THE WEEK'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 106, 7 May 1931, Page 20

THE WEEK'S WORK

FLOWER GARDEN. Conditions are ideal for planting seedlings of hardy plants. The ground is moist, and still retains warmth, whilo there, is not sufficient intense heat to cause a check to the young plants. Every effort should be made to dig in

all seedling weeds. Hoeing is not much' use unless there is a good drying wind blowing to kill them.

Loosen tho surface soil round and over early planted bulbs. Great care must be exorcised not to damago tho young growth- just preparing to come through.

Further plantings of bulbs may still be made.

Cut down the flowering stems of Michaelmas daisies, hcliniums, and other herbaceous perennials which have done flowering. Remove any stakes which arc no longer required, scrape tho soil off the bottoms and store away in a dry place. They will last many seasons longer if taken care of. Attend to the thinning and wooding j of seedlings. Plant out, where available, seedling sweet peas, allowing plenty of room between the plants.'- Nine inches is usually advocated; 3ft is not too much. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Make a sowing of broad beans in double rows, placing the seeds six to nine inches apart. Cabbage, cauliflower, and lettuce may be planted in well-manured soil. Make a sowing of onions for early planting; where there is any doubt about the drainage or where the soil is heavy, it is best to sow on a raised bed. Sow in drills 'to facilitate weeding and thinning. ■ Half-ripened tomatoes may be gathered and placed on a shelf in a-warm, dry shed or room to ripen' off.. Pumpkins, marrows, etc., would be better harvested. Hard frosts would ruin them if they were caught by it. Loosen- up the soil between the rows of various crops. After heavy rains a crust is formed, and.this prevents the air and warmth penertating to the roots. Where seedling weeds are prevalent they should bo turned in. Deep digging among growing crops at this season of the year is neither necessary nor advisable.