VEGETABLE GROWING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19833, 31 December 1927, Page 5 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE GROWING.

THE FLUSH SEASON. Where a succession of sowings have been maintained there should be no lack of • vegetables for the holiday season. Peas and beans have developed rapidly, and a3 previously mentioned, should, as soon a3 ready for use, be kept closely picked. If cropping too freely for the growers' requirements, it is a good time to- show a generous spirit by handing any surplus to a neighbour rather than let them spoil and check the cropping capabilities of the plants. THE TOMATO CROP. Tomatoes are now growing rapidly, and there are few crops in the garden that pay better for close attention to their requirements. All side shoots, and especially the strong shoots that often spring up from the base cf the plants, should be kept removed, or they rob the plants of much of the vitality required for the development of the crop. As soon as a bunch or two of the fruit has set, an occasional application of manure water can be applied with advantage and superphosphate, sulphate of potash, or both may bo used sprinkled along the rows and lightly hoed in, or applied in a liquid form, they will have a stimulating effect, especially if applied before rain or before watering. GENERAL WORK. Although the garden should now bo comparatively free of weeds, frequent cultivation between all growing cro|)S should still be maintained. Ground intended for the planting out of cabbages, cauliflowers and brocalii. and other colworts, should be well worked and manured in readiness for planting as soon as favourable conditions prevail. When planting, as a protection from fly, dip the seedlings in a solution of arsenate of lead. This, for a time at leasts will protect them from these pests. BREAKING UP NEW GROUND. During the dry summer months is the best time for breaking up new land, or improving ground that has become exhausted by successive cropping. Deep working- or trenching is invariably the best method of treating land for cropping. In trenching, some judgment must be exercised, according to the nature of the soil. If the subsoil is of a poor clay nature, it should in no case be brought to the surface, but should be deeply brcken up and manured, but left in the bottom of the trench to be covered with the top spits of the next trench. Once the soil is well broken up to a good depth, deep digging and after cultivation will soon bring the subsoil into a nice friable and fertile Condition. PF-NEFITJ OP DEEP CULTIVATION. One thing is evident, that in soils Miat are deeply svo/'ced, evaporation is promoted, enabling (he plants to better withstand the nry weather, as the roots naturally have a more extended sphere, enabling them to peuetrate deeper in search of food and moisture; soils in such condition become less exhausted by succeeding crops. . The chief purpose in trenching is to deepen the soil by breaking up into the subsoil, thus improving it, as well as bringing part of it at each operation of digging nearer the surface and amalgamating it with tho surface soil. PREPARING FOR EARLY CROPS. For land intended for the planting of early potatoes and other early crops there is no better time for breaking up than during the dry summer months. Broken up at this time tho Eoil becomes tborouchlv pulverised and sweetened and by Occasional working can be easily brought into fine tilth when required for planting. SPRAYING POTATOES. The late crops of potatoes should still be occasionally sprayed, for, although tho dry weather prevailing ha? been less favourable to tho spread of disease than when, humid conditions prevail, preventive measures are always the safest methods to adopt, and as spraying while the plants are in a healthy condition aprfears to bo the only means of protecting tho crops it should in no case be neglected. CONTROLLING INSECT PESTS During tho nsxt few months, stronger measuros should be taken to keep insect pests under control. Spraying to bo effective for codlin moth should bo done at regular intervals from the time the blossoms fall until tho fruit is developed. Spraying with arsenate 13 not only the best for codlin moth, but is fatal to most other fruit and leaf inFor plums, pears, cherries, quince and other trees that aro attacked by the leech and other pests that attack the foliage, it is most effective. The advantage of tho arsenate of lead mixture is that it adheres to tho foliage for several weeks if the weather is fine, while it can bo applied with little _or no risk of injuring the trees, providing reasonable attention is given to ihe directions at what strength to apply. The success that has attended the use of this rna'serial in protecting fruits from tho codlin moth as well as other trees from destructive insects should be an incentive to everyone growing fruit trees to give their trees an occasional spraying. The black aphis that at one time was so troublesome and destructive to tho young, tender shoots of plums, peaches, etc,, now gives little trouble. Its natural enemy, the lady-bird, coecinella IT. punctala, is evidently keeping iti well tinder control^