Operations for December

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1938, Page 2 (Supplement)

Operations for December

the vegetable garden Tomatoes may still be planted for late crops. Side shoots taken off growing plants will be found to strike fairly readily, but these should be given moisture and shade until established. Keep "tomatoes lied to their stakes. Remove* laterals thiat are not wanted. Spray for caterpillar with ai senate of lead. Plant leeks for winter use. Keep lettuce and radish well watered. Sow silver beet and spinach. Sow bush marrows. Give marrows and pumpkins a few buckets of water during dry spoils Prepare celery trenches. On the south side of a hedge is suitable. Keep young plants growing. Sow sweet corn at intervals. Sow haricot beans for winter use. Sow more peas and beans. Give your cabbage and cauliflower plants a good hosing once a day during dry weather. Always remember to compost all tender hedge clippings, grass cuttings, etc. The resulting compost is an excellent substitute for animal manure, THE FLOWER GARDEN Chrysanthemums should be ready for a second pinching back of the shoots to encourage the formation of a short, busny plant. Chrysanthemums will benefit by a mulch of well-rotted cow manure during the summer months. Polyantha roses have flowered very well this season. When the flowers fade, the plants should be cut back to where new growths are showing. Dahlias make much better plants for garden decorations if they are pinched out and given three stakes and plenty of tying material to each plant. Tulips, anemones, ranunculi and hyacinths are best stored in dry sand for the summer months. They should be put in bags and tied, up to prevent the potato moth from laying its eggs on them. If they are stored in boxes, moth balls may bemused. Seed may still be sown of cosmos, portulaca, French marigolds, celosia, Guinea Gold marigold and zinnias. Dahlias, chrysanthemums, salvias, cannas, petunias and many other summer and autumn flowering plants may be planted. Wistarias that do not flower well should have some of the long growths cut back.