SEASONABLE WORK

Evening Star, Issue 22596, 13 March 1937, Page 24

SEASONABLE WORK

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Vacant plots should be forked over and a green crop sown down at once, especially where animal and other fertiliser manures were used previously. Sow thickly lupines or oats, and as soon as the crop is ready this should be dug in before winter arrives. A green crop not only improves the soil, but also keeps the drainage right. The planting of cabbage, broccoli, savoys, kale, etc., can still be carried out. A sowing of Giant llocca or Dark Brown Spanish onions may be _ made in a prepared bed for transplanting in the early spring. Onions grown in this way not only give large bulbs, but are very useful for table purposes before the spring-sown onions are fit for use. Cabbage and lettuce for early planting may also be sown. The earthing up of celery and leeks should now; be done when the weather is suitable. Do not attempt to do this work when the soil is heavy and wet. Potatoes should be dug and stored, but care must be exercised in drying the tubers and throwing out all that are diseased before storing them in a cool but dry store. If placed in lime bags this will have a tendency to keep them in good solid order. > v Where crops require a stimulant a dressing of artificial manure should be applied. Allow the rain to wash it into the roots. Liquid manure should not be given, owing to the excessive moisture in the soil at the present timq. Lime will harden up growth if applied and hoed into the surface between all growing crops. THE VINERY All the ventilation possible should be given at this stage, where colouring has commenced. It is often bad ventilation that causes the trouble when the berries do not colour well. Watering must be retarded somewhat according to the position of border. On no account must the border be allowed to be over-watered, or on the other hand be allowed to become very dry. In the case of newly-planted vines these should be kept growing as, fast as possible. THE FRUIT GARDEN Where beds have been prepared by deep digging and heavily manured, strawberry plants should be planted at once, so they may become established before the winter arrives. Where plants were planted early all runners must be cut off, and the surface between the plants hoed to admit air, etc. Where fruit trees are to be planted in the coming season the sites should be prepared now by digging deeply and applying good well-rotted manure. One of the most important things is to make sure that the drainage will be right before planting the trees.