ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19486, 16 November 1926, Page 20

ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

ATTENDING TO CROPS.

Keep the soil constantly stirred in the garden both to keep the weeds in check and to maintain the surface tilth. Slugs are generally troublesome about this time of the year when there are so many seedling crops. The best method of destroying the pests is by trapping them by means of carrot slices. These are placed around the garden at the spots where the slugs are causing havoc, and attract the insects in group, when they may be easily killed. Even if not killed the slugs are kept away from the young crops as the .carrots are more palatable. Asparagus beds have yielded fairly well throughout the season which is now ( drawing to a close. There are still some shoots coming up, however, although the season is almost over. Some growers cut these last shoots thinking to obtain the greatest possible yield by doing so. This is a great mistake though, as the last shoots should be left in order to strengthen the roots for the next season and allow them to recuperate after the past cropping season. It is very detrimental to deprive the plants of this means of gaining strength for the following season. Newly established beds are especially set back by such harsh treat-' ment. If a very good crop is taken off one year, the succeeding crop is sure to be diminished as a result of the heavy cropping previously. Rhubarb beds may be given a mulching of straw or unrotted stable manure if they require it. Any seed stalks that develop should be broken off as soon as they are observed or else the yield will be decreased. If the gardener has a particularly good plant, he may wish to save the seed from it, in which case the seed stalk should he tied to a stake driven in beside the plant. About this time of the year when pumpkins, marrows and other similar plants are sending out runners, they are often knocked about by the wind, and are sometimes uprooted. To safeguard 'against an occurrence of this nature, draw some more soil up . around the base of the plants. Continue the planting out of tomatoes when* the" plants are large enough and hardy enough. Stake those already put out and tie them up. Plants set out very early may require pinching now. The pinching should. consist of removing all lateral growths., Beetroot, sown as advised in August, will be ready for thinning out now. The plants which are thinned need not be thrown away. They may be readily transplanted at will if more beet is required.