TIMELY TOPICS

Dominion, Volume 34, Issue 127, 22 February 1941, Page 14

TIMELY TOPICS

Notes, News And Views

By all means make strenuous efforts to keep down the weeds iu your garden. Go over each bed at least once a week uid destroy ilieni. Il’ not controlled, .he weeds will rob the soil, crowd ami choke 'he wanted plants; and, if thy mature, will spread countless see-Js io cause future work for tlie gardener. There is a great satisfaction and pleasure .n contemplating a garden free from weeds.

Michaelmas daisies of all varieties aud sections are now drawing at their food supplies more than at any other time during the season. To assist the buds to develop into finely formed, per fectly coloured Howers, feed weekly and alternately with dilute liquid manure and sulphate of potash (one teaspoonful an average-sized plant a dose) from now till tlie end of tlie season.

Humus is an absolute necessity Where even a moderate supply of stable or farm.tard manure is avail able its judicious use will be sufficient foi tlie purpose. Considerable quantities of waste vegetable .natter in gardens can also be used. This, however, will not be sufficient, and, failing stabl - er farmyard manure, green crops must Iu grown for turning in. Nor are fertilizers alone sullieienl : soil may lie well supplied wit'i thesiq yet in Hie 'I.;sei co of humus may he en'iiparative'y sterile.

A mulch of composted material or chi farmyard manure applied round raspberry stools now will 'nduee heavy fruiting next seiison.