The Country-Woman's Corner

Otago Witness, Issue 3996, 14 October 1930, Page 15

The Country-Woman's Corner

By

Jean

(Special fob the Otago Witness.)

Poets and writers have sung the praises of cherry blossom, peach blossom, and apple blossom, but among the trees that array themselves to gladden our hearts after the storms of winter, there is none that we admire more than the plum. Northern papers and Australian gardening magazines have been giving careful directions for the planting and cultivating of the flowering plum (prunus) this spring, the flower bowls and stands in our churches have been filled with branches of these early spring blossoms, of which the dainty white flowers and the dark stems and leaves have a striking effect. Where hedges of cherry plum have been planted for shelter belts, and are showing banks of snowy blossom, amateur photographers are making films that may form backgrounds for individual snaps of children and animals. Charming Christmas cards may be made with circles, ovals, ivy and shamrock leaves containing the desired picture, bordered with the sheet of blossom. For those who do their own printing these experiments are most interesting. The Kodak dealer will print any number in this way, and for busy people or amateurs who wish to have models to work from, the extra charge is not grudged. Those who live near the bush will see the clematis—“ the glory of October ”-— in all her beauty. Our comparatively cool summers deprive us of the privilege of living and dining out-of-djoors as much as we would like. In tropical and sub-tropical climates' where it is impossible to remain indoors in warm weather we have a wealth of beautiful creeping and climbing plants. The bush clematis is one of the most suitable subjects for verandas or summer houses, and where the soil is not suitable, any nurseryman can supply imported varieties that are almost as beautiful, and will grow and thrive in soil that is not adapted to the native plant. The clematis bio.-- the warm spring winds, the flov.c; .iiid vegetable seedlings really mark the beginning of summer.

Time to go ariding, time to go afoot. Time to think of roses, time to think of fruit.

We have now reached normal summer conditions on the farm. Most of the cows have come in, calves, chickens, and small piggies can be fed regularly, and do not require any extra attention. The garden takes up every spare moment that can be given to it, thinning, weeding, and setting out the main crops, giving employment to every member of the family.

Running events for girls’ sports programmes are very popular events. With the cutting out of branch railways, and river services, walking and cycling have now to be depended upon for getting to town or the main road to connect with the service car. A generation ago when riding horses and bicycles were plentiful, the older people were wont to describe the long walks, which people took in their own young days. Walking is very pleasant exercise when one is not encumbered with a load, but on a dry dusty road and ■weighed down with parcels, one soon becomes very weary, and when the journey is over, there- is a danger of catching a severe cold through resting in a draught after being overheated. The power shortage has put an end to evening shopping, but the early morning buses enable the country housekeeper to get her business done in the early part of the day. A walk across the paddocks in the early morning or late evening is a most> beneficial change from housework, and the exercise taken during the summer should see our sports girls in good form for next winter.

Among the movements that should establish good relationships between the Dominions and the Homeland, is the Young Helpers* League. Many Home papers have posters showing the good work done by those good people, who organise parties of children from the poorer quarters of the city, and give them holidays at the seaside, or in the country. The present generation of school children know nothing of want or hunger, and a few pennies collected from each family in our schools would mean the saving and helping of many a poor waif in our large cities. The stories of these less fortunate children should bring home to the young people in this favoured land the blessing and benefits that they enjoy, and should serve to make them contented with their lot.

THE COUNTRY GIRL’S CONCERNS.

“ What’s the robbers done to you, my faire Ladye ? ” This singing game is mentioned far back in history. One country girl, who was very proud of her beehives, is now downhearted because her weak colonies of black bees have been robbed by the pure-bred Italian bees from a neighbouring apiary. However, she has sent her boxes and frames to a large bee-farm, and is studying queen raising, so that with a new set of colonies she may be able in the coming Beason to make up for the present loss.

Another girl has had bad luck with her clucking hens. During the last few seasons she has been- very fortunate. This year some of her friends asked as a favour that she would give the use of her broodies to bring out some spfecial strains of valuable eggs. In most cases the hens failed to sit, or left the eggs too soon. But this is one of the things we must expect in farming. ° Some American poultry journals regard the broody hen as something completely out of date, and events often prove that a well-kept and reliable incubator is more to be relied upon than a clucking hen.