PROGRAMME OF WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20762, 3 January 1931, Page 7 (Supplement)

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. To maintain the floral display and benefit the plants generally artificial waterings must be practised during dry weather. Mulching by lightly stirring the surface soil or by applying a mulch of manure or spent hops is necessary at this season of the year. Lilies in flower and coming into flower should be mulched with manure and liberally watered. Lawn shrubs and those plantedsin the winter should have the soil around their roots lightly forked. Grass clippings may be used as a mulch. Plant zinnias, portulacas, phlox drummondii, scarlet salvias, cosmoea, and other suitable annuals for succession. Now is a good time to dig up bulbs of narcissi and prepare the ground for replanting with late flowering seedlings. Bed out alternatheras, iresines, tuberous and fibrousrooted begonias for ornamental or carpet bedding schemes. Hydrangeas ,in pots, tubs, and those growing in the open ground must be copiously watered. Plants in conservatory, green-house, and glass frames must receive regular attention to shading and watering. Water in the evening.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. t After the holiday season every portion ol the ground crops should be deeply hoed or lightly dug. The shallow working of soils is the cause of many failures, and at no time are the effects more noticeable than after a few weeks of neglect. For most vegetable crops deep cultivation and mulching is the best method of summer treatment. Give close attention to removing all side shoots from tomatoes, and spray as a preventative from fungoids and caterpillars. Keep the ground between cucumbers, marrows, melons, pumpkins, and kumaras frequently hoed to destroy weeds. Later this work will be difficult without risk of injuring the plants. The timely thinning of crops is an important operation, and has much to do with the success or failure of vegetable crops. Keep dwarf and runner beans closely picked. Even if not required for use the pods are better kept removed, or the plants soon deteriorate and cease to crop. Make a further sowing of both dwarf and runner varieties in well-manured ground to keep up a succession. Another sowing of peas in deeply-worked, well-manured soil is always worth the risk, for although not good dry weather subjects, if favourable conditions prevail, a good crop may be obtained. Clear away all exhausted crops and roughly dig ground not required for immediate use.