THE VEGETABLE CARBEN.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 96, 22 August 1918, Page 1

THE VEGETABLE CARBEN.

]; , \v. \:i- in Juimiiii of AiqieuUmv) Aug’• is t may !ia regarded as t! 1 o !.:st inoi:!!i i:i which to pi til! ihe; pumirr voim-tum of rhubarb, as 1 ihe c;pwi::i wiii then ba hrmiking , inf./ i tii. it is also tho b: si muni a ia many places for planting, because growth immediate!;.’ follows. ml ihe soil c;n be kept in good condition to the last moment. Tho new roots Quickly j take possession of the soil, which ■ is bee-mine, warm -r. and a good Ani! cm i)0 as.mrcd. jihuh -.;•!) l'requenllv fails to give satisfaction becae.se it is not properly treated. No stalks should bo t a ken the first season. -VII the plant-energy should be spent in establishing the roots and building-up good crowns for next season. If this plan is followed, other conditions being right, a good crop should be got the second year. The future value of the plantation will largely depend on the extent to which the crop of stalks is taken, and here is where most mistakes occur. The crop for the next season do-I pends on tho kind of crowns that are developed the preceding autumn, and this can be done only by leaving tho stalks tinpulled for a certain period. New stall's grow until late in autumn, fu some places where the summer is very dry the autumn crop may. he better than' tho mid-summer crop, and this tempts inexperienced growers to take it for use. The effect is that the plants start, the next season with weak crowns, the spring crop is very pool", and a considerable amount of growth is necessary to strengthen them before good stalks are made. Rhubarb is of greatest value cnirinf the period to the coming in of summer fruits ; therefore the treatment accorded it should be to secure its best during that period, the early crop being of highest value. To obtain this result no produce should bo taken after January at the latest. The most successful growers of rhubarb—those who make most money by it—cease pulling at the end of December. The winter varieties occupy a diffeient position. They are available for use during most of the year, but should not be pulled much during the summer. They should be left to strengthen the crowns, so that the plants become furnished with strong crowns by autumn and, give good stalks through aittumn, winter, and early spring. Roots may be planted now or seed sown in October. Whichever course is adopted the future procedure should be tp obtain a good strain by selection', saving seed from the best types, which differ greatly, and raising plants from the seed. The best results are obtained by sowing seed where the plants are to grow, thinning to the required distances, about 2ft each way, and never transplanting.

Reverting to the summer varieties, it is useless to expect to get a good plantation at once from seed. The plants are hybrids, and plants raised from seed vary enormously. There may be only a few really good plants in a large bed, and these would have to be selected and propagated before a profitable plantation could be established. The surest way is to begin with crowns of a good strain and propagate from them. Tho variety most favored by market-growers is Myatt’s Linnaeus, or variations, of it. Horton’s Champion is one such, and is a very fine variety. Asparagus: It is now time to put beds in order. If planted in the old way in narrow beds these should have had a covering of manure some time back, tho loose topsoil having been raked off into tho alley-way. Tho , soil may now be returned, and in a week or two will have settled down. A dressing of nitrate of soda, 2oz per square yard, may be given. Nitrate of soda is a powerful fertilizer, and given in the quantity mentioned will also kill slugs and other pests. Salt is also of use for killing weeds if they are troublesome; 4oz. par square yard would ho needed. Salt is not now considered of great value in asparagus-culture, I and it is not regarded as a feri tilizor. If the beds are on the j flat, as now advised, rake off loose straw that may be left from tho

dr.' suing of m u.ur \ tur ' over tno | surf ice shi vim a for:;, d aging - as shallow as possible, and trout-j will) nitrate of soda ns m mtione.l, ; also with suit if desired.