In The Home Garden

Evening Post, Volume CXL, Issue 129, 28 November 1945, Page 5

In The Home Garden

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J Constant attention must be given to j watering and weeding at this period ; and both must* be done in earnest. Hoeing, if carried out systematically, will not only prove beneficial to the I soil by assisting to retain moisture, but will also, during dry wfcather, completely destroy the weeds. In watering, thoroughly soak the soil so that the moisture penetrates to the roots. It will not then evaporate so rapidly. Ordinary sprinklings are ;of ten injurious, because if only the i top soil is moistened the roots will I come to the surface and are thus exposed to the hot sun next day. VEGETABLES. Keep up a succession of peas and French and butter beans. Arrange for a plentiful supply of material for salads throughout tlie summer and autumn. Salads are very economical crops, as space can usually be found for them as catch crops between rows oE main-crop vegetables. To maintain regular supplies of lettuce, small quantities of seed should be sown at intervals of three weeks throughout the summer. The seed should be sown thinly in drills i-inch deep, and 12 inches apart. The seedlings should first be thinned to six inches apart and later, when large enough to use, alternate plants may be pulled, those left being allowed to develop fully.

Beet is a popular salad ingredient and may be sown now in drills one foot apart and ;,! inch deep. A good method of sowing beet is to set two or three seed at intervals of six inches, and reduce each cluster of seedlings to the strongest. Crimson Globe is a good variety, taking about 15 weeks to mature.

Radishes should be grown in a position shaded from the hot sun. Between rows of peas or beans is an excellent place. Small quantities of seed should be sown at intervals of a fortnight or so. Pull young to obtain nice crisp root.

The best way to grow mustard and cress is to sow the seeds thickly in shallow boxes of rich soil. To avoid making salad gritty, both crops should be cut with scissors, and when it is necessary to water, this should be done by immersing the boxes in water.

Prepare for planting celery and leeks. A piece of ground that has been cleared of early potatoes or broad beans is a good position. For celery it it best to make a trench* 12 inches deep, and work in an ample quantity of well-rotted compost and blood and

bone manure, in the bottom of the trench. The richer the soil the better. Close attention must be given to watering throughout the growing season. Spray with lime sulphur and nicotine sulphate every three or four weeks to guard against rust and fly. A simple and quick method of planting leeks is to make holes with a dibber, make sides of hole reasonably firm, drop a plant in each, then fill the .holes with water. There is no need to 'fill the holes with soil at time of planting; the water will wash •in sufficient to cover the roots. As growth develops the holes should be filled in. and the plants may be earthed up in the latter stages to increase the length of blanched stalk.

FLOWERS

Petunias, which are among the most popular plants for summer* bedding, may be planted out now and will last in bloom until the late autumn. They thrive in sun or shade and are especially useful for dry positions. Delphiniums should receive constant attention. Being very brittle the growths require to be staked and tied as they lengthen. During the dry weather give plenty of water, with a fortnightly application of liquid manure. When the first flowering is over, cut down the old stems, but not too much foliage, and a second batch of flowers will follow.

Sweet peas should be given adequate supports, and as the flower buds are opening, liquid manure should be applied, two ounces of blood manure to a gallon of water. Nitrogenous manures such as nitrate of soda and sulphate of ammonia should not be applied. The excess of nitrogen will cause bud-djopping and the foliage to become yellow and sickly. Apply liquid manure only after rain or a good soaking of water, never when the soil is dry.

INQUIRIES

"Keen Gardener": Unslaked lime, when broken down with water and stored, will not lose its value as a soil dressing-; in fact, on the average soil it is safer to use when the heat is taken out.

*'M" (Hataitai): Taupata is definitely a soil robber and it is most likely the cause of your trouble. Regarding dandelions in the lawn, these can be destroyed with a dressing of the following mixture, 21b sulphate of ammonia and lib sulphate of iron, applied at the rate of one ounce to the square yard. This will kill the weeds and improve the grass.