POOR OUTLOOK

Evening Post, Volume CXXXVI, Issue 86, 8 October 1943, Page 3

POOR OUTLOOK

VEGETABLE POSITION

WEATHER AFFECTS PLANTING

Long continued wet and unfavourable weather, general throughout the Dominion except for a few fortunate localities, has given more weight to all I arguments that people should do their best to produce their own vegetables. The Wellington area has been particularly unfortunate in weather, and all gardens, large and small, are a month to six weeks 'behind normal timetable. Unless they help themselves, Wellington people may easily find themselves seriously short of vegetables in the autumn and winter, for the good fortune of a few other localities in better weather and crops will not fill Wellington markets and shops as would be so under normal transport conditions. * j Seeds of all standards sorts are' available freely and this year there are plenty of seed potatoes. Fertilisers, though in limited supply, are still available to home gardeners and should be used to make sure of crops. Today a "Post" reporter was given a general survey of the position ahead by a practical and well-experienced authority. / "Potatoes," he said, "are a crop of which it is impossible for us to produce too many. As an indication of this, the area planted in potatoes m New Zealand in 1941 was 15,900 acres. In 1942, as a result of' special effort, the area was increased to 21',700 acres, and this year we need to grow 33,000 acres—-50 per cent, more than last year, if we can do it—to meet the anticipated civilian and military requirements here and in the Pacific and overseas. Home gardeners can therefore get ahead and plant potatoes with confidence that they will all be

' needed to relieve the pressure on commercially grown supplies. As well as helping themselves they will be helping the whole country's war work. "We are going to need a tremendous increase in the oriion crop. The. average acreage down in onions has been 900 to 1000; this year we ought to grow to meet commitments, 2300 acres. And that is going to _be the toughest sort of going. Civilians will have to grow their own, under rather difficult weather conditions this year. They have to face the fact that they must either help themselves or, in all likelihood, go. without. v WINTER VEGETABLES. "With regard to root crops, carrots, parsnips, red beet, turnips, swedes, and leeks, the increase in demand is much the same, though the percentages vary. The important thing to remember about root vegetables is that they keep well in the ground for long periods and must be the mainstay from all gardens during the winter months. There is not much possibility of over-production of root vegetables, however much home gardeners put in." A certain amount of waste in green i vegetables in the" fastj-growing months is likely, the reporter was told, but the effort was not to be judged on that. "Twenty-five lettuces, cabbages, or cauliflowers which 'bolt' altogether in hot weather will be a minor home gardener's tragedy alongside failure to get in 25 cabbages of the later sorts, which will stand through the late autumn for winter use. Other greens that should be planted for winter use are Brussels sprouts, silver beet, and leeks. Lettuces will stand well, too, in cold weather, TOMATOES MOST VALUABLE. "Tomatoes are a vegetable—or a fruit, as you like it—which should be grown in every home garden," said the authority. They cannot be overproduced. Large quantities will have to be produced by commercial growers for canning and pulping for the Forces, and it is up to home gardeners to look after themselves. To secure the best results tomatoes should be planted in the Wellington and Hutt areas not later than the end of this month. "This is not a scare statement to bullyrag people into digging gardens. It is a plain statement that Vegetables are going to be short next summer, autumn, and winter unless people take gardening seriously. The Government has added 6300 acres to the land down in vegetable gardens, but the demands made on this country are greater than ever before. If we get down to it we can do it." DEMONSTRATION AT GARDENS. Tomorrow a comprehensive demonstration of gardening methods will be given at the Botanical Gardens, commencing soon after 2 p.m. There will be several plots and demonstrators, all | experienced and expert gardeners. Arrangements \have, been made for loud speakers, so that everyone will know what is what. Dr. Guy Chapman, chairman of the?Auckland Dig for Vic- ] tory Committee, will give a talk during the afternoon on compost work as a useful addition to the home garden.