SEASONABLE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 21216, 24 September 1932, Page 20

SEASONABLE WORK

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN It is not necessary to observe that weeds must be coped with, for they are coming up in battalions,' and if neglected will soon cast their seed and cause lots of trouble later on —indeed prolonged trouble. The old saying, ‘‘ One year’s seedings means seven years’ weeding,” applies now as of old. Keep the surface well stirred, whether you see weeds or not. You are thus destroying weeds that are invisible on the surface, and improving the condition of the soil, in other words, stimulating the, growth of plants or growing crops. Asparagus beds should be made clean and free from weeds now before the young heads show through the ground, or there will be a danger of injuring them in the process of weeding. Seeds of these to be sown should be got in at once. Celery may be sown outside, giving them a rich warm bed. The early varieties sown under glass must be kept moist and growing, as plants must not receive checks of any kind, especially want of moisture, as this is sure to make thorn bolt to seed later’on. Sow peas for succession. The main crop or. tall growing sorts for these later sowings should be made. Sow both broad and runner beans, carrots, parsnips, beet, onions, lettuce, radish, cress, and other seedlings Make principal sowings of broccoli (late division). Sow also cauliflower, cabbage, Brussels sprouts, savoys, arid others for winter use. Make a sowing of early snowball turnips to come into use ahead of the later varieties, like green and purple tops. Sow Plant rhubarb, sea kale, horse radish, potatoes, cabbage, and cauliflower. THE FRUIT GARDEN All planting of fruit trees should be off hand ere this. Pruning and spraying should be carried on as previously advised, also the grafting of fruit trees, both young stocks and old trees, that were previously cut back for the purpose. Top dress 1 with' well-rotted manure around the clumps of raspberries. Plant strawberries as advised for autumn planting. Established beds, if not already done, should be top dressed between the rows with fresh stable | litter. This will act as a mulch which i the rain will carry to the roots, leaving the strawy parts as a bed for the fruit to rest upon later. Otherwise the heavy rains are likely to wash soil or dust of some kind over the fruit and decrease its value. Continue to regulate wall fruit trees, such as peaches, apricots, and others, taking care to remove all shoots that i are not required for na'iling or training in. If any have failed to produce young growth cut them back to young wood to make room for those left, and when the young fruit is fairly well set give them a partial thinning. Do not wait* until they become over crowded. The quality will be all the better for this early thinning. THE FLOWER GARDEN Complete the work of planting deciduous trees and shrubs, also the pruning or cutting out of dead or surplus growth and overhanging branches. Hoe and rake ground that has been roughly dug in the winter to give a tidy appearance and to destroy weeds. This should be done when the ground is nice and dry. Beds and borders to be planted should be lightly dug or pointed over with the spade before hand. All beds I that have to be planted out later should be top-dressed or got into good , condition for planting. Plant carnations, hollyhocks, pansies, I antirrhinums, scabious, and other j hardy annuals, perennials, and biennials, j Take up and divide chrysanthemums, ! planting the young rooted sidq shoots ' or divisions. Cuttings of same can still be propagated. Place dahlia, roots on a little bottom heat, and when they have < pushed their young shoots 2in or Sin divide the roots into as many pieces as there are roots, or they may be left a little longer. Then propagate these young shoots or cuttings when Sin in length. Plant out cinerarias and make a sowing of seed for a later flowering The cineraria makes a very showy and beautiful display when planted in a warm, sheltered bed or border. Mow and roll lawns. Where moss, daisies, and other objectionable weeds abound remove them. Give the surface a good hard raking with a sharp tool or iron rake. Sow a little fresh lawn, grass seed and rake it in. Dust over with a little clean soil and roll to hed the seed. If sulphate of ammonia has been applied for the destruction of daisies, as previously advised, it should be about right now to rake over the surface and apply the seed, as above advised. THE GREENHOUSE Make a general clean-up now and remove all dead leaves, weeds, and plants which have passed their usefulness. Make everything clean and tidy for the coming season. Many beautiful and showy plants will be at their best now, such as spring-flowering bulbous plants, cinerarias, and others. Continue to shift or pot on plants that have filled these pots with roots. The final potting of pelargoniums should be made if not already done. Continue to shift or pot on others, including fuchsias, and top-dress those that may not require shifting. When the pots' of plants are well filled with roots is a good time to commence assisting them with a little liquid manure, but never when the plants have not filled the pots with roots. ANSWERS A correspondent (“ J.D.”) gives a recipe to keep birds, slugs, and earwigs from garden. This is it; One dessertspoonful of J eyes’ fluid in one gallon of water sprayed over the garden or vegetables. The smell keeps pests away and the liquid is not injurious to vegetables. Many thanks. If it is successful it will be'a boon to many. “ Tuber.’’ —Your ground is poor for potatoes, and you have been advised to use sulphate of ammonia for good results. You wish to know how and when to use it. Sulphate of ammonia is very quick in action and must be used in late spring, and it is best when growth is in action. Give at the rate of 11b for a square rood of ground immediately before planting. Another advantage would be to give a watering along the drills just before earthing up —one tablcspoonful in a kerosene tin of water.

“ Novice ” asks the reason for lift ini and dividing tffe roots of dahlias

The answer is that if left in the ground they may be. killed in winter. Another reason is to get better blooms, and again to increase the number of plants or roots. In your case, if you have lifted them leave them until they have sprouted. Then split them into as many pieces as there arc shoots or crowns, and plant right away in rich, well-manured ground. “ Roslyn.”—You have sown seed of cucumbers in a box, and wish a few hints in their culture. You would like to grow a few in tins. You are growing a lot of tomatoes in tins in the same house. You do not say if your glasshouse is heated. If not, you have started too soon, as cummnbers will not endure a low temperature. Drain the tins well, and then place over crocks a little stable manure. Over this place some lumpy, half-rotted turf, and fill with good sandy turfy loam, and transplant the young plants, one or two plants in each tin. Place the tins in a warm, moist place, and train the plants along wires. Keep the soil moist (not wet). “ M.S.”—You wish me to give you the legend of the Crown Imperial lily, and say it was printed in the ‘ Star ’ about a year ago. Sorry I cannot give it to vou. I do not remember seeing it. *' H.O.