PROGRAMME OF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19910, 31 March 1928, Page 5 (Supplement)

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. plantings of dafiodils, anemones, ranunculi, Spanish irises, freezias, ixias, babianas, tritonias, alliums, tulips, hyacinths, etc., may be made according to requirements. Heeds of hardy annuals lor winter and early isprinir flowering should ,be planted at once, while the soil is in fit condition to enable the plants to make an earlv start. Winter-fiowering sweet peas should now be sown, either in the open ground or in pots or trays,, for transplanting outside when ready. Chrysanthemums: Prepare to protect the blooms with canvas covers or other suitable devices. Flowers for show are quickly tarnished by rain and also by heavy dews. Cyclamens should be planted now in separate beds or near the edge of the mixed border. The first planting of pansies may also be made, also Iceland 'aoppies andprimula malacoides. Marguerites or chrysanthemum Irutescens are splendid hardy winter and early spring flowerers. How is a good tune to plant them in the mixed border. Seedlings of cinerarias, pansies, stocks, neniesiias, dimorphothecas, primula malacoides, hollyhocks, mimulus and marguerite carnations that have been raised under glass should be pricked oil. Carnation and Picotees: Layers should now be sufficiently well rooted to take off the old plants and plant in a prepared bed, or pot, singly. Newly-made lawns should have the surface properly levelled in readiness for sowing the seed early in April. Top-dressing, renovating and resowing old lawns must also be attended to.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. In sowing seeds at this season, the success attained will depend in a great measure upon the depth the seeds are sown. Should wet weather set in, few seeds will require the same amount of covering as when sowing during the summer months. Soils, however, vary so widely in character, that no definite rule can be laid down beyond the fact that all small seed require but a light covering. Protection from birds is important. Strands of black cotton run along each side of the rows, and about 3in. high, provide excellent protection. In preparing raised beds for sowing later crops, thoroughly work and manure the soil in order to ensure as quick a growth as possible. While the weather is fine, every inch of garden not in crop should be well-manured and cultivated. The free use of green manure and lime, together with frequent working, will in a short time transform the stiflest land into useful soil. All vegetables put in now, with the exception of root crops, should be supplied with an abundance of manure, the soil at the same time being deeply worked,to allow of free drainage and aeration. Cabbage and cauliflower should be planted after the first heavy rain in well-manured soil, while established plants should have an occasional sprinkling of nitrate of soda. Attend to the harvesting of pumpkins, squash marrows, melons, potatoes, kumeras, and other crops as they mature and ripen.