THE HOME GARDEN

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLVIII, Issue 21819, 23 November 1940, Page 12

THE HOME GARDEN

WORK FOR THE WEEK FLOWER GARDEN Hoeing and mulching are of great importance in the cultivation of all plants, particularly during dry weather. Annuals should be thoroughly watered immediately after planting, hoed next day, and afterwards mulched. Seeds of Canterbury bells and sweet williams may be sown any time now to provide plants for putting out in their flowering quarters in the autumn. Brooms should be cut back immediately after flowering, care being taken not to cut into the old wood which will not break into fresh growth. The seed pods should be picked oil azaleas when they finish flowering. Occasional drenchlngs with weak liquid manure should be given to those which are not making satisfactory growth and followed by a generous mulch of well rotted manure. Herbaceous plants should be staked whenever there is danger of damage by winds, tie up sweet peas keeping those required for cutting to one stem. KITCHEN GARDEN Continue to spray apples and pears for codlin moth, and by combining lime sulphur with the arsenate of lead, the one operation will control brown rot, black spot and powdery mildew. Thin out the young growths in bush fruits such as currants and gooseberries and thin the raspberry suckers to about six to each stool. A dressing of blood and bone or super in around bush fruits will repay the trouble at fruiting time. Give about two ounces per square yard. Watering and mulching should occupy much of the kitchen gardener’s time during dry weather. On every occasion give a thorough soaking instead of a mere driblet. Hoeing next morning and afterwards mulching with stockyard manure or lawn mowings will do much to conserve moisture thereby promoting crisp active growth. Earth up potatoes as the tops develop. If the ground is hard it is worth while to fork between the rows breaking up all lumps before earthing up. Note the necessity for covering up to the leaves but not over them. Small sowings of leeks, winter cabbage, savoys and broccoli should be made soon to provide plants for putting out early in the new year, after the early potatoes have been dug. Thin all crops before they become crowded, dust with freshly slaked lime where slugs are troublesome and above all keep the hoe going between the rows. Make periodical sowings of all crops to keep up a succession throughout the summer.