THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Gisborne Times, Volume LXI, Issue 9771, 31 July 1924, Page 3

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

! METHODS OF CULTIVATION. IMPROVEMENT OF CROPS. Improvement in the production of vegetables' was the subject of an address given l by Mr W. G. Morris, Agriculture Supervisor of the Hawke’s Bay district, under the auspices of the, Poverty Bay Horticultural Society. Garden crops, he said, could be divided into eight classes as follows: Leaw crops such as lettuce, cabbage, etc.; pod bearers such as peas and beains.; root crops such a® carrots, parsnips, etc.; tubers such as potatoes, kumeras, etc.; bulbs, such as onions, and leeks; fruits, such as cucumbers and pumpkins; sweet maize; and herbs such as parsley and thyme. 1 Mr Morris then detailed the most successful methods of raising various. ; vegetables, the results of which may : be summarised as follows :—Lettuce (Webb’s wonderful): Should he sown | iir rows; fowl manure is best. Oabj bage: should be raised in bed; can he sewn in April. September and December; can be transplanted in July. Cauliflowers: can be. grown- in the : same manner as cabbages. Spinach should be planted in rows an'd thinned out. Asparagus should be grown in a bed in which plenty of decayed manure and blood and hone manure lias been dug. The two-year-old roots are best. Rhubarb can he grown cither from roots or from seed, but plenty of manure should he dug; into the trench. Celery should he raised in frames, transferred to boxes, and then planted out in a trenc-h six inches deep, which has been filled to a depth of 12 inches with manure. Tho plants should he eight to nine inches apart. Peas can be planted at any time from June to January. They should be soaked in kerosene before planting, so that tlio birds will not get them. Wood ashes- form a useful manure. The pens should he put in at a depth of from two to. three inches and when about four inches high should he hilled up. It is best to use some form of supports with them. Be,ans can be planted from, early • spring to January. They should he planted in double rows, two feet apart and two inches deep. Carrots should be planted in rows 15 to 18 inches apart and sin. deep. They should not be planted in ground freshly manured. Turnips can be sown either in. beds like radishes, or in drills 15 inches apart, and tin. deep. They should later be thinned out to at least six inches apart. Potatoes should be put in drills of from 2ft Gin apart to 3ft apart. The rows should he 4in deep and at least 12in. apart. They should bo dug in with manure and woodashes. When Gin. high the plants should he hilled up and sprayed. Kumar as should be planted out in rows 2)ft apart, with 18in. between the plants. They can be planted in ridges, but should never be left in the ground .after tlio frost starts. Leeks should he sown in July or August, and, when Gin. high, transplanted into drills 12in. apart and fairly deep. They should he earthed up, and necessary liquid manure applied. Tomatoes can be grown either from seed or from plants. When the plants are 5 or 6in. high they should he planted out in rows 3ft- apart and with 2ft between the plants. They should be staked up, and when sufficient hum-,lies of fruit have set should be pinched off. Water or liquid manure is very beneficial. and they should he sprayed with Bordeaux mixture and arsenate of lead every two weeks. At the conclusion of his address, Mr Morris was accorded a hearty vote of thanks.