OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXXII, 14 April 1939, Page 10

OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK

the vegetable plots Immediately productive operations in tho kitchen garden are now limited as most seasonal crops are gathered and not many things may now be sown. Ihe time iB opportune to prepare for next season, and if green crops have not been sown for digging m later on this should be done as soon us weather conditions are favourable. Cabbage and cauliflower seed should now be sown for the first planting for early spring use.

OntoUj) should be sown when the soil 14 moist enough to sprout the seeds. Onions now may be sown either broadcast or in drills, whichever suits local conditions. They bhould be transferred as soon as large enough. Warm sandy loam is ideal for onions If the soil is inclined to be heavy and wet it is wisest to wait until spring before sowing onions. Every vegetable grower should know the value of liiuo, which can be safely used in fairly large proportions with btnefit to the soil and crops. Stiff land, especially, can be wonderfully improved by the free" use of lime, wood ashes, together with manure or decayed garden refuse, well incorporated with the soil. The planting of the vegetables must be followed by constant cultivation and they must be kept as free Iron* weeds

This is the most, suitable Lime to break iti new land. If the soil is ol a clay nature it would be wise tu wait for a little rain, but where the soil is not so refractory this is the best time for this work.

If the drains have not been cleaned out for the winter they should be attended to without further delay. Diseased foliage on broccoli, Brussels sprouts, and other winter greens should be gathered upand buried. This ia the time to sow broad beans. D they are put in early they will be forward enough to be picked back a couple of times before they come into cropping. This will also protect their blossoms from the bees to some extent. The bees are often responsible for the poor crops of this vegetable. Broad beans, while they will not grow too well in very poof land, should not be sown ill rich land, as that tends to make them bolt. Celery should he earthed up as required. MIDST THE FLOWERS If the dahlias are trimmed and dead blooms removed the plants will continue to give a few flowers; and even if they are not the best they are very welcome at this time of the year. Sweet peas that are up Bhould have little twiggy sticks placed to them to protect them from the slugs and to keep tho plants upright.

Chrysanthemums arc coining away fast now, and will soon justify the labour extended upon them. Grubs do an immense amount of damage to the buds unless checked. The surest way of keeping these pests down is to hand pick them, a fairly easy matter where only a few plants are grown. The thinning out of the buds is another important matter, far better results being obtained even for decorative purposes. Oue bloom to a stem, ia the best way to grow them, but for decorative purposes or for garden display the sprays should, be kept in their natural ferm.

Cut down all the tall-growuig perennials which have finished blooming and remove seed heads before they ripen. As soon us plants have finished their blooming—annuals, that is—they should be pulled out. and the ground dug over. Many garden pests find harbour under cover of such useless material which is allowed to remain. At this season it is allowed a good plan to have a thorough good cleaning up all round, so as to leave as little harbour for slugs, Snails, and slaters as possible. Plant spring and early summer Howeriug varieties, such as Canterbury bell, aquilegias, rnyosotis, delphiniums, carnations, antirrhinums.

Violets should be weeded and runners kept off. The plants are growing fast now, and a dressing of superphosphate at the rate of four ounces to the square yard will help the plants. Pansies and violas are making good growth now, and should be encouraged by frequently working the soil around them and pricking in a little bone dust. Any scraggly growths should be removed to allow room lor the young growths .

Tuberous-rooted begonias that have i completed their flowering should be watere 1 sparingly and gradually dried off when j tile pots may be placed under the bench ] o- the tubers taken out aud placed in 1 dry sand or soil in an airy place. ' ' Hollyhocks, notably the double-flower- { e l varieties, are lovely flowering, stately . plants. Seeds sown now under glass will , provide suitable plants for spring plant- , i»K. . ~, ! Cineraria seed sown now will provide good plants for bedding out at a most suitable time and escape the caterpillars that are so destructive upon seedlings from early sowings. RENOVATING OLD LAWNS Old lawns can be renovated with a good heavy raking. A dressing of blood and bone manure should be followed by I a sowing of new seed —one pound to 50 square yards, covered with a top dressing of loamy soil, half an inch deep all over, levelling up the hollows, of course, at the same time. It is better to thus renovate old lawns than by digging them up and resowing, because of bringing to light long-buried weed seeds. The grass grub has caused great havoc amongst our lawns during recent years. Lawns in good heait always benefit by a good dressing of blood manure in spring 4oz to the square yard. Moss on the lawns is sometimes troublesome • this is often found in shady positions’where the land is damp. In most cases drainage will be needed ; if this is not the case top-dress with lime in the , autumn, and apply sulphate of ammonia in the spring, at the rate of loz per square l yard. The patches should be top-dressed I with fresh soil and new seed sown.