THE HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 79, Issue 24250, 16 April 1942, Page 2

THE HOME GARDEN

I Vegetables Plant out cabbage and cauliflower for spring supplies and fork up the ground between the earlier crops. Remove all the yellow and decaying leaves from th« green crops, as these only tend to breed disease. Sow onions if not already done. These will be for transplanting later on. Ground for onions should be worked to a fine tilth before sowing the seed, which should not be sown too deeply. Thin advancing crops of- turnips, carrots and beetroot sown last month and keep well weeded. Make every effort to clean, up the ground before it becomes too wet. Annual weeds are best dealt with in damp weather by lightly skimming over the surface with a fork and burying them. The Orchard Plant out strawberries in well-prepared ground making the soil firm at planting time. Prepare the land for planting fruit trees and make out a list of those required. Gather any late-maturing fruit as soon as it is ready. Give the citrus trees a spraying with Bordeaux to check brown rot, which will be in evidence with the damp weather. Vines under glass can be pruned as soon as the leaf has fallen. Clean up the orchard, burning any debris of crops that are likely to bs diseased. Any mummified fruits should particularly be disposed of, as these will carry disease over to another season.

Flowers Bulb planting should be completed as soon as possible. Stir the soil between the early-planted anemone and ranunculus as soon as they show above ground. Plant out annuals for spring blooming such as stocks, calendulas, primula malacoides, antirrhinums and linaria. Keep down all weeds in the beds and borders; remove dead flowers and plants that have finished their blooming season. Prepare the ground for planting roses; these are best in a bed by themselves. Trench the ground deeply and see that the site is well drained. Evergreen shrubs can be planted from now on; the autumn and spring are the best times for planting these useful shrubs. The Greenhouse With the cooler nights some heat will be necessary for the more tropical subjects. Close up the greenhouse earlier in the afternoon to conserve the sun heat. All winter-flowering greenhouse plants should now be housed; see that they are clear of insect pests before taking in to the greenhouse. Look over the earlier potted bulbs in the plunge bed to see that they are rooting well. Climbers on the roof of the greenhouse should be overhauled, cleaned and re-tied into place. Cinerarias and primulas in frames should not be kept too close or much of the foliage will damp off.