GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 March 1928, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “ Waratah. 1 )

ONIONS. j This is a good time to sow the large varieties of onions such as Giant Ilocea, Ailsa Craig, Prize-taker, etc. When sown in the autumn in suitable soil they will grow to a large, size, .sncl have been grown up to -as much as ill be# each: Deep rich soil is necessary to groiv large, onions. Trench, -and .manure the .soil if it has not been .manured this season). Tread the -soil limn and rake the-’surface-as hue as possible- Sow in drills lain, apart- and not more-than *jin. deep. -As soon as tlin- seedlings appear they .should be carefully-thinned out where too thick and all weeds removed before’ they get too big. In spring •superfluous seedlings may be /used as . spring onions, or to bo transplanted to form another . bed, leaving the remainder from, ,six to eight inches apart (according to size- of onion desired). The above-named onions are very mild in flavour, hut are not .suitable for keeping purposes-, and for a .prolonged supply it will he necessary to sow. again in spring one of the longkeeping varieties. such as James .Keeping. Drown Spanish, etc. . EAim-fING ;T;P CEDED-V. .Early celery may lie earthed up now, but with the main crop nothing is gained by earthing up so soon ..as this; early May is quite.soon enough. It is essential when earthing up <el cry that the soil is. fairly dry. When the- soil is damp the,young soft steins will -be damaged. It is -also nocossary ■to .see that- no soil, gets into the -hearts of the plants, or they will become blind and then rot oil'. It is a. good plan to tie the plants..up- with-raffia or worsted before starting t-o earth up, to previant the earth getting among the stems. When the soil has been •!.filled -as high as the young growths in the centre the ties should be undone or growth will be restricted. Before earthing up all • miall growths at the base of the plants should be removed together with the weeds. Eartrung up with soil is usually completed, on three occasions, the second and third at intervals of three weeks after the-first-Brown paper bands an? also used cither-with or ..without soil, but the flavour of the celery is not so good as vheri earth alone is used. RIPENING TOMATOES. Half-ripe tomatoes may be ripened successfully by placing a layer of- hay in the. bottom of a box, then.-a. layer o tomatoes, another -layer of hay .and - » on, alternate layers of hay and tomatoes .until the : box is full. A tightfitting,- lid- to. the box must be provided Tomatoes . picked when just showing volour will ripen within a week kv this method. , routine work. .jSuw hardy annuals, biennials am perennials. ..jSow variety), cabbage, cauliflower, cress endive, .-lettuce, .-mustard, parsley radish, •Iyer beet,...spinach, .tiiruip. Sown lawn grass seed. -Sow at tin rate, of 11b to-each Via square, yards foi ordinary-, purposes. If tnolawn is like Jy to receive hard wear, use double tin quantity of seed. Plant spring -’flowering - bulbs of al kinds. Dig all vacant plots, in the vegetable garden, and - sow lupins,' mustard, oats or barley - to- dig in .as green manure. Earth up celery as .soon as it. is ful'j .grown, but not till then. Earthing ui is only for bleaching • purposes. Remove -seed stems from rhubarb. Spray Brussels sprouts, broccoli ant cabbages withaßlack-lsaf i4O or keixxsem emulsion to .destroy the ‘‘fly.” T caterpillars are. destroying the leave.! add two teaspoonsful of arsenate cJ lead to each gallon -of -solution. Spray tomato plants with Bordeaux solution once a fortnight; -and ,f. cater pillars are eating the tomatoes, adc two tea-spoonsful of arsenate of leaf to each gallon of solution (wash or wip< tlie tomatoes before use). Pumpkins’, marrows, melons, etc., that are to be.kept for use in winter should be- turned over, so that- the part which lias been resting on the ground will ripen. -W-hen this ■is not done the fruits will not- keep so long, as decay starts in the soft, unripened part. 'lf not possible to turn them over, rest them on pieces of stone or coarse straw or bracken, so that air can get to the nnripened portions. Keep chrysanthemums free from insert- pests and fungoid diseases. -Water thoroughly in dry weather, and apply weak liquid .manure once , a week until the buds show colour.

Harvest onions as soon as thoroughly ripe. Dry well on- a path or other hard bottom, and store in a cool, dry room- or slied.