GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 5 October 1928, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES.

(BY “WAR AT AH.”) CBLEIfIAC. The foliage of this plant is similar to that of celery. It is, however, not grown for the sake of its blanched, stems, but for its bulbous root which resembles a turnip. It is a. very useful winter vegetable and may be used in various ways for food either raw or cooked. It requires no trenches as it is grown on the surface in the same manner as turnip's, but requires rich soil and plenty of moisture. The seeds should be sown in ’drills fifteen inches apart and the seedlings thinned out to a distance of nine inches ‘apart, or they may be sown in a nursery bed and transplanted out nine inches apart as soon as large enough. Sow thinly and only lightly cover the seeds with soil. Keep the plants free from weeds and water thoroughly in dry weather, when the roots are about the size of a large marble give liquid manure one a week. Any side roots and shoots that appear should b c removed as soon as seen. * BORECOLE. This plant, commonly' known as garden or curly kale, is very useful for winter use. It is prefeetly hardy and is also fairly free from attack by caterpillar in the summer. Seeds may be sown in October, November and 'December. Sow in a nursery bed in drills half an inch deep and nine iniehe's apart, and before the seedlings become crowded, thin out or transplant to a distance of six inches apart. Transplant, into permanent quarters in January and February two feet apart each way. They do best in soil free from fresh manure, and made very firm. BROCCOLI. Broccoli arc a hardy variety of cauliflower which come 'into' use in winter and spring. Seeds may be sown in October and November, and the plants j transplanted in January and 'February. Sow in a nursery bed in shallow drills nine inches apart and thin the plants out before they become overcrowded so that they will be sturdy, or transplant them six inches apart. There is a large number of varieties of broccoli which mature at different periods from winter to late spring. 'Good varieties are Adam’s Early, Veit eh’s 'Self-Protecting (early), Winter White Mammoth (main crop), and Wileove’s Bate White. A mixture of different varieties should be obtained and this will give a succession over 11 long period, if only one kind be grown, they are apt to all come in together, and it is not possible to grow a number of separate varieties in a small garden. Broccoli does best on new ground or in soil that was manured the previous season. A very firm soil is necessary and recently dug soil must be made firm by treading or rolling before plant, ing. Place the plants at a minimum distance of two feet apart each way, two feet six inches is better if space can 'be spared. The plants are liable to attack in dry wcathor by both caterpillar and aphides and should be sprayed with kerosene emulsion, or a mixture of Black Leaf 40 and arsenate of lead (one 'teaspoonful of Black Leaf 40 and two of arsenate of lead to each gallon of water) once a week while the pests are about.

SPROUTING BROCCOLI. Tli-i-s is another very useful late winter and spring vegetable, it produces a succession of delicious sprouts at a time when vegetables are scarce. It is quite hardy and does not suffer so -much from attacks of caterpillars as the ordinary broccoli and winter: cabbages. ‘Seeds should be sown in a nursery bed in the same manner advised above for ordinary broccoli and transplanted two feet six inches apart into firm soil free from fresh manure. A few plants‘will keep an ordinary sized family in vegetables for a long period. SAVOY. This 'is a hardy winter variety of cabbage with wrinkled leaves. Sowings can be made from now until December, but it is wiser to sow early, than late s o that they may. become well established before aphides and enterpillars make their appearance. The seeds should be sown in a nursery bad in drills nine inches apart and the plants thinned out or transplanted to six inches apart until large enough to transplant into their permanent quarters. The soil should be fairly rich and it is important to make it very firm or the plants will not make firm compact hearts. if caterpillars and aphides attack them before they “turn in” they must be sprayed as advised above for broccoli, if the centres' of the plants be destroyed the plants will not grow. ,

■ROUTINE WORK. Take cuttings of chrysanthemums. Plant main crop potatoes fifteen inches apart and thirty inches between th e rows. Spray potato tops with 'Bordeaux mixture, using one pound Bordeaux powder to each ten gallons of water to prevent attack of Irish blight. Give four applications at intervals of ten days. Spray apple and pear trees where not already done with red oil 1-20 or lime sulphur 1-10 parts water (winter strength) for scale or wooly-aphis, do not spray after blossom opens. Spray stone fruits with Bordeaux powder ll'b to' 10 gal. water for leafcurl, or bladder plum, do not spray while in blossom, but immediately it has fallen. Plant tomato plants in a sunny sheltered position; protect, with tins or boxes at night or on cold, windy days. Plant cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and onion plants. Sow seeds of hardy annual flowering plants. Sow seeds of half-hardy and tender flowering plants in boxes placed in frames or on. a sunny verandah, or in a sheltered nursery bed outdoors. Sow' when weather 'conditions are favourable asparagus, broad beaus, French beans, runner beans, beet, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, icross, leek, lettuce, mustard, onions, peas, parsley, parsnip, radish, rhubarb, salsify, spinach, and .turnip. Sow under glass Capo gooseberry, melon, pumpkin, squash, tomato, vegetable marrow.