PROGRAMME OF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20235, 20 April 1929, Page 5 (Supplement)

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. The soil h-s been well soaked with moisture and is in the best possible condition for the planting of hardy annuals for winter and early spring flowering. Anemones, rrinanculi, daffodils, freesias, and other earlyplanted bulbs have benefitted by the warm, bountiful rains, and are well above the surface. When the surface is dry enough lightly hoe to mulch and de- . stroy seedling weeds. Preparing evergreen trees and shrubs for safe removal' and transplanting should be done whilst the soil is moist. Well tread after wrenching. Chrysanthemums arc now at their best. Many kinds are later than usual in flowering. After cutting the show blooms allow any secondary shoots to remain for late flowers. prepare beds for roses by deep digging or trenching and incorporating manure and basic slag with the soil in the second spit. Autumn-sown' seedlings must be protected against slugs, which have started early. These pests are the gardener's greatest enemy. Use every remedy to check them. Prepare foT tree and shrub-planting by digging holes to allow th£ soil to sweeten. In well-worked soils this is unnecessary. Tricking of stocks, cinerarias, pansies, nemesias, antirrhinums and Iceland poppies from the seeding boxes into shallow plant trays must be regularly done. Complete the formation and sowing of lawns as soon as possible. Early sowings have had a splendid time and already show a green sward almost ready for scything.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Lose no time in harvesting pumpkins, squashes, marrows and piemelon as soon as they mature and ripen. Potatoes and kumeras should be dug as soon as they are ready as they are liable to start into secondary growth. Keep the rows of celery and leeks free from weeds and earth up as soon as sufficiently advanced. Tomato plants that have ceased to fruit should be pulled up. As soon as they are dry enough they should be burnt. Every advantage should be taken of present conditions to sow and plant out all seasonable crops. First see that the soil is in the best possible condition to ensure healthy, vigorous growth. Earlier-sown crops that are sufficiently advanced should be thinned out. Refil any blank spaces in the rows by careful transplanting. From this time onward frequent hand-weeding and hoeing will bo necessary to keep weeds under control. Frequent stirring of the soil, in any case, is the best means of ensuring growth. In sowing seeds at this time, varieties that are liable to be taken by small birds may be protected by stretching strands of black cotton over the rows or beds. Keep the cotton raised about 3in, above the soil. To protect the young seedlings from slugs frequent dusting with lime is necessary. * A sowing of onions for early planting can now be made. For this crop a well-prepared, raised bed is best. Broad beans, also, can be sown. Draw the drills wide enough to plant a double row, arranging the seed alternately about 6in. apart.