GARDENING NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 28 November 1930, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES

(By “Waratah.”)

FRUIT TREES

The soil round fruit trees should be kept fre from weeds, which not only rob the trees of much nourishment, but also provide shelter for insect pests and hosts for fungoid diseases. If not already done, a dressing, of artificial manure should be applied. A good mixture is one composed ot six parts superphosphate and two paits sulphate of potash, applied at the rate of four ounces per square yard. \\ here the trees are stunted in growth, apply nitrate of soda in addition, at the late of two ounces per square yard now, and another two ounces 1 in tour weeks time This should only ho applied when the soil is in a moist- condition, and either watered in or applied when rain will wash it in. Where fruits have set well, they should be thinned out where they are too thicklv clustered, to improve the quality and size and to ensure an even and consistent annual crop; and in the case of armies and pears so as to prevent any fruits touching, whifcli gives" the codlin moth a- favourable position to lay its eggs and where the natural enemies of the grubs cannot reach them when they are hatched, or where is no deposit of poison when the trees have been sprayed with arsenate of lead. Thinning out superfluous growth, especially in the case of peaches, plums and nectarines, should also be done. Any shoots growing into the centres of the trees should be removed, and where several shoots are growing together from one base remove all hut the strongest. This will .save a- do! of unnecessary pruning later on and concentrate the energy of the trees into more useful channels. " Apple, pear, and quince trees should be sprayed every throe weeks with arsenate of lead solution to prevent the fruits being damaged by the grubs of the codlin moth. Use a mist-like, is pray and cover the whole of the foliage and fruit. Apricots, neaches, plums and nectarines should be .sprayed with Bordeaux solution (summer strength') when thev have been attacked by leaf curl, bladder plum. O’’ uie-back disease; this .should be done four or five times at intervals of 14 days. Useone pound "of. Bordeuax nowder to each 10 gallons' of water; the. addition of of" treacle will make the mixture adhere better in showerv weather. All bladder plums should be nicked off and destroyed bv fire, and fruits of any kind which fall off the trees raked up and burnt to destroy any insect pests or fungoid diseases. SLUGS AND 1 SNAILS. These pests are doing much damage this .season; the frequent showers experienced enable them to travel about easily. The best remedy is to protect plants by dusting soot or tobacco dust (which may be purchased at any seed store) either along the rows or round the stems of plants a distance apart. Another good preventative for choice plants is to place a ring of Bordeaux powder round each plant. Lime is often advised as a deterrent, but is only of use so long as it remains in a dry condition; as soon as it becomes damp w'ith dew or rain the pests can crawl over it. The most certain method is to place baits such as lettuce leaves, or small heaps of pollard or bran, among the plants during the day, and after dark "to go out with a torch or lantern and pick them up. The best way to destroy them is to throw them into a tin of strong salt water solution. ASPARAGUS. Asparagus may be cut until the end of the month, but not later. The plants must be allowed to grow freclv in order to store up energy for making robust shoots next year. It is a good plan to place some stakes and stout cord round the bed to prevent the foliage being damaged by boisterous winds. As soon as cutting ceases the bed should be cleaned of weeds and (a dressing of manure applied, natural if possible, if not, a mixture •of two parts blood and hone, one part, superphosphate-and one part- sulphate of potash, at the rate of four ounces per square yard. ' ROUTINE WORK. Spray apricot, nectarine, peach and plum trees with Bordeaux mixture (summer mixture one pound Bordeaux powder to each ten gallons of water) where " trees are affected with “leafcurl,” “bladder-plum” or “(lie-back” disease. Trees that were badly affected last season should be sprayed live or six times at intervals of fourteen days or more often in moist weather. Spray apple, pear, and quince trees with arsenate of lead solution to destroy grubs of the codlin moth. Commence as soon as the flower petals have fallen and spray every three weeks until fruit is ready for u.se. The first- spray used should be coarse and driven "well into the calyces: later sprays should be as flue as possible and "the foliage and fruits thoroughly covered with the solution. Fruits .should also be thinned out so that they do not touch. Spray potato foliage with Bordeaux mixture (summer strength) to prevent the attack of “Irish blight.” Spray the whole of the foliage thoroughly every fourteen days, or more often in moist, humid weather. I Plant Brussels 'sprouts," cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce. Sow beet. French and runner beans, broad. beans, broccoli, borecole (kale), cabbage, carrots., cauliflower, celery, (cress, cucumber, parsnip; spinach (New Zealand variety), squash, turnip (including swede) and vegetable marrows. Sow sweet corn, a few seeds once a week, as “cobs” can only be used when tlie tassel at the. end lias just withered; if too many are sown the “cobs” become too hard for use as a vegetable. Sow all varieties of flower seeds. Sow fortnightly—lettuces, radishes, mustard and cress lor salad purposes. Place some straw between strawberries to keep the fruit clean and the soil cool and moist. Plant tomato plants eighteen inches apart in a sunny sheltered position. Spray established plants with Bordeaux solution (summer strength) every fourteen days or more often in moist, humid weather. Remove all side shoots that appear at the base of each leaf at its junction with the stem, and keep the plants securely tied up to their stakes as they grow. Plant out seedlings of flower plants that have been well “hardened off.” Plant out chrysanthemums and dahlias.