THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20560, 10 May 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. [Wrenching evergreen trees and shrubs to prepare them for safe removal should be done when the soil is sufficiently moist to prevent the plants suffering. Remove all fallen leaves and grass clippings to the rubbish heap to rot and gradually turn into leaf mould. Slugs are again making their appearance. Take every precaution to lessen their numbers and save delicate seedlings. Heaps of bran placed at short distances apart where slugs are prevalent attract them. Examine the heaps and collect the slugs about 9 p.m. To have a surface free from weeds before the rainy season sets in saves labour later. Hoeing will be ineffective. The weeds must be buried by digging them under. Cyclamens, cinerarias, Iceland poppies, gaillardias, sweet peas, primroses and polyanthus, also primula malacoides, are suitable for bedding out this month. Virginian stocks, candytufts, mignonettes, larkspurs, godetias, nemophilas, silene, eschscholtzias, calendulas, are hardy annuals for outside sowings. Proceed with general improvements, including the formation of new walks and any alterations and additions to the flower beds and borders. finish 62 new lawns by completing the levelling, fertilising, and sowing the grass seed. Renovate ancl topdress old lawns where necessary. Sow plots that have been dug or trenched with oats, lupins, vetches, prairie grass or other subjects for winter covering and digging under.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Conditions are now favourable for planting out of cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and other seasonable crops, while further sowings should be made ioi later planting. In all future sowings and planting every assistance should be given that will in any way help to promote more rapid germination, of seed and growth of plants. Where broad beans are in demand a sowing should be made for early use. The autumn-sown crops are less subject to the attacks of the humble bee and set better crops. Make further sowings of carrots, turnips, spinach, lettuce, onions, parsley and other seasonable crops. The thinning out of seedling crops should have attention as soon as they are large enough to handle. Keep the soil frequently stirred between all recentlyraised crops. All crops, whatever their stage of growth, should have the soil about them well hoed or forked over. The latest planted celery should now be sufficiently advanced for the final earthing. Leeks should have the soil drawn up so as to obtain a good length of bleached stalk. Potato onions and shallots may be planted any time this month. They are very productive and useful crops and come in when other varieties are scarce. The digging of kumaras should no longer be delayed as the more ripened tubers are liable to rot. The harvesting of pumpkins, marrows and melons should have attention, especially in localities at all subject to early frosts.