ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19510, 14 December 1926, Page 18

ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

PRESENT CONDITIONS. At present we are experiencing a spell of hot, dry weather. This emphasises, as I have already tried to stress in these columns, the necessity for the conservation of moisture so that the crops do not become affected by weather S such as is prevailing at the time of writing. Where such provision has not been made, the gardener is realising his mistake, for he sees how his crop is suffering through the insufficiency of soil moisture. In order to prevent this, he has to resort to watering, a laborious work which would not have been necessary had the moisture been conserved during the times when it was plentiful. All persons, who find it necessary to water their crops, should remember to create a mulch immediately the soil dries sufficiently, so that the moisture which has just been given to the plants is not taken from them again by evaporation. The prevalent warm weather is favourable to the development of potato blight, and the sprayings with Bordeaux 4-4-40 should be maintained. Do not think that the crop which so far has not suffered through blight has escaped totally, for it is quite easy for blight to put in an appearance yet, and decrease the crop more or less.

The tomato plants should not be neglected, Pinch out any lateral growths which are a burden on the plant, and hinder the development of the fruit. Continue the spraying with Bordeaux 4-4-40 as for potatoes, for it is the same funguous disease that attacks both plants. Spray also with lime sulphur 1 in 50 to combat the black rot disease which attacks the tomatfoe's. Now, also, that the fruits have formed, the tomatoes should be sprayed to combat the caterpillars which do so much harm if they once get into the fruits. For this purpose arsenate of lead has been found to be the most efficient spray.