GARDENING NOTES

Hawera Star, Volume L, 16 January 1931, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES

STRAW BEER Y PLANTS. Soon after the principal crop of fruit lias been gathered, the plants will commence to make runners freely, these should be carefully cut away as soon as tliev appear, unless it is desired to retain ‘ them for propagating purposes. A lied of strawberries should never be left down more than three "years. They are at their best in the second! year, and after the third year they should be dug up. To 1 keep a regular supply there should! be three beds 1 planted in successive years, a bed shoifld be planted each season to replace the one destroyed!. To propagate strawberry plants strong runners .should be selected oil plants which have borne fruit; this is. ; important as some varieties of strawberry plants ar© unisexual, that is, + hey have distinct male and female , -plants,' and runners • taken from male plants will not bear fruit. Peg down each - runner .close to the finst little plant " near the parent plant with a" piece of wire bent over at the top, surround with some good soil and keep moist in dry weather. Pinch off the. runner (if any) beyond the plant to prevent it growing further, if it be allowed to grow on, plants will form on the runners, hut the one next The parent plant is the best for propagating; purposes. The if 1 ants should he sufficiently rooted to transplant in , about four weeks, and should be planted in their permanent quarters as soon as the first autumn rains fall. I lant fifteen inches apart in the rows and two feet between the rows, two feet six inches' is better if space permits. Toll bed in which they are to be planted should be prepared now to allow it time to settle. Trench the soil two feel deep and mix plenty of animal manure or vegetable refuse with the bottom spit, if these are not available (use equal parts of superphosphate and; sulphate of potash, mix this with tlio top. twelve inches of soil at the late of eight ounces to the square vara. Make the soil very firm before plantin''-. spread! the roots of the plants out Ravine the crown just oil the surface. 1 Keep "the soil moist in dry weatner until well established. TOMATOES. These plants should be growing well: now, and should he attended to every, day ’to remove the. side shoots which o',row at the junction of the base ol each leaf and the stem, and tying up when necessary to their stakes. As soon as the plants have attained a height of five feet pinch off the top to prevent the plants growing! higher,, This will throw the energies of the plants into the production of fruit. Spray the plants once a fortnight with Bordeaux mixture (summer strength, one. pound Bordeaux powder to < ach lon om]lons of water) when fruits are formed add two teaspoonsful ol ansenate of lead if in paiste form or one if m powder form to destroy catci piUais which are usually troublesome at this time. As soon ns several trusses of. fruit have formed apply some water, sufficient to moisten the soil thoroughly. if it be dry ; and once a fortnight’ apply sulphate of potash, using half an ounce to each gallon of water. The soil should not be> allowed to become very dry, but must not .lie watei-l ed too frequently, so as to become sod-], den or the plants will become “rank ) and more liable to control disease. j KOH.L-B ABT. j This vegetable is intermediate be-1 tween the cabbage and the turnip and , combines the flavour of both. The turnip like turners should be used when about three inches in diameter. The plants may be grown in a seed-bed and planted out, or the seeds sown, where the plants are to grow. In eitliei case the rows should be eighteen inches apart and the plants one foot apart. Give plenty of water in dry weather or the roots will be bitter and the texture tough. Seeds may be sown now, and again in autumn for winter use.

MILDEW. Mildew is a fungoid disease wliicli attacks various flower and vegetable plants and is usually most troublesome at this time of year. Roses, sweet peas, culinary peas and onions are particularly affected. The disease is a minute fungus which penetrates the leaves, and by living on the sap and choking the breathing pores soon ruins the plants. The disease may be recognised by the appearance of a. greyish-white bloom on the leaves, and immediately it is observed some flowers of sulphur should be dusted on them, or they should he sprayed with lime-sulphur solution, one part to 80 parts of water; the disease makes rapid progress, and if not promptly dealt with it- is impossible to save the plants. ROUTINE WORK.

Spray potato foliage with Bordeaux solution (summer strength, one pound Bordeaux powder to 10 gallons of water) to prevent attacks of Irish ; blight. i Spray apricot, peach, plum and lie-c----ftarine trees with Bordeaux solution (summer strength) or lime-sulphur solution (one part to 125 parts of water); when trees are badly affected spray every 14 days during the growing season. Spray apple, pear and quince trees with arsenate of lead solution (two tea spoonful of paste or one if in powder form) every three weeks to destroy grubs of .the codlin moth. Thin out ’ ail overcrowded fruit and spray the whole of the trees thoroughly. When using Bordeaux, mixture one pound of treacle should be added to each 10 gallons in showery weather.

Stone fruit trees affected with cherry slug (a shining slug-like insect which eats the foliage) slli on Id be somced with arsenate of lead solution.

Spray any flower nr vegetable plants affected with green or black aphides with Black leaf 40 solution. Use one teaspoon per gallon of soapy water or double that quantity if plants are bndlv infested.

Sprav cabbage. cauliflower, broccoli. etc., plants with arsenate of lead solution if affected by caterpillars of the cabbage moth. Uso two teaspoonsful of paste or one if in powder form. Tf also affected with i aphides mix one teaspoon of Black leaf 40 with each gallon. Sow dwarf peas for succession. Sow butter beaus, beet (round), eab-l::-«e. cauliflower, carrot, endive, kohlrabi. lettuce. mustard and cress, radish, spinach, silver beet, swede and turnips: also onions for salads. Sow biennial and perennial varieties of flower seeds. Riant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower. c.Trrv and leeks. Lift ami dry garlic and shallots asl soon as they arc ripe.