MANURE FOR VEGETABLES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 243, 14 October 1933, Page 6 (Supplement)

MANURE FOR VEGETABLES.

STIMULANTS FOR EACH VARIETY. The threo ingredients that plants most v nced, in the sense that the store of them in tlio soil is likely to be in shortage, are nitrogen, potash and phosphoric acid. For applying now, and through the summer, the most valuable chemical manures are as follows: —Nitrogenous: Sulphate of ammonia. Potassic: Sulphate of potash. Thosphatic: Superphosphate (to be applied separately or in mixtures). Add to these the familiar substanccs, soot (which supplies nitrogen chiefly), and dried poultry xnanuro (an all-round fertiliser), and you have a stock of kinds of fertilisers to suit each vegetable and all soils. From these it is possible to compound a mixture which will moot tlio demands of most crops. In mixing, however, it is important to avoid bringing together substanccs that "kick" cash other; lime and soot do that. In the following mixture —call it the "general mixture" —the three ingredients agree well together, and they may bo kept well mixed almost indefinitely without loss, providing they aro kept dry: Sulphate of ammonia, one part (by weight), sulphate of potash, one part, and superphosphate, tlireo parts. Mix intimately, and apply at the rate of three ounces to tlio square yard to all the crops in the vegetable garden as follows: — For Roots and Onions—Just when the plants have recovered from thinning. Shallots and Autumn-sown Onions. — September, October. Celery and Ccleriac. —When the plants are six inches high. Greens.—When they are resuming growth after planting out. For Totatocs. —Before earthing up.

The. one application will do for tlio season as far as an all-round mixture is concerned. Afterwards you carry on the good work by applications of tho special manures that the particular crop needs in order to do its very best. When Feeding Does Most Good. The hints given above as to the state of tho crop growth when the manure is given are not c'omplete unless the following points are observed. Thus you must (1) Distribute tho chemicals evenly over tho soil between tho rows, but keep it off the leaves and away from actual contact with tho stems. (2) Apply, if possible, in showery weather. (3) Hoe in afterwards. Wastage is likely to occur if chemicals aro allowed to lie on tho surface —for instance, soluble superphosphates will revert, i.e., become insoluble. Jn addition to tho above substances, thero aro those known as "indirect manures." Lime, for example, is an instanco of an indirect manure — ono that acts by helping other things to work better. Salt is another instance. It is specially useful on light to medium soils. (1) Givo asparagus a doso now, enough to whiten tho soil. Repeat in a month'B time. (2) Givo eeaknlo some now, and another lot at the end of November. (3) Givo beet somo salt (dose as above) about the middle of December. Ono dose will do for the season. Then there aro the liquid manures. About Liquid Manure. If you can get ordinary liquid farmyard manure (drainings from stables and sheds), half-pint of this per two-gallon can is usually strong enough. You may apply this at any time during the season to plants that are in full growth —but not when tlio soil is very dry. Runner and French beans, cauliflowers, leeks, celery, eclcriac, big onions, Globe artichokes and asparagus aro tho first candidates for liquid manure. Liquid cow and soot manure made in the tub — a peck of each to 3(5 gallons of water, is splendid for all tho crops named, as well as for cucumbers, tomatoes, marrows and sweet corn. Never uso it stronger than of a clear (no sediment) light nut-brown colour. Follows now a list of all the commonly-grown vegetables, together with their manurial needs throughout tho season. In each case when G.M. is mentioned it refers to the general mixture given above; the rate of application of poultry manure is a small handful per square yard, and in case of soot, just enough to darken the soil.

Asparagus. —One close of salt now. Sulphate of ammonia, in the middle of December. Fortnightly waterings with liquid manure afterwards until the end of January.

Beans (Dwarf French and Haricot). — Superphosphate (2oz per yard run of row) when plants are four inches high. Then fortnightly waterings with liquid manure. Beans (Runner). —As for dwarf French beans. Or use guano or dried poultry manure with water in. Beet.—G.M. as soon as plants have recovered from thinning. Salt about the middle of December. Spring Cabbages.—Sulphate of ammonia now* (second dope at iox per square yard). Winter Greens. —E.g., kales, broccoli, savoys and sprouts. G.M. after planting. Sulphate of ammonia (Joz per square yard), mid-January, and again iu February. Carrots (Main Crop).—G.M. after thinning. Sulphate of ammonia (-Joz per square yard), end of November if foliage is weak. Carrots (for drawi::g young). —Dried poultry manure or guano (one teaspoonful per foot) when roots show colour. Cauliflowers. —G.M. after planting. Fortnightly waterings with liquid manure till about the middle of January. Celery and C '• rlac. —Dried poultry or guano at (>in high stage. .Repeat dose every three weeks. Chicory.— G.M. after thinning. Superphosphate, 2oz per square yard, in January. Lettuce and Endive.—Sulphate of ammonia, -Joz per square yard, when seedlings are a few inches high. Dried poultry manure or guano when tips of leaves begin to touch in the row. Slimmer Turnips and Kohl Babi.—Dust guano or dried poultry manure in the lows at sowing time. Repeat the do.se after thinning. Onions, Main Crop.—G.M. after thinning. Water liquid manure at the end of November and fortnightly. Only give guano or dried poultry manure once in three weeks. Parsley.—Dried poultry manure or guano, or soot after thinning. Parsnips.—G.M. when first rough leaf appears. Peas.—Superphosphate, 2oz per yard run of row, at lijin to oin high stage. Shallots.—As onions. Spinach (Summer). —Guano, a dessertspoonful per yard run of row, at 4iri high. Turnips (Winter). — Superphosphate (Hoz per yard run of row) at sowingtime or after thinning. Tomatoes.—Sulphate of potash, a teaspoonful per plant when first truss is forming, with a second dose a month later. Twice weekly waterings with liquid manure throughout the season. Vegetable Marrows. —A handful of dried poultry manure, or guano, per plant about the middle of December; others in mid-July and mil-August. ,