IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 1 July 1932, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

WORK TO BE DONE THE VEGETABLE PLOTS With half (tie year gone it will be only a comparatively short time before gardeners will bo busy getting in their spring vegetables' and (lowers. At the present moment wort: is confined chiefly to odd jobs, quite a number of which can be found in any garden. Jerusalem artichokes should be dug up and stored. This crop, even though carefully dug, usually leaves a sufficient number of young tubers in the ground to provide for next season's crops. This is a good time to give the various tools a thorough overhaul. They should be thoroughly cleaned, sharpened and oiled. Good, clean, sharp tools mean easier and better work. Now is the, time to overhaul your herb bed. Thyme roots may now be divided and planted out. Majoram and sage are necessary for every seasoning. An odd plant of each should find its way into every garden. Sow parsley seed thinly in'drills’: this makes an exceptional I v line border-round the vegetable

Shallots are most useful. In their early stages they are a splendid substitute for spring onions. Later on. when fully developed, they are of great value for pickling or all kinds of culinary purposes for which onions are used. The old rule for growing shallots was “Plaid on the shortest dav and harvest on the longest.” There is still plenty of time if the bulbs are available. Winter digging is not popular with munv gardener.-;. It is feared that they me inclined to be retrospective at this season, and to leave the digging till the ground is required for sowing or planting. The necessity for getting all vacant around dug at the earliest opportunity after the crops are off is very essential. Trenching is much better done in winter than left till the “turn of the year.” Any accumulations of garden refuse may conveniently he disposed of. It is surprising how much rubbish may be gof rid of in this way. There is no particular need about leaving a level surface as the rougher it is leit the move good will he accomplished by the action of the weather. The levelling can be done l just before flic ground is rcciuired for sowing or planting. Late-sown vegetables should not be neglected or the result may be- disappointing. Young lettuce should he planted out in suitable spots. I licv can be fairly close together to allow for pulling in a young state. Dust with scot if slugs are troublesome.

Complete the thinning of winter spinach and turnips. . Autumn-sown onions need to he keptfree of weeds. The hoe mu,si he used between ci-ops whenever the soil is dry eonugh. Attend to the earthing-up- of cabbages and others of the brussica. family. Draw the soil up to form a ridge, as this assists to keen the roots drier during winter.

Onion, cabbage, cauliflower and silver beef, plants may he set at once. Cabbage and cauliflower should, be planted in small quantities every three weeks from now on to give succession crons. No matter how deep or how shallow you are trenching, always break up the bottom of the trench or furrow with a garden fork. The same applies when digging holes for trees nr shrubs. Ground for early planting of peas and potatoes should lie prepared as soon as possible. ’MIDST THE FLOWERS Lavender, as old-fashioned as it is popular, is easily propagated by cultings. Duriiur the winter is the best time to do ibis. Pull off medium-sized branches with a ‘'heel' attached Plant them firmly in a well-drained position, in full sun if possible. The pieces used should he about throe or four inches Jong. Sow the earlv spring flowering seeds as follows:—Stocks, cineraria, pansy, violas, antirrhinums, carnations iieinesin, poppy, sweet pea, etc. Now that the weather is uncertain do r.ot risk sowing seed in the open beds as too much wet mnv rot the seeds. For tree and shrub and hedge plantings carefully spread out the roots, place some earth no them and firmly (read. Next fill in loose soil even with the surface. Stake those that require support. During Hie had weather, when outside work is at a standstill, is a good opportunity for making cuttings of many deciduous and evergreen shrubs. Tim cuttings can lie made, and if stood in boxes with damp moss around the.bases, tipcan he kepi until the soil is in condition for planting. Slugs and snails are very numerous and generally reap a harvest during the wet weather. Only ail enthusiast goes out in the rain to protect his hobby from these, pests. Reduce their likelihood of destroying your plants by carefully weeding and clearing away any dead wood or rubbish that they may hide under.

Choose a fin a (lav for rose planting and regulate 11, 10 planting according to instructions.

Bulbs are showing up, and the weeds are also in evidence. A good plan .here the bulbs are planted in beds and in rows is to turn over the top two or three inches by digging with the garden fork. This buries the weeds and freshens un the surface.

Seedlings and small plants that are in beds must be carefully tended and watched. Growth is slow, and a few slugs will soon play havoc with the plants. Early-flowering sweet peas must be kept to Hie supports.