PROGRAMME OF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20740, 6 December 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

With prospects of drier weather and warmer temperatures the planting of half-hardy annuals and other tender plants may be proceeded with. Pick off daily spent blooms of roses and pelargoniums to prolong their flowering. Spray rose' bushes affected with aphis. Replant healthy hardened-ofl zinnia seedlings to replace previous failures owing to unseasonable conditions. Bed; out phlox drummondii, asters, celosias, Trench and African marigolds, scarlet salvias portulacas, verbenas, petunias, cosmoea, and other itummerflowering seedlings. A lew late flowering varieties of chrysanthemums, may still be planted. Attach stakes or trellis-work to early plantings. Dahlias may be planted until the end of this month. Tie up earliest plantings to their stakes. Mulching Is essential at this season to break the surfaco trust. Conserve the moisture In the soil and add to the appearance ol the garden and benefit the plants. Hydrangeas in pots, boxes and other receptacles, as well as those coming into flower in the open ground, should be copiously watered. Also give occasional manurial waterings. Lift; bulbs of iris tingitana, lachenalias and also if 'necessary, narcissi, freesias and other early-flowering bulbs. 6 Hedges of elaeagnus and ligustrums, may be clipped at once. Escallonias and tecoma should be clipped before the holidays commence. Two annual clippings of tecoma is sufficient.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Take every advantage of fine weather to weed and clear the ground between all growing cxops ol weeds. All spent crops should be removed, and the ground deeply dug over, and iii necessary manured lor other crops. Plant out tomatoes, kumaras, sweet corn, egg plants, cape gooseberries and other tender subjects. Make further sowings of peas, dwarf and runner beans, to keep up a succession. Broccoli, Brussell sprouts, savoy cabbage, and other colwarts, should now be planted In deeply-worked wellmanured ground. Pinch out the tips of cucumber, marrows and pumpkins, as soon as they commence to run, to encourage Bide laterals and fruit to form. All trenches required for celery or leeks should be prepared and made ready for transplanting. Water, rock and pie melons that have been raised in the open ground, should be thinned, leaving not more than two or three ol the strongest plants to each plot. Sowings can still be made of carrots, parsnips, spinach, beet, swede turnips, leeks, lettuces and other plants for salad use. All plants needing support, should be securely staked and if necessary, tied up. Tomatoes, especially when growing freely, need frequent attention In stopping and tieing. Give attention to thinning out seedling crops, the thining being regulated by the size the roots and tops attain to.