manure is helpful and lasting, and is suited-to most bedding plants; Keep all beds and borders well hoed. FRUIT. As soon as the petals have fallen, from the app|e, pear,, arid quince trees make the first , spraying to control this grubs of the codlin moth. Th>re are several sprays for this pfest; hut experience has proved that arsenate of. lead, used at the-rate of one ounce /to ? four gallons of water, is the most effective. Force. the spray well into the clusters °* * ru^' as H is heye the . moth lays her eggs. - The grubs hatch; out, and if the arsenate of lead! is not there toey wlll eat their way into the; young fruit' It is theq-impossible to control them. . Many beautiful-shrubs are now, in bloom, but the pride; of . place can bo claimed for the lilac; A few years ago it was possible, to obtain but" av Ifew species of this plant, but since plant breeders have turned their attention to this family, they have given’ us many, beautiful hybrids.' The old lilac often delays its'flowering period for years after transplanting. This is not so with these’ new types. They bloom profusely in the second yedfr , Td obtain! the best of 4 these plants, select’ a position where they have the.-sun on all sides. Lilacs will riot grow well, in shaded positions. Each plant must have room for full ■ development, and as it is. a surface rooter, root; disturbance will cause lilacs to bear Very: few flowers. After blooming, all seed pods should be removed as these prevent the plants from flowering the following year.vK-the energy.of the plant Is allowed to mature the seeds, only few flower buds will develop for next seasons display, Lilacs are lime-loving P}? nts ’ Where the soil is deficient in this add it at the rate.of six ounces to the square yard. Carbonate, of lime is r«nn^.t st ’ j Se> Duri P g the sumirier months top-dress with well-rotted manure. Fresh manure is harmful. Any puckers appearing should be’ cut