RAISING FLOWER SEEDLINGS.

Waipawa Mail, Volume LXVIII, Issue 123, 17 July 1940, Page 4

RAISING FLOWER SEEDLINGS.

In very few instances can seedlings of any kind be raised in the open ground at this season of the year, but the.raising of some in boxes may be worth considering. Seedlings raised in boxes, even without cover, may be placed in warm, sheltered spots, and when necessary moved under cover. It is undoubtedly a distinct advantage to have seedlings ready to plant out early, but it is doubtful whether it pays to bother about raising one’s own where only a few are required. Well-grown seedlings of practically all hardy plants may be purchased at a nominal price and this saves all the worry of raising one’s own. Seed boxes should be made quite shallow —2in. in sufficient—and the soil should be good fibrous loam broken up fine and made

smooth and fairly firm. It is a distinct advantage if the soil can be sterilised by baking as this destroys insect pests and weed seeds. Any weed seeds will germinate quicker than the seeds sown, and it is most annoying to have the precious seedlings smothered out by weeds. Most flower seeds require very little covering, especially at this season while the atmosphere is cool and moist. Covering the seed too deeply is apt to cause them to rot. The soil in the seed boxes should be just moist—not wet—so that when a handful is squeezed it will fall apart. In in this condition when the seed is sown no further watering should be necessary till after the seed has germinated, but the surface must not be allowed to get bone dry. The seedlings should be pricked off into other boxes while quite small as if they become crowded they grow weak and spindly.

OVERHAUL OF TOOLS. Another work which should be attended to at this time of the year is the overhaul of tools, etc. This is a wet-weather job. It is most annoying to be obliged to suspend important work later on to repair some tool.

In some instances handles require renewing, while all edged tools should be thoroughly cleaned and sharpened. Work can be done much better and with considerably less labor if the tools are sharp and clean. Anyone who has attempted to dig with a blunt, rusty spade will realise the truth of this. The same applies equally to the push hoe. Wheelbarrows are all the better for a coat of paint each year, and some oil on the wheel axles.

Garden hoses very soon perish if allowed to lie about the ground in all weathers. They should be carefully rolled up and laid flat on the floor of a shed. If hung’ up they get out of shape. Hoses often require repair, and by using the brass cylinders sold for the purpose any amateur can repair his own hose without trouble.

Lawn mowers require a thorough overhaul before the spring cutting commences.

The machine should be taken to pieces and every part be thoroughly cleaned and oiled.

In most cases where sharpening is necessary it is wiser to get the work done by an expert. In no case should the blades be touched with a file. This is most important as it is impossible to sharpen them so that the revolving blades touch the bottom plate uniformly.

POTATO GROWING. In small gardens it is not always possible to have new ground for each season’s planting. However, good crops may be grown in the same ground year after year. Those who are so placed should endeavor to supply humus to the soil by the broadcasting of mustard, rape, peas and vetches after potatoes have been lifted, and about May or June dig the growth under and let the ground fallow until ready for planting about August. A good dressing of lime or coarse salt during this period will greatly sweeten the soil, and at the same time kill many of the increasing varieties of grubs, which prey so heavily upon all plant life and are so particularly destructive to potatoes. Planting must depend to a great extent upon the season. Usually under fair conditions it is possible to plant about the middle of June. It has now become a recognised fact that to ensure a good crop of tubers it is absolutely necessary to have the seed nicely sprouted before committing it to the ground. The advantages are many and apparent. The seed shoot or hauhn in this way becomes more robust, and therefore must have a greater chance of resisting any disease. Weak or thread-like sprouts are at once detected and destroyed, thus ensuring a more uniform crop. The tubers can be cut (if necessary) to better advantage and, if circumstances compel you, you can plant several' weeks late and still have your plants up as quickly. The method of boxing and sprouting seed is advocated strongly by the Department of Agriculture everywhere and is adopted over many large potato-growing areas.