VEGETABLE GROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 22 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE GROWING.

VALUE OF CULTIVATION,

Owing ,to the heavy showers and wet state of . the soil, little cap be done in the way of hoeing and cleaning until m or . favourable conditions prevail. As Soon us the ground is sufficiently dry to however, without any risk of puddling the soil between, all growing crops should be again loosened up, either bv beep hut ing or light digging. Cultivation at all times greatly assists growth, but is even more necessary during the wet season when heavy rains batter the soil, so that a hard surface is formed. At this time too, weeds -are- particularly troublesome and ! grow _so rapidly that small plants become quickly covered and their growth checked, unless kept under by frequent hoeing or digging. By this means, too slugs are more easily kept under control' as much of their hiding ground i s removed, and the sprinkling of lime or other • remedies are mora effectively applied. , J p

GREEN MANURING. When the ground is continuously cropped, as is often the case in small there is generally an absence of sufficient humus in the soil to ensure healthy * growth, _ unless of course, good stable manure is occasionally applied When this is not. practicable the ground required for immediate use should be sown down m oats, vetches or other green crops, so that it can later be dug infanS so return to the soil much of material growth re<3Uiro t0 insuro Wealthy " LAYING OUT NEW GARDENS. In £,Fi aD ? ing °? of new gardens a plot should always be sec aside for the growing of vegetables, salads, herbs, etc! it is surprising the amount of vegetables that can be grown in a comparatively small plot, providing reasonable attention is given to the time of sowing, planting, etc. The chief advantage, however, is that once the garden is furnished with crops, thi-v are close hand when required, while their freshness is _ assured. In preparing a vegetable plot, the most important thine is to place the soil in the best possible condition to ensure success. This in every instance is essential, as the better condition the soil is in, the greater will be the success of the crops sown or planted. The land should be broken up as deeply as the soil will permit. . . . . TEE DEPTH TO CULTIVATE. .' In light land having a good free subsoil, two feet is a good depth, placing .'layers of manure as the work proceeds. 1 If the land is of a stiff nature double digging or what is termed bastard trenching, is the best plan to adopt. In bastard 'trenching, the surface soil of the first trench is thrown out, the subsoil being well broken up and manured, the trench then being filled^with the surface soil of the next trench, and so on until the whole-is completed) a further dressing of manure being applied to. the surface and forked in when the ■ trenching is finished. ' By trenching and deeply working the soil at the start; there will be no difficulty in turning the soil up to a good depth each time the ground is dug over for the sowing or planting of future crops. Deep work and soil encourage the roots to penetrate deep, and: they are not so easily affected in dry weather.> . ' • ; PRUIT i AND VEGETABLES. If it ;is .'intended to = plant fruit trees, a separate plot should be set aside for this purpose. I When - fruit trees and vegetables are grown in the same ground the trees in a lew years .take almost entire-posses-sion and not only extract most of the nourishment j applied to the soil, but render , the. ground i too shaded to grow vegetables; successfully. :, »- -i The; planting of potato onions may now be proceeded with. These are a profitable crop ;to plant, as they rome in ready for we much earlier than other varieties, and being of easy cultivation may be grown in any t reasonably good garden soil. • They should be planted in rows 20 inches to 2 feet apart, and the sets placed from 10 to 12 inches apart in the rows. Shallots too, are always useful for an early crop. These require to be planted in rows about 12 to 15 inches apart, • the bulbs being' arranged from 8 to 9 inches apart in the rows press* ing the/bulbs in. the • soil until thev are about; three ; parts buried. Both".of the above succeed best 'in soil that has been deeply worked and well manured. '