VEGETABLE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19418, 28 August 1926, Page 4 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE GARDEN.

EARLY CROPPING. Most varieties of earlv-sown crops that have received anything like reasonable treatment are now making good gsowth. Early-planted potatoes, especially those planted In a warm, suitable position, are well advanced in growth, and need frequent attention in stirring the soil and earthing-up of the plants as they advance m growth. Earthing-up the pLnts, though at all times essential in potato culture Is even more necessary with the earliest crops, as greater success is attained when the sets ui e piaovu uemtsi u. t , a u; ~«.e than those planted tor later crops, lienco the necessity tor timely and careiul ing. The sowing and planting of ail seasonable crops should be proceeded with at every favourable opportunity. Work at this season genomic comes in whii a rush, and at the time when many other matters require attention, particularly where a display of flowers has to be kept up, the requirements of the vegetuoio garden are apt to be neglected. With the exception of dwarf and runner beans almost every variety of vegetable can be sown and planted. Seeds sown at this time, particularly if the soil has been well prepared, und the seed are good, will result in more rapid germin.tion and healthy growth. The chief difficulty is not so much in raising the seedlings as in saving the plants after they appear above the ground, as both slugs and birds are particularly troublesome at this time. For the former, the free use of lime and keep ing the soil frequently stirred will do much to protect the young plants from slugs. As a protection from birds, however, there are few more effective remedies than Strands of black cotton stretched along each side of the rows, the cotton being raised three or four inches abovo the soil. Timely attention must be given to trimming out earlier sown crops, allowing, in every case, sufficient spaco for tho plants to fully develop. The best time to thin is as soon as the young seedlings show two or three of their rough leaves. At this time the young plants have few, if any, fibrous roots, and are easily removed without disturbing tho roots of the plants left lor tho crop. Young plants of beet, especially of the turnip-rooted variety, if carefully lifted and transplanted at the time of thinning will take readily and grow into fine, useful roots. With such crops as the shorthorn carrot, toosevere trimming is not advisable, as the plants soon attain to a usofu! size and can bo further trimmed as required for use.

Further sowings should bo made of peas, broad beans, turnips, carrots, spinach, onions, beet, lettuce, silver beet, radish, mustard cress, and also a small sowing of cabbage for future planting. French and runner beans are delicate subjects, and rarely succeed well until there is more warmth in tho soil,' so thut sowings of these are better deferred until next month, and oven then a warm situation in wellprepared soill should be selected. From this time onward there should be little difficulty, by judicious selection of varieties ,and by succossional sowing and planting in well-prepared soil, in keeping the garden well furnished with useful crops. Onions are in request at nil seasons of the year, either in the green state tor use in salad or when matured. Tho transplanting of autumn-sown onions should be proceeded with. These transplant readily and invariably produce better bulbs than when allowed to grow when sown. Before planting, shorten back any straggling roots and tops, and in every case avoid deep planting, as tho plants invariably form bettor bulbs when shallow planted, and the soil mndo» firm around tho plants Jit the surface. Tho present is a suitable time to sow onions required for pickling. These can be sown either broadcast m beds or in wide, shallow drills. The advantage of drills, however, is that weeding and cleaning is mora easily performed! For pickling purposes the silver skin is the best and can bo sown and allowed t6 grow thickly. Rhubarb beds should bo dug or forked over, administering; at the same timo a thorough dressing of manure. The utility ..of taking up tho roots and exposing them during tho winter is a matter upon which opinions differ, many favoui'ing tho system, while others maintain ihai the roots should- not bo disturbed. It in generally conceded, however, by most growers, that after threo years at most, the beds are better to be renewed by being transplanted with fresh, healthy young roots. These may bo obtained by dividing tho old roots, leaving a single crown to each pieco, or by obtaining strong seedling plants. With some varieties, dividing tho roots is tho only means of renewal as they rarely produce seed. With such variety as Myalts Victoria, which is one of the most popular and most largelygrown, strong seedling plants are easily procurable from any nurseryman, as well ns the wintfir variety. But, whatever the variety, to obtain the most satisfactory results, tho ground requires to be deeply trenched and to lie well enriched with manure. In planting, the rows should bo arranged 3ft. apart, and the plants two feet apirt in the rows. Established beds will bo benefited by being given a liberal sprinkling of superphosphate or sulphato of iron.