CROP RESIDUES SHOULD BE USED AS FERTILISER

Press, Volume XCIV, Issue 28019, 13 July 1956, Page 11

CROP RESIDUES SHOULD BE USED AS FERTILISER

GARDEN NOTES

[Specially written tor “The Press“l [By T. D. LENNIE, A.H.R.IH., NZ.J

Friday, July 13, 1956. It is an accepted custom that surplus or natural vegetable and organic wastes revert to the soil which supported them. The forests and virgin pasture were built up on that principle, but in spite of the evident necessity, civilised, man has departed from -the practice with dasastrous results where farming on a big scale is not carried out with discretion.

Crop residues after harvest should be turned over into the soil and provide some nutrients for the following crop. An additional course lies in the sowing of a temporary surface crop for turning in. We call this “green manuring” and find it of great value where simple precautions are taken to make it acceptable plant food. One of these lies in the mechanical change that occurs before the green matter becomes organically acceptable as plant food. From the time of working this matter under the ground a month or more is necessary. During this time, the matter has to be digested by soil nitrifiying microbes. The process can be hastened and improved by sowing carbonate of lime, so that home gardeners, digging in their summer sowing of barley lupin or mustard are advised to scatter lime to help the process. The manuring of back vegetable gardens is often something of a problem, but can be very greatly improved by sowing some form of green crop as the vegetable spaces get vacant. It is a vast improvement to fust fallowing the land through Autumn.

Making compost of other garden and house wastes is an additional advant age. The householder who puts all these in the rubbish tin for removal to the dump does not realise what good material he is throwing away FLOWER GARDEN Established rose beds should be tidied up and lightly forked over. A dusting of manure will help the plants with the coming season’s growth. Rose pruning can be commenced and soon after pruning the plants should oe sprayed with white oil. Young sweet pea plants require some protection. Twiggy sticks or light prunings are ideal and also are a great help when the plants start to climb. A sowing of sweet pea seed, for summer flowering can be made in warmer positions. Roses as well a* shrubs and trees can be planted With the days getting warmer and longer, sap is on the move and new trees get a good start. Any transplanting of trees and shrubs should be done now while the soil is in aood order. Clean up the shrubbery, prune or trim where necessary, fork over the soil and bury any leaves and weeds Hand weeding or, where it can be done, light forking or spading are the only methods to deal with weeds now that the soil is wet.

Returfing of worn places in the lawn can now be done. This is an excellent method of repair and much quicker than sowing seed, provided a supply of turf is at hand. Attention should be given to gravel paths, adding new gravel if required Weeds in loose gravel are easier to control than in muddy gravel. Check over the herbaceous border Break up old clumps, replanting the fresh growths from the outside. Any gaps can be filled with something new or a division.

Keep the lawn edges cut and trimmed as these are a favourite haunt for snails. . ‘ Flower beds for later planting can be forked over and manured. THE GREENHOUSE Fumigate at once if aphis appears on calceolarias, cinerarias, primulas. y A. sowing of tomatoes can be made. Use sterilised soil if possible, °ther wise weeds will soon, smother tne young seedlings. At this time of tne year, weeds will grow much quicKer than seedlings. x , a iT Cuttings of the perpetual flowering carnations can be planted. Dipping ends of the cuttings in a rooting hormone will give them a good start, thus getting better plants. Permanent plants such as palms, climbers and orchids can be topdressea and tidied. Clean away any spent foliage and prune where necessary. THE FRUIT GARDEN New plantings of trees can be con tinued. Any preparation of the grouna necessary should be done as soon as possible so that the soil can consolidate before the trees are planted. Prune loganberries, boysenberries and raspberries by cutting out all ola wood and leaving the best of last year’s growth for this years’ fruiting-. Apply a good mulching of manure. After pruning, the trees should be sprayed with winter strength solution of lime sulphur- and red oil. . s P, ra ‘ V with lime sulphur first and follow two days later with the oil. When pruning is finished, gather up all the prunings for burning as this will do away with a lot of disease spores which otherwise would stay In the ground.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Trench or dig over any vacant plots The more air and light ■ let into the soil, the better and the sooner it will dr Winter or annual grass will have taken control of unused, undug plots. As hoeing is of no use with the ground wet. forking it out ’or trenching it under are the only satisfactory ways of dealing with it. Sprinkle lime over the dug ground. Compost and the ashes from rubbish fires can be scattered over the ground and lightly dug in. Sowings of peas, broad beans, turnios, cabbage, lettuce and parsley can be made. Fork over the weedy ground be tween rows of cabbage, parsnips, carrots etc., burying any yellow or insectdamaged leaves. Before the rush of spring jobs start, clean and oil tools in preparation for spring working. Pea and bean stakes can be prepared, the lawnmower fixed and sharpened before the rush, the frame around the strawberry bed repaired or renewed. Rhubarb crowns need to be cleaned Remove decayed foliage and if the crowns have been in for a few years, lift half the bed. breaking up the crowns to replant fresh outside Growths and discarding the old centre pieces. The other half of the bed can be done next year. Cloches should be put out to warm the ground 10 days or more before sowing any seeds under them. Shallots and garlic can and should be planted. ANSWER TO CORRESPONDENT

A. B. (St. Albans). Laurestinus is a vibrunum. V pinus. ac are the Guelder rose and the snowball tree, V. opulus The laurestinus is a native of Britain. Viburnum Carlesi is the dwarfer growing deciduous variety, followed by V. fra grans, also deciduous and more upright in growth. The evergreen types are V. janonicum with large bright green, wrinkled leaves and V. Eurkwoodi which is only half evergreen. Any one of these would make an ideal garden subiect.