The Farm Garden.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 1 October 1913, Page 2

The Farm Garden.

Asparagus.—Asparagus usually be* gins to push up during September, and beds should be put in order at once, for the crowns get soft some time before head, and injury may ensue by working among them "too late The old practice regarding very large quantities of manure being given dur* ing winter is now to a large extent abandoned. But it is useless to expect good heads without plenty of manure. Onions.—While it is very bad policy to sow any kind of seed when the soil is not in a fit state to receive it or until continual growing weather can reasonably be expected, it is equally bad to delay when conditions become favourable." This is partieulaily the case with onions. It may be considered an axiom that the earlier a start is made the better are the chances of a good crop. In many places seed will be up already ; in others it will not yet be in the ground. Cabbages and Cauliflowers, are at this season very prone to bolt to seed. This is due mainly to halting growth. A little nitrate of soda usually gives them the fillip they require. The easiest way to apply the nitrate is to crush it into a fine state and mix it with dry wood-ashes. Mix the nitrate very evenly with the ashes, and arrange so that a hanafid of the ashes contains about a teaspoonful of nitrate. A handful thrown round near the stem of each plant wiJl be sufficient. It should be applied during rain. Much of the work appropriate for the past four-weeks period, such as preparing ground for summer crops and sowing certain seeds, may have been deferred till now with perfect pro-perty. Seeds to sow will include Early Shorthorn carrot, lettuce, radish, tomato, leeks, cabbage, cauliflower, turnips, peas, celery, broad beans (if required), parsley.

Celeriac—turnip-rooted celery — is not very generally grown in this country, probably because it is not well known. It is a reallv valuable winter

vegetable, and worth a place in all good gardens. Those who are accustomed to soup, &c, flavoured with celery seed or leaves would find celeriac p. vast improvement. It is also very delectable stewed as a dish. Celeriac is grown in a manner similar to celery up to planting-time.