THE WEEK'S WORK

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 6, 7 July 1938, Page 30

THE WEEK'S WORK

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Continue to trench or dig and manure vacant land in preparation for spring planting or sowing. w .., Avoid working heavy or clayey soil while very wet. Wait until surplus water has drained away. Adequate drainage is necessary for successful vegetable growing; this should be attended to during digging operations. A good outlet for the water is necessary. Any growing crops should be thinned and weeded and, when practicable, the soil between the rows should be loosened up by lightly forking it. Give occasional doses of nitrate of soda to cabbages, lettuces, etc., after they have commenced growth. Where slugs, snails, or other insect pests are troublesome dust lime, soot, or alum along the rows. Seedling crops are specially liable to attack. Plant asparagus in properly prepared beds and clean up established beds, afterwards spreading a good mulch of manure over the beds. ■''■ -'.'■• . ' • ■..,'■. Plant rhubarb. Deeply worked ground liberally manured is needed to ensure a good crop. . , -^Planting of all kinds of fruit trees should be done when the..■*. ground is fit to work. Better postpone planting if the land isvery waterlogged. ' ; THE FLOWER GARDEN The planting of roses, hedge plants, trees, and shrubs should be done whenever conditions are suitable. Make adequate preparation of the ground as such plantings are permanent. , Success with trees and shrubs depends largely upon planting. The soil should be well worked in among the roots which shoulct be ( spread out to their full extent. Hardy annuals of various kinds may be planted out for early blooming. 'They don't appear to make any growth at first but will come away much earlier than those planted in the spring. , Self-sown seedlings which may be found about the garden are worth transplanting—they often do better than bought ones. Weed and support sweetpeas and dust soot or lime along the rows to keep away slugs, etc. Thin Sweetpeas to 9 inches apart replanting those removed if space permits. , In districts where the soil is light or sandy most of the hardy annuals may be sown in the open ground if the beds are raised a few inches above ground level. ~ Prune roses as the eyes plump up. Remove any dead wood first and also weak shoots and branches which are overcrowding.