The Garden

Timaru Herald, Volume CLV, Issue 22791, 15 January 1944, Page 6

The Garden

Work For The Week Thorough cultivation and frequent hoeing form the keynote of success in growing vegetables. This not only keeps down weeds but forms a mulch on the surface which keeps in the soil moisture. Frequent stirring of the surface is detestable to wire-worms, grass grubs and other pests in the soil. * $ * * Water french and runner beans occasionally to prevent the flowers falling off before setting. Keep the roo-s cool and moist with mulchings of grass cuttings or clean sawdust.

Thin maincrop sowings of beet, carrot swedes, turnips, etc. by removing a few of the unwanted plants at weekly Intervals. See that permanent plants are firm and not subjected to drying out by the hot sun or buffeting by the wind.

Give potatoes and tomatoes an occasional spraying against disease. Use Bordeaux mixture which is obtainable, ready for mixing with water, from most stores..

Stake tomatoes firmly; shake the (lowers gently to assist pollination; remove and burn such of the leaves as may be dying off or are overcrowded. Do not strip the plants. Sow spring cabbage thinly in seed beds and make successional sowings of lettuce and radish in small quantities so that the crops may be kept young, fresh and crisp.

Pollinate marrows and see that they are plentifully supplied with water.

Immediately strawberry layers are sufficiently rooted they should be planted in a well cultivated, sheltered place. Early planting, with due attention to watering, ensures that the plants will become established before the winter.