WORK FOR THE WEEK

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLIII, Issue 20669, 6 March 1937, Page 15 (Supplement)

WORK FOR THE WEEK

FLOWER GARDEri The present is a good time to take cuttings of soft wooded plants such as pentstemons, marguirite daisies, gazanias, arctotis, geraniums, pelargoniums, pansies and violas. Select the tips of young growths about four inches long; remove the lower leaves; cut horizontally just below a joint; insert in sandy soil; place in a verandah or cold frame; keep moderately moist and shaded from strong sunshine. Lachenalias and freesias which have been resting in their flowering , pots or baskets may now be repotted. They like a light rich loam with a little leaf soil and decayed cow manure. Use enough sand to keep the mixture open. Pot moderately firm leaving the tips of the bulbs about half an inch under the surface of the soil. Keep in a ccol place until growth commences. Helleborus or Christmas Roses arc now developing their flowers and will benefit from a few applications of weak liquid manure. VEGETABLE GARDEN Leeks are now ready for earthing up. Those required for exhibition should be fed frequently with liquid manure. It is almost impossible to overfeed this vegetable. Potato crops, when the tops of the plants have died down, may be lifted, sorted and stored. Tubers required for next season’s crop should be selected from the most prolific sets which are free from blight. Dig over all vacant plots, and if not wanted for other crops sow down with mustard or annual lupins for digging in as green manure. Keep the garden .tidy by removing all spent crops, burn all diseased material as there is nothing to be gained from digging it into the soil. The diseases are likely to appear next season unless this is attended to. Watch late sown peas for mildew. z Should it make an appearance spray with colloidal sulphur. Lift and harvest onions, they must be dried thoroughly if they are to keep. It is not too late to plant out winter cabbages.