THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20420, 23 November 1929, Page 6 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Exuberanco ol growth in plants and weeds also necessitates more attention than usual this month in regulating growth and weeding and hoeing and tidying up. Chrysanthemums. —Pinch out ths tops when tho plants are 6in. high, and spray on first appearance ol black fly. Do not apply stimulants this month. Roses have made splendid growth, and are flowering profusely. Pick decayed blooms every day, and sprav where green fly exists. Dahlias.—Planting should now be at its height. Prepare holes, as previously advised. Carefully plant and stake at the same time. After-staking is likely to injure the roots. _ . , , Conditions are most favourable for bedding out herbaceous iind other border perennials, and also for the many varieties of seedlings that are indispensable for the summer display. Gladioli that are throwing up their flowering stems must be staked. Attention is needed by anemones, ranunculi and other early-flowering bulbs, and also nemesias and other annuals. Lift the bulbs, dig and manure the beds, and also the ground occupied by the annuals. Carnations—Attend to tying up the flower stems to neat stakes, and to pinching off superfluous buds. Also, take precautions to protect the stems from slugs, Celosias, portulacas, cosmoea and other late-flowering annuals, and ornamental grasses, may be planted now African and French marigolds, zinnias, petunias, scarlet salvias, phlox drummondii are indispensable summerflowering annuals for present planting. Perennial delphiniums have become subject to n V^ and should be sprayed with Bordeaux, or the foliage dusted, when wet with dew, with flowers of sulphur.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Success ia growing garden crops depends largely upon the preparation of the ground before sowing or planting, as well as upon the after-cultivation. The more deeply the ground can be worked lor all summer crops, the better they will succeed. Attend to staking of peas bel'ore they become too tall. In every case, uraw the earth up to the plants before staking.

Make further sowings of peas, dwarf and runner beans. The presout is a good time to plant kumeras, egg plants, capsicums, Capo gooseberries, sweet corn, chokos, or other tender subjects.

Thin early-sown cucumbers, marrows, pumpkins, and melons, leaving about three of the strongest plants to each plot. The recent warm, humid weather has resultod in the rapid growth of crops. Seedling crops, especially, need attention to weeding and thinning. Pull advantage should be taken of favourable conditions for making further sowings of seasonable crops for succession.

Early-planted tomatoes aro now making vigorous growth, and will need frequent attention to pinching out lateral growths, and keeping the leaders tied' to their supports.

Continue to spray potatoes, tomatoes, or other crops subject to disease. After the recent heavy rains, deep 'hoeing or light digging between the crops is an important factor in maintaining healthy growth. Keep the soil well stirred to an adequate depth, so that no hard crust can form.