HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

Wairarapa Times-Age, 23 December 1938, Page 3

HINTS FOR THE AMATEUR

FRUIT, FLOWERS AND VEGETABLES WORK FOR THE WEEK VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow Cabbage, Cauliflower, Broccoli and other winter green crops. Celery and Leeks should be planted in well-manured ground. A free use of the hoe is recommended after the heavy rains. Remove all the weeds.from asparagus beds, and give a top-dressing of nitrate of soda to encourage the growth of the crowns. Make a sowing ( of Endive. This is a handy substitute for Lettuce during winter. Make sowing of Carrots, Beetroot and Swedes. Make a sowing of Celeriac. This is a useful vegetable for winter use. Leeks can be planted. It is best to plant a double row in a shallow trench. Sow Sweet Corn. Half a dozen seeds at one time are a sufficient sowing. Make a sowing of Dwarf Beans; also late Peas. Summer lettuces are best sown in drills and thinned out; this saves a lot of watering in transplanting. Dust the onions with sulphur to prevent attacks of mildew. If a cool border is available, sow Radishes for salads. ■ Pinch out the ends of the leading shoots of Marrows and Pumpkins. Clean up all the garden before the holidays; then there will be less to do on your return. FLOWER GARDEN. Sow seeds of Lupins and other perennials. If you are going away for the holidays see that your taller plants are securely staked. Give'borders and flower beds a deep hoeing. Do not apply water just before leaving the garden for the holidays. Reduce the number of stems to three or four on the clumps of herbaceous plants. Plant Zinnias, Salvias, Celosias, Salpiglosses, French Marigolds. Cut spent Rose blooms. Spray plants to control aphis and mildew. Make a sowing of Mignonette; also'lceland Poppies. Keep Sweet Peas closely picked to prevent seeding. Mulch the shallow-rooted plants in herbaceous borders with lawn cuttings. Dahlias will need constant attention to pinching and tying if large blooms are desired. Caterpillars will make an appearance this month, Iso the Dahlias should be sprayed with arsenate of lead. Lawns (should not be mown so closely during drier weather; lift the blades |Of the machine a notch or two. FRUIT GARDEN. Spray Apples and Pears with arsenate of lead to .control codlin moth. Spray Peaches and Nectarines to control brown rot; use colloidal or wettable sulphur. Thin heavy crops of fruit, leaving the fruits in singles. Reduce the Loganberry and Raspberry suckers to five or six. Tie them to supports to prevent breaking. Stop vine laterals, pinching out sub-laterals. I Grafted trees should be looked over, and, where the unions are good, remove the coverings and loosen the ties. Retain sufficient of the new canes of raspberries and loganberries for next season's fruft, removing the others. Give the fruit trees a good mulch of manure or organic matter to retain the moisture.