THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19720, 20 August 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

POTATOES AND PEAS. Tho slight improvement in the weather at the time of writing, if continued for a few days, would soon allow of operations being resumed. At this season a few days soon dries tho soil sufficiently to allow of 'working, especially if tho ground has been previously roughly turned over. From this timo onward, in any case, greater vigilance will bo necessary, and no opportunity should be lost in placing the soil in as satisfactory a condition as possible for sowing and planting. In preparing the ground for the raising and growing of crops, there is no part of the garden that requires more attention in manuring and cultivation than the vegetable garden. Many vegetable crops are hungary feeders, and in small gardens especially, where crop after crop of the same variety is often sown in the same soil, the use of some organic manure is ■essential. Well decomposed stable manure is naturally the best for this purpose, but failing this, any partly decayed vegetable matter, dug in well, return to the soil much of the fertilising properties absorbed by tho previous crop. With this and the judicious use of artificial fertilisers, when the plants are growing, healthy development can bo maintained. With the exception of hardy autmnnsown vegetables, such as carrots, parsnips, turnip, beet, silver beet, spinach, broad beans, leeks, and members of the cabbage family, later-sown crops have had little chance to succeed. Most of these are essentially useful winter vegetables, and are a good stand-by until. spring crops come in. Many of the latter, however, are likely to be scarce, and later than usual in maturing, and for this reason every effort should be made to stock the garden with every variety of seasonable crop. The success in raising crops depends largely upon the condition of the soil at the time of sowing. The soil should be sufficiently dry and friable, so that the drills can bo drawn, and the seeds covered without the soil becoming in anyway puddled. Early potatoes that have survived the weather should be kept well earthed up as they advance in growth. Early potatoes succeed best when lightly covered. At most they should not be placed more than three inches below the surface, as they need all the warmth obtainable. At this depth the tubers are naturally formed near the surface, and if not kept earthed up as the growth proceeds, are liable to become exposed and green. The soil should be finely broken up and drawn up to tho stems with a draw hoe. At this time an application, of artificial manure can be applied with advantage. In applying the manure, it should be sprinkled around each plant, or along the sides of the rows before the soil is drawn up to the plants. Another planting should be made as soon as the soil can be placed in a satisfactory condition, but even for present planting, the most suitable soil and situation should be selected. Peas are the most appreciated of early vegetables. They succeed best in ground that has been well manured some time previous to sowing. At the timo of sowing, however, a sprinkling of blood and bone manure and wood ashes scattered along the drills induces more rapid, vigorous growth. To keep up a succession, a- sowing should be made about every three weeks, or as soon as the previous sowing is well above ground. Success in raising seedlings depends largely upon the condition of the soil at the time of sowing, as well as upon tho nature of the seed sown. Before sowing the surface soil should be finely broken up, and if sown in drills, a lino should be used, and the drills drawn at an even depth, and intervals. Cover the seed with as fine a soil as possible. As soon as the weather permits, every portion of the ground between growing crops should be lightly dug over. Growth is naturally backward and should be given all the assistance possible. FRUIT AND VEGETABLES. The consumption of fruit and vegetables in quantity is tho most important factor in tho maintenance of blood neutrality, and tho same diet not only supplies the necessary vitamines, roughage and mineral salts, but it is in many cases the only source of these vital elements. A diet poor in fruits and vegetables is bound inevitably to be deficient in one or more, and probably all,, of tho factors that have been discussed, and without which health cannot be maintained. Tho importance of increasing their supply and consumption, therefore, cannot be stressed too emphatically. Iho increased home production of fruit and vegetables is not only a desirable, but is an° essential and long-overdue reform. of allotments and small holdings would not only increase tho potenial food wealth of tho country, but at the same time by persuading larger numbers of the population to go into the open air and by providing more work and reducing the price of fresh fruit and vegetables, it would help to improve the health of the nation, to yeduce unemployment, and to provide a sound physiological diet that is economically within the reach of all As would be expected, all fruit and vegetables are not equally valuable. There are some that can bo recommended as good sources of several of the ' desirable factors. Others are valuable as a source of one only Green cabbage and spinach—the latter, at any rate is easily grown and ought to be available throughout tho major portion of the year—are excellent sources of all three vitamines Carrots also appear high up in the list, and the value of the tomato is so high that it deserves a separate article adequately to bring out all its good properties The suggestion that tho tomato' can cause cancer is a very widespread, but totally erronious one, and the prejudice that exists against the tomato because of this mistaken belief ought to bo fought strenuously. All three vitamins are present in quantity, and tomato juice, even that of some kinds of canned tomatoes, is an excellent vitamin food for children when oranges and other fresh fruit and vegetables can be obtained only with difficulty.