KITCHEN GARDEN.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXII, Issue 52, 2 March 1901, Page 3 (Supplement)

KITCHEN GARDEN.

The heavy rain which we received last week arrived just in time to keep everything in an active state of growth. As the season is getting pretty well advanced there should now be no fear of a. drought, the soil now being moistened to a great depth, and even now if a few dry days come we will every night: receive heavy dews, which will keep things moving till we receive the usual autumn rains. Potatoes should now be lifted, for if we receive any heavy rains, and with the heat now in the soil, they will be certain to begin a second growth. Celery: Prepare another trench for planting about the middle of the month. Late planted crops should now be growing strongly. Such should be earthed up as they advance in growth. French and the running varieties of beans, fork between the rows, and earth up before they grow too large. It is hardly worth while now to make further sowings of the above, as I am afraid the cold winter w p ather will set in before the pods would be ready for use. Plants which are now carrying fruit should have all fit for use picked off them from time to time, so

as to allow the later pods to come on. Where the beans are allowed to ripen the plants soon get exhausted. Pumpkins, pio-melons. cucumbers, marrows, etc: Cut out superfluous shoots and occasionally give a little liquid manure. Rock melons: Keep these as dry as possible, and expose the fruit to the action of the sun's rays. Tomatoes have done well this season, consequent on the moist weather. Cut out superfluous shoots and tie up fruiting ones to their supports. Occasionally give liquid manure. Rhubarb: This has also done well. Where there are any signs of the plants showing flower stalks, cut them out at once, as they would simply rob the plants. I'se liquid manure frequently, so as to produce a soft succulent stalk. Cabbage and cauliflower can now be planted extensively so as to produce winter and

spring crops. If dry weather sets in. watering should be resorted to. A small patch of seed should be sown so as to get plants for later planting. Make another sowing of carrots and turnips. Strawberries: Tf the new piece of ground for the strawberry patch has not as yet been prepared, it should be done at once, so as to get it into good condition for planting towards the end of this or the beginning of next month. There will be no difficulty about plenty of good i miners this season, as the moist weather has caused them to root by the hundred. Continue manuring, digging, and trenching of all vacant pieces of ground. Where possible the soil should be trenched two spits deep, and.all the refuse debris of vegetable crops which will rot easily should be buried in the trenches. Weeds are getting very troublesome, and they must be taken in hand with vigour so as to keep them from seeding.