The Home Garden

New Zealand Herald, Volume 78, Issue 24049, 21 August 1941, Page 17

The Home Garden

Flowers Hardy perennials can be increased now by division; fork over the borders and apply a dressing of decayed manure. ' * Plant out gladioli corms in batches to provide a succession of bloom. Rock gardens should receive attention and winter losses replaced. Prick over the soil in the rock pockets and topdress with a gritty compost. Narcissus coming into flower will need watching or snails will spoil tho blooms. Renovate patchy lawns by sowing more seed in the bare spots. Clean up all the paths and straighten the overgrown edges. Complete the plantings of hedges, roses and shrubs this month. The Greenhouse Many greenhouse plants rested for the winter will now be showing signs of growth. Th ese should not be neglected once growth starts. Begonias and gloxinias started in trays should be potted off as soon as roots are being made. Start the achimenes in trays of leaf soil for furnishing baskets later. Keep up successional sowings of annuals under glass and prick off the seedlings as soon as they are ready. Overhaul the greenhouse ferns and repot where necessary. Scale insects will infest the palms and other hard-leaved plants unless they receive a periodical sponging.

By KEPOS _J

Vegetables Sow asparagus, cabbage, cauliflower, peas, carrots and early turnips. Plant out cabbage, cauliflower, onions and lettuce. Earth-up the potatoes that are showing through the ground and plant more for later crops. Dig-in green manuring crops to allow time for decomposition before planting is undertaken on those plots. Choose fine days for breaking up the land which has been rough dug for the winter. On the light volcanic lands an earlier start can be made and crops should be got in as soon as possible. Sow seakale for next winter supply. The Orchard Any fruit tree planting that has been delayed should be completed without delay, for growth will soon be active. Do not omit the Bordeaux spray for peach leaf curl just as the buds are commencing to move. Early tomatoes under glass should have a drier atmosphere and plenty of fresh air when the flowers are opening. When the sap is rising do any grafting of fruit trees required. Attend to the manuring and pruning of citrus trees when the crops have been removed. Remove the first blossoms from the strawberry plants and spray with' Bordeaux to prevent attacks of leaf spot.