VEGETABLE CULTURE

Hutt News, Volume 19, Issue 11, 15 August 1945, Page 9

VEGETABLE CULTURE

(By H.8.D.)

There is a tendency today to relegate Vegetable production to a minor place in the horticultural world.. This is to be regretted. Just as we place the medical profession on a high plane in the life of the community, we should, by the same reasoning, place vegetable culture on a high plane because it so vitally affects the health of the community. Our duty therefore is to do what the Great Architect meant us to do with fertile soil, that is to provide ourselves with good wholesome food thereby build healthy families and it must follow build a healthy nation It appears to me to be nothing less than criminal to see so many fruit shops doing a thriving trade with vegetables in a district like tnis where the soil is so fertile and unless we can educate the citizens of this valley to the of growing their own vegetables the value of living in a fertile district is lost. As power driven vehicles succeeded the horse, so did vegetable growing decline, and the reason is obvious. In my younger days it was quite common on Saturday afternoons lo see loads of stable manure tipped 011 the side of the road and residents busy wheeling it on to their gardens, and with this source of humus, left their soil good and they had encouraging results. Uut. as the horse declined, so did this source of humus disappear. Some resorted to artificial manure and for a time got fair results until the ground soured with theft* continual use and the results were not worth while. Then lawns took the place of the vegetable plot. Some who were fortunate enough to be able to obtaii. fowl or sheep manure, or managed to keep the ground good by means of green crops, plus some compost, continued to carry on, but, they were very few.

Then the advent of the compost clubs and vegetable culture took a new lease of life. The value of the work of these clubs cannot be overestimated, it is the only possible means by which the cottage gardener can obtain a supply of natural humus for his soil. Let us hope that criticism levelled at them recently will not damp their enthusiasm, they are making a great contribution towards restoring vegetable | culture and the place it deserves in our community. It is fortunate that the compost clubs were in existence before the "Dig for Victory" cam--1 paign was inaugurated for they con tributed much towards its success and the result will be, I feel sure to restore permanently interest •in I the vegetable plot. The foundation of a good garden I is good soil, so let us study the different classes of soil we have in the Valley. • The soil of this Valley is ; divided into four classes. Close alongside the river we find light sandy loam, in some places quite shingly. Then we have medium loam 'which is found in the higher ground running through the centre of the Valley. Then towards the Eastern hills we find a heavy loam and finally in what is known as the Waddington and Rata Road area, we find a heavy peaty soil. These soils require somewhat different treatment. That light sandy soil, on the edge of the river, requires plenty of humus, green crops grown to dig in, want to be sown whenever the ground is idle, compost and manures of all descriptions should be dug in till the soil assumes a dark colour also this soil will benefit by liberal applications of salt. I have seen some excellent gardens in the sandy areas in Petone by the use of salt which has the effect of making the ground hold the moisture,

Those who will occupy the State houses in that area behind the Taita hotel, will have this class of soil and for a while will have to put more into the soil than they take from it, but once they get the soil built up they will find they will get some excellent results, particularly with early crops. The v medium loam which constitutes the largest portion of the Valley's soil is good soil, easily worked and as long as it is kept in good heart with plenty of humus and an occasional application of lime, will give excellent results. The heavy loam is usually found in the lower lying areas and requires good drainage, plenty of lime, and requires to be well worked and is best suited for main and late crops. Then we have that heavy peaty soil on which the large housing programme has been carried out. The tenants occupying these houses in the Waddington area, will have some hard work getting their soil into shape and perhaps some failures, but with good cultivation, the liberal use of lime and compost, will get good results eventually. This ground dug once roughly now, limed and left exposed to the frost will help to sweeten the soil. The beds would be better raised well above the paths and this will help with the draining of the garden.