HOME GARDEN

New Zealand Herald, Volume 81, Issue 25048, 11 November 1944, Page 4

HOME GARDEN

THINNING SEEDLINGS CORRECT USE OF SPR AYs BY KEPOB To keep up a constant supply of salad crops it is necessary, to make' 6ucc&: sional sowings. A pinch of lettuce seed should be sown every fortnight, >or t least every three weeks. The seed can be sown in a 6in pot, where only a \\i* ' , is required. The advantage of sowuJ: ' in a pot is that the seedlings transplant more easily. Globe beet should not be overlooked and it is a good plan to soak the seed overnight and space them out3iri awu in drills lin deep. . ina^ rt Thick sowings and late thinning mawresult in weakly plants and light crons The best time for thinning is when the soil is moist after a shower. After thin ning, run the hoe between the rows and do this as long as it is possible to move aiftong the plants with safety If any of the crops are at a stand still a light sprinkling of nitrate of soda should be stirred into the soil whin hoeing. The main-crop leeks can be planted in their permanent quarters Each row can be set 2ft apart and 9in allowed between the plants. Water When Planting If the weather should prove dry water will be needed at planting time and occasional applications gj veil un y, growth is vigorous for dryness at thisperiod ruins many leeks. Peas, if they grow more, than 12in in height, should be staked. Maincrop potatoes should now be ready for final earthing up. If B0 manure was used at planting time a dressing of artificial given now will improve the yield. The following mix* ture can be made up:—Three parts super; Jwo parts sulphate of ammonia and one part sulphate of potash. Apply one handful to each yard run of roV but do not allow the mixture to touch' the foliage. The most important jobs requiring attention now in the flower borders are thinning and staking the shoots.' Stems of taller plants may appear to he'sup. porting each other as they grow'up but heavy rains can do great damage to unstaked plants in a few minutes. Plant out dahlias and transfer annuals to their flowering positions. 1 Tli is is a good time to lift, divide and replant old clumps of atipcula. Some prefer to do this in the autumn, but by doing it now the plants will ■'" have a longer time to build up the crowns for next season. Spray and water in the evenings after dry, Bunny days. Newly Planted Treea Newly planted trees and shrubs fre* quently collapse with the first hot,: dry spell of weather, because they have hot sufficient root. Draw up a ridge of.sbil round each one to form a basin, and fill this with water two or three tunes. In the orchard aphides and other insect pests are appearing on the tender shoots of fruit trees. Use a fine nozzle and spray beneath the leaves as well as above. How much spraying you pay hare to do depends not only on the condition of your trees, but upon your neighbours' also. So far as insect pests are concerned you need not spray until you see them on the tree. If your trees are attacked Jby disease such as mildew, scab ornbrown rot, the spraying must be of a preventive nature; it must be done well before the fungus has time to. get real hold upon the shoots and fruits. "Whatever the spray is and for whatever purpose it is being used,' correct. mixing is the main secret of ■success. Using a little more or less of the concentrated solution or powder than directed, will make all the difference in the world. Most of the insecticides and fungicides purchased are safe to use at any time, if they < are. correctly diluted.