IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 76, 16 May 1941, Page 8

IN THE GARDEN

SEASONAL NOTES FOR AMATEURS C OLD STORAGE OI ROOT ‘ VEGETABLES 8 One gardener in the North Island has 7 had the following experience with the cold storage of root vegetables:— “My q parsnip crop two years ago was poor t and finished early, so I bought a sugar r bagful at the local mart and put them in j . the freezer. They kept perfectly and u roasted like caramel. That success i tempted me last year to extend the idea a so I put in bags of parsnips, swedes and * field carrots (Sinclair's Champion). All t were most successful: the parsnips as r before and the swedes developed I sweetness and were more tender. I J was not sure how carrots would keep, < so halved the lot. Of those out of the ] freezer, only half could be used, the ( others rotted. Those in the freezer last- ‘ ed in excellent condition till we were able to use the thinnings of the spring - crop; moreover they never developed f the over-strong flavour so many of the •[ garden types develop late in the sea- j VEGETABLES AND SMALL FRUITS [ If not already in, the onion seed t should be sown as soon as possible. 1 “Tree-onions'' can also be sown now < Mom the bulbs. Any late-sown lettuce ] crops will need covering with a frame ' or the frost will soon spoil them. If j they are kept in a frame, however, they . will make good growth, and prove a f welcome addition to winter foodstuffs. Runner beans have practically finish- j ed their work for the season, but do not ‘ take them out, because they will give ] a better crop next season if the soil on each side of the row is given a good dressing of farmyard manure. It may be necessary to open a drain on either side to keep the roots from rotting during the wet, cold weather. J The gooseberry plants should have a , good dressing of manure put round ; them, and this can be lightly forked - into the soil; but be careful not to in- j jure the stem of the plants or they will ; surely die. Rhubarb can be treated in the same ' way, and if the variety is that known ' as winter it will go on growing all through the cold weather. The win- : ter rhubarb can be planted now if the bed has been prepared in advance. ; Summer rhubarb will be dying down now and a dressing of manure put . round it will help the crowns next season. Asparagus beds should have all the tops cut off about three or four incljps ; above the ground and the ground between the plants cleared of all weeds; then a good dressing of farmyard manure can be put on the bed and coveied with soil from the sides, which is better than forking up the soil of the bed which is full of roots. Wood ashes and salt can be mixed and used on the surface. Ashes will be a very important item in gardening work this season and every effort should be made to save all one can get, and when they are saved keep them dry until required for use. There are many plants that require j potash and it not only increases their resistance to disease but builds up , strength. FLOWERS . As soon as the chrysanthemums have | finished their flowers, the plants should be cut down to the ground and suckers allowed to come up all round them. 1 These will make the plants for the . coming season. If plants do not send J up these suckers, lift them up carefully l and put them in a sandy soil and they will soon begin to grow. - If rose beds have not been manured, ! the manure should be put on now and lightly dug into the soil. This will , stop the maure from drying out and ■ will also start it rotting. There is no [ doubt that roses require plenty of humus in the soil, and if this is there other things such as artificials can be j used when the plants are growing to C make up a complete plant food, j Continue to plant out cinerarias in shady parts of the garden. It is not , necessary to work the soil very deeply [ for them, but a little manure worked m will help them. VALUE OF HORTICULTURE “Let anyone who doubts what hor- * ticulture means to the Dominion con- •“ sider, first, the vast quantities of fruit and vegetables (including potatoes) that ' are produced for consumption by those r who raise them, or by their friends. without coming upon the market at all. 3 Then let him remember the enormous l output of pip, stone, bc-rry, and citrus 5 fruits from commercial orchards; of vegetables of all kinds from market t gardens; of grapes and tomatoes from > glass-houses; of grapes and wine from 5 vineyards and cellars; of nursery pro- : duce of all kinds, including shrubs and ■ trees; of vegetable and flower seeds; of jams, pickles, sauces, and canned or bottled fruits and vegetables; of florists’ flowers, foliage, berries and potplants; and of other horticultural lines I may have inadvertently omitted to mention. Let him also bear in mind I the earnings of those employed in all i these kinds of production; in inspec--5 tion, control, and research by govern- . ment departments; and in fruiterers’, _ nurserymen’s, seedmen’s, and florists’ [• shops. Further, let him not overlook 3 the employment of capital and labour f by merchants, sawmillers, and others, 5 of whose business no mean part sometimes consist in supplying horticultur--3 ists with manures, chemicals, imples ments, tools, package.:, and other rei quirements of their industry. Finally, . let him remember the extensive use s that horticulture makes of transport byroad, rail and sea, and the hundred and 7 one other ways in which it helps to f keep the national pot boiling. And if all these practical considerations are i not enough to convince cur sceptical friend, surely a few moments’ reflection - upon the aesth'etic and recreational value of horticulture will complete his conversion.” (Mr F. S. Pope, President of the Royal New Zealand Institute of Horticulture.)