The Home Garden

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 85, Issue 299, 19 December 1941, Page 3

The Home Garden

WORK FOR THE WEEK The Fruit Garden. Spray with arsenate of lead for codlin moth. Spray stone fruit with wettable, collodial or lime-sulphur for brown rot. Hand fertilise Rock Melons to secure an even crop. Thin heavy cops of Apples, Pears andd Plums. Mulch Rhubarb bed. Cut oft any flower heads that appear. CODLIN MOTH CONTROI THE AMERICAN WAY. A revolutionary spray programme has been developed, which is said to have solved the residue problem, and to be capable of exterminating the codlin moth- bemonstrations have been given at Wenatchee, one ol the principal Pacific coast apple-growing districts, by the entomologist of the Washington State College. The objective was to find an insecticide w4iich would control or eradicate the codlin motin and leave no undesirable residue. Scores of j substances were tried in numerous combinations; finally, concentration : was made on two lormulae. One was a solution of calcium and the j other a zinc solution. The final combination of calcium is dominant, and after three years of exhaustive tests the pronouncement is made that j this is the effective answer to the codlin moth and spray residue problem. T'ne essentials aimed at in the spray combinations were that the spray should be an effective treatment for the pests, stiould stick on the leaves and fruit long enough for tne purpose, should be capable of easy removal, must not burn the fruit, leaves or tree and must not be too expensive. The new spray stands up to all these requirements. Orchards heavily infested with codlin moth were used for the experiments, and the results were checked and rechecked in order to he certain before issuing a recommendation. The experts state that an entirely new pest control mr.hod has been developed. BEE AS POLLINATOR. The honey bee is particularly serviceable as a pollinator. It hiber- : nates during the winter season in the adult form and is active when the ( fruit trees are in blossom, other insects being still in the chrysalis stage, j Some striking demonstrations were carried out at Burnley. Thirty i hives were placed in the orchard, and the bees were kept from two of | the trees, while in bloom, by means o( mosquito netting enclosures- One tree bore one apple, while the othei bore none. The rest of the orchard was laden with fruit. The Vegetable Garden. Earth up potatoes as they become ready. Spraying should also be | done. Plant out Brussels sprouts, broccoli, savoy for autumn and winter | use. Make a sowing of New Zealand spinach. Soak the seed for twelve hours before sowing. Pie, rock and water melons can be sown. Those sown early should be stopped at the sixth leaf. Tomatoes can be planted. A late sowing can be made. Sow dwarf beans for succession. Make a sowing of haricot beans for winter use. CAULIFLOWERS.—These well repay a little extra attention. The j soil should never be allowed to get dust dry, or many of the plants will form heads prematurely, too small for any purpose. If a teaspoonful of sulphate of ammonia is sprinkled near the stem and well watered it will have a marvellous quickening effect upon the formation of the head. Where this is already developing, protect from the bright sun bybreaking one of the outer leaves over it. If this or other means are not taken the curd loses its whiteness. APPLYING MANURES.—For maximum effectiveness. fertilisers should be applied to deciduous fruit trees two to three weeks before bud bursting in spring. Evergreen trees, such as citrus, should receive a spring and a summer dressing—in each case, just prior to the growing period. It is imperative that the fertilisers should be introduced into the actual root zone of tfhe trees, preferably by spreading on the surface and then ploughing under. Another method is to plough a deep furrow on either side of the row of trees and place the manure deeply In the furrow: but a better plan, though not so rapid, is to furrow out as described and then cross furrow in the same way. providing a futrow for the manure right round the tree- It is probably that many of the failures to obtain results are due to lack of proper methods of application. Experiments on these lines are being conducted. DWARF BEANS—The dwarf bean is a most important crop in the small garden. It not only matures quickly in the midst of summer, supplying a fine class of vegetable when there is the possibility if a scarcity If there is a surplus of beans they can be preserved or bottled by the ordinary vacuum process, or in brine, both methods giving a good vegetable for the winter. Including the white seeded sorts or haricot beans as they are called, the pods can he allowed to ripen, the beans threshed out and used in the many popular ways that haricot beans are used. The method of preserving in brine is quite simple. Pick the pods when quite young and tender, trim them ready for the table, and keep them whole, do not slice tfhem. Procure an earthenware jar with a wide mouth, a tub would do. but the hoops must be willow or painted or they rust badly. Put in a layer of salt at the bottom, then a layer of beans, and so on. till the jar is filled. The filling can be done over a few weeks, but the beans must be covered with salt; if left exposed to the air mildew sets in. A disc of wood or a saucer weighted will press and keep down the beans. When the jar is filled tie down to keep out dust. To use them take out required quantity and soak overnight, put on to boil, and as soon as the water boils, pour it off and then add fresh boiling water. The beans will be found to be almost equal to fresh beans. The Flower Garden. A sowing of asters can be made in the open. Plantings of asters and zinnias can be made. Sow Sweet Williams, Canterbury bells and Marguerite earnations. As flowering shrubs go out of flower they should be pruned. Plant dahlias. Those planted early must be staked and tied. Sow wallflowers. These must have planty of lime to do well. Soil should not be too rich. Sow Brompton Stocks for flowering next springPlants such as verbenas, petunias, phlox drummondi should be pegged to the soil. MULCHlNG.—Additional value will result from watering if the ground is mulched. This mulching may consist of a mixture of decaying leaves, rotten manure, and lawn grass mowings. Do not pile the material close round the stems. Sweet peas and dahlias in particular benefit from liberal mulchings. POLYANTHUS.—In most gardens the polyanthus is moved from beds and borders to make room for the summer flowers. Divide the clumps as tlhey are planted, on a south or west border. Work in a little leaf-mould round tfhe roots, and water liberally as soon as they are planted. If a few flower stems remain some seeds usually mature even though the clumps have been divided. It is worth while keeping the white and yellow flowered plants separate from the red shades. In planting groups along the mixed flower borders they make a much more effective and interesting display in the garden. LIFTING BULBS.—As the ioliage of bulbs yellow the bulbs can f.e lifted. It is a mistake to defer this work until the autumn, for tne earlier the bulbs are lifted and replanted the better the results. After lifting let the bulbs lie out long enough to thoroughly dry. then bring them under cover and clean lhem. To leave the bulbs lying about after lifting to dry with the sun and get wet with rain alternately is of no use and spoils tlhem. ERIGON.—This has been well described as the summer Miihaelmas daisy. Speciosus grows about 18in. high, and has mauve flowers with yellow centres . The aurantiacus hybrids are Ift. hig'.t. with white, pink, yellow and orange floewrs. They are raised readily from seed sown now on a border outside, and are perennial. Erigerons are useful for table decoration. The Greenhouse. Attend to watering, shading, ventilation and dampening of benches and paths. Fumigate at regular intervals is the only way to keep a house clear of insect pests. Sow primula, cyclamen, cineraria and herbaceous calceolarias. Shade is necessary. Pot begonias and gloxinias as they require it. Maidenhair and other ferns will benefit from a little liquid sulphate of ammonia once a week.