GARDEN NOTES

Waikato Times, Volume 130, Issue 21653, 13 February 1942, Page 6

GARDEN NOTES

(By “Nikau”)

VEGETABLES AND FRUIT Plant leeks and celery in trenches that have had a good deal of compost or old farmyard manure worked into them. Plant borecole (kale), broccoli, silver beet, lettuce, savoy and other winter caba|ow Early Horn carrot, turnip-rooted beetroot, yellow turnip, swede turnip (almost too late now), silver beet (also Swiss chard and perpetual spinach). Lift shallots and onions and dry them for a week or more in the sun before storing them. . After digging potatoes, let them lie an the sun for several hours to toughen the skins and check disease. Spray tomatoes with Bordeaux (loz. to 1 gal.) every fortnight to check or ward off all fungal diseases, but especially *• potato blight.” This attacks all parts of the plant, turning them black, and m some cases the stem rots before most of the foliage or fruit. . , All diseased fruit should be burnt or else buried over one foot deep. Apples need another spraying v, ' l * h arsenate of lead (loz. to 2 gals.) to kill the last brood of codHn moth grubs for the season. FLOWERS* Plant daffodils (narcissi) and many other kinds of bulbs. , Sow winter-flowering sweet peas, if tnc trench for them has not been prepared, sow the seed in boxes and transplant when the seedlings are about six inches nign. Label gladioli while they arc in flower. Layer carnations and picotcas. ! Save seed of gerbera and sow it m boxes ( almost at once. a.i it lotcs its germinating Dowers in a few* niontlis. Disbud the large-flowered dahlias, and stake all kinds of dahlias. Remove spent seed-heads from roses, dahlias, zinnias and marigolds. Sow in boxes: Iceland poppy. P ol >® ntl ' l i s primrose, pansy, viola, primula and ear n *Sow in the open: Calendula (hardy T'‘arigold). Chciranthus Allioni (Sibenan wait Bowen and biennials and perennials. Plant the first lot of anemones and ranunculi; they both appreciate hvunus in the form of compost or old, rotted manure. ROSES An inquiry has been received eo n “'"’ ing a disease of roses It results in black blotching and then yellowing of the leaves. The trouble is black spot, a fungal disease which appears qj’SJI mid-summer and lasts until the end of the season. Besides being unsightly the.leaves fall, and the buds which should lie dm mant burst prematurely into growth. make matters worse, the soft, shoots and leaves are attacked by mildew lll ßlack*sp^Mmay be controlled thus: Pull off and burn the diseased Jff*JJJd spores form quickly—in a fortnight an the trouble spreads. Spray the plante with Bordeaux or liver of sulphur (poisonous.) in spring. Fortunately the liver of sul phur also controls mildew; it is used at one auarter or one-half of an ounce to one gallon of water. In winter the bushes should be sprayed with bluestone (only loz. to IV* gals.). CAUTION Readers have perhaps found to their | cost that the paintwork of houses and • sheds* is spoilt by all sulphur compounds such as Bordeaux, lime-sulphur, liver of sulDhur, and black leaf 40. The stams can be Removed with peroxide of hydrogen, but this is expensive—and prevention is ChCaP THE AUTUMN SHOW On February 20 the Hamilton Horticultural Society will hold its annual autumn Sow ma&totoe Hall. The officials hop. that the show will be a success, in spite of the benzine restrictions. Those farmers who are allowed one trip a week to town should take it on show day—next Friday. As for town exhibitors and visitors, it is ; hoped that they will exhibit and attend | as people did for generations before this , motor-car age. . I The flower section will be chiefly de- , voted to dahlias and gladioli, but cut ; flowers generally and decorative work will also figure prominently. Then there are vegetable and fruit sections, so that nearly all classes of gardeners will be catered for. The secretary calls exhibitors’ attention to a change in the decorative class reading: Large bowl, small bow!, and vase, to be viewed from the front. This now becomes: Three receptacles or containers viewed from the front, space allowed 10ft. It is hoped that this class will be made a leading feature of the show. Another important change is in the prize money for the class for a collection of six vegetables. The first prize will be one guinea, and the second will be half a guinea. Exhibitors of cut flowers, vegetables and fruit are asked to donate their exhibits to the society, to be sold at 8.45 p.m. in aid of patriotic funds. The profits of the show Will also be given to these funds.