Operations for October

Northern Advocate, 1 October 1938, Page 5 (Supplement)

Operations for October

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN Sowings of practically all vegetables may be made this month. Parsnip seed likes more moisture than most; shade the bed with ti-trce or fern after sowing'. Plant tomatoes; also sow seed for later crops. Sow peas for succession. Lettuce will appreciate a mulch of old manure as the weather gets drier. Make an early sowing of celery. A sewing of Lima beans may be made. Watch the onion crop carefully. A glazed appearance and a colouring of the foliage are indications of mildew. Spray with lime-sulphur (1 in 70), and follow by a dusting of sulphur. Cut asparagus close, and keep the bed hand-weeded. Laterals taken from tomato plants root readily during warm, moist weather. Give a little shade for a week or two. Earth up potatoes, and spray with Bordeaux Mixture. Apple and pear trees should be sprayed when the blossoms have fallen, with arsenate of lead, for Codlin moth. Repeat nt 10-day intervals. Mulch strawberry trees before the flower trusses are too far advanced. Prune citrus trees if necessary. A dappled light should be visible through the trees in any direction. THE FLOWER GARDEN Continue to plant seedlings of antirrhinum, larkspur, calliopsis, delphinium, salpiglcssis, verbena, phlox Drummondii, Continue to sow seed for flowering in summer and autumn:— Aster, zinnia, celosia, petunia, dahlia, etc. When the chrysanthemum cuttings have rooted, plant out _in ground that has been treaded to make firm. The top nine inches should be well manured, using well-rotted cow or sheep manure. Perennial phlox are becoming popular. They do . very well in clay soil that has been deeply dug and manured.' These perennials like to be firm in the ground. Mulch with wellrotted manure during the summer months, _ and spray occasionally with lime-sulphur. Choose a position that is not too hot and dry. Dwarf ageratum is an excellent edging plant. Plants may be divided, cuttings taken, and seedlings planted now. Annual climbing plants are attractive. Seed of Mina Lobata and Canary creeper may be sown now. I have seen the latter growing over tall sunflowers. New growth loses its charm when covered with aphis. You should keep a watch out for this. If you like bronze and gold shades, plant a bed of gaillardia, arctotis b'reviscapa, calliopsis tinctoria, edged with the new bronze jazania. Try a bed of balsam in a partially shaded place that is sheltered from the wind. For best results, gladioli like plenty; of water when they are sending up their flower spikes. Keep the ground firm, but lightly stirred at the surface. Continue to plant gladioli, delphiniums, gerberas, Michaelmas Daisies, perennial phlox, gaillardia, scabiosa, Alonsoa, ageratum, perennial sunflowers, etc., in the mixed border.