FOR GARDENERS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 454, 12 March 1909, Page 2

FOR GARDENERS.

WORK FOR TO-MORROW. 'Harrows, pumpkins, and squashes will keep for many months if well treated. They are fairly abundant in gardens just now, and it will therefore he a good time to tako some thought for the future. The Maoris have a rule of putting away those marrows and pumpkins which grow nearest to the root on the sunny side of the plant —preferably east or north-east. They apparently consider those keep best. They do not throw them down into nny odd corner to take their chance of surviving the winter, for marrows and pumpkins, like apples and potatoes, will decay wherever they get bruised. The Maoris and many careful white gardeners hang them up by the 'stems by means of a piece of flax fastened to a beam of an outhouse. In this way they keep perfectly dry and rarely, decay. They can also bo easily inspected, and defective ones made use of before they bccome completely lost. It is surprising what a heavy weight the stem of a marrow will hold. It is said that marrows decay if the stem is removed. Great care must bo taken now to prevent the garden from becoming weedy: when tho rain comes by and by, tho weeds, if allowed, will make tremendous growth. The planting out all plants in these hot times snould.be done in tho lato afternoon or evening, when tho hottest part of tho day is past. This gives tho plants tho whole evening and night before tho hot sun of tho next day shines on them. A watering immediately after planting is advised. Some of tho things that can he planted out to-mor« row are cabbage, cauliflower (early scarlet horn), celery, shallots, garlick, lettuce, and leeks. Sow prickly spinach, turnip, carrot; broad beans, radish. Tho latter end or March is often very favourable for sowing and planting, and it is therefore wise to have all available ground dug in readiness, so that when moist weather comes a good supply of seeds and plants may bo got in for a winter and spring supply. The crops started now will come in at the most welcome time of tho year. When tomatoes are grown, do not remove leaves. This is frequently recommended, and' is generally injurious. The belief of some is that by ,reinoving some of the foliage tho sun will shine on the fruit and ripen it. But tho increase in the sizo of tho fruit is' checked because it is the leaves that feed tho fruit, and in any case in these hot days tho shado of the leaves is valuable. Watch closely for caterpillars.