THE HOME GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21165, 23 April 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

THE HOME GARDEN.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Deciduous trees and shrubs may be transplanted as soon as most of their leaves have fallen. Early planting enables them to become established while the soil is warm. Prepare evergreen trees and shrubs for safe removal by the system of wrenching. In a few weeks they may be transplanted. Protect the large chrysanthemum flowers from rains and dews. Damping has been prevalent. Dahlias continue to produce a few good flowers for this late season. Dc- not omit to note any that it is intended to discard, and label all correctly. Fine weather is most favourable for putting in cuttings of hedge plants and several other shrubs, and also for layering shrubs. Prepare beds for roses by trenching or deep digging and manuring. Basic slag is a good fertiliser dug under. Plant borders with primrcses, polyanthus and cowslips, and also Primula malacoides and aubretias, in wellenriched soils. Sow Virginian stock.-! for borders. Bed out pyramidal branching and beauty stocks, Iceland poppies, pansies, violas and other hardy flowering plants. Complete the levelling, manuring, sowing and rolling of lawns, also the renovation of old lawns by top-dressing, manuring and sowing fresh seed. Anemones, ranunculi, narcissus and other bulbs that are above the surface should be weeded. Lightly stir the surface around them. Borders of violets require regulating by cutting off some of the runners. They are growing vigorously and need no stimulant.

PROGRAMME OF WORK.

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. r While conditions are favourable light digging or forking between the rows of cabbage, cauliflower and other advanced crops will greatly assist growth. Young seedling crops will need careful watching to protect the plants from slugs. These are now becoming numerous, so that frequent dusting with lime or other remedies must be applied. Pumpkins, squashes, marrows and pie-melons should be collected and harvested as they mature and ripen, especially in situations liable to frosts. Kumaras should be lifted and harvested as soon as the tubers are matured so as to prevent them starting into secondary growth. The supply of turner beans is now practically on the wane. In saving the seed in every case select the longest and most perfectly-shaped pods. Cabbages, cauliflowers and other colworts, as well as lettuce, can still be planted in well-worked and manured ground. Make a sowing of broad beans. These succeed well in a fairly stifi soil. Draw the drills wide enough for a double row, arranging the seeds alternately about 6in. apart. for very early potatoes the ground should be well worked and placed in fine tilth for the tubers. Sprouted tubers are in every way the best for early planting. At this season allow no land to remain idle. If not required for autumn or winter cropping sow down in lupins, mustard or vetches for digging under. Make a sowing of onions to provide plants for early planting. The soil for these should be fairly rich and made comparatively firm before sowing.