BROAD BEAN CULTURE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20392, 22 October 1929, Page 5

BROAD BEAN CULTURE.

APPEARANCE OF PLANTS. The majority of broad bean crops so far this year present a most pleasing appearance, having made good growth, which lias remained healthy in the majority of cases. The exceptions are those > cases in which growers have failed to keep the plants free from pests. Regular spraying is necessary to maintain tho plants in a blight-free condition. Bordeaux 4-4-40 or lime sulphur, m 80, is administered once every three weeks by a keen grower to keep fungous pests away from the crop. It is most important that tho plants should remain hcalthv now that they are developing their pods, and, as it is recognised as lteing ono of the plant's weakest stages, one should bo extra careful to keep up the applications. A serious attack of fungus at present would ruin tho crop.. Plants making such vigorous growth as tho broad beans appear to be doing are not likely to be left alone by insect pests and winged aphides will soon infest tho plants with a brood of sap-sucking pests if they are left alone. The abundant flow of sap coupled with tho warm weather will'assist the rapid multiplication of tho pests. One must be on the look-out for any appearance of such pests _ and take immediate steps to stop their spread. Iled oil emulsion and black leaf 40 are both suitable for the purposo, and may bo used at a strength of 1 in 20 and a teaspoonful to the gallon respectively. _ Other ffttention, apart from spraying, will be required by the broad beans about the present time, and this will include tying up and liquid manuiing operations. The plants in some cases arc nearly sft. high, while others may bo taller, and obviously these will not be able to stand up in the face of a gale. The most successful method is to have a strong stake at each end of _ the row and at intervals along tfic row if it is a lone: one. The plants should have set pods some time ago and these should by now lie fairly' well developed. To assist the plants in maturing the pods liqiud manure may be used to advantage. Phosphorus is the element of plant food most directly connected with the production of seed, and so the most soluble form of this will be of the greatest assistance. Superphosphate is the mesfc soluble of the phosphatic fertilisers. It should be made into a solution for watering the beans. A strength of foz. per gallon is suitable and an application may be made once a week. One should keep a close watch on the plants to see whether the flowers are setting pods properly, and if not to take steps to remedy the matter Hand-pol-lination must be resorted to if a fair proportion of flowers do not set pods. Th© bumble bees do not yet appear to have commenced taking tho, short cut to the nectar by puncturing the base of tne flowers, but one can never tell when they may commence to do so. Hand pollination by means of a camel-hair brush—-atl ordinary school painting brush will doshould be carried out,_ and although this may be laborious it is better than getting no crop or very little yield. GROWING ONE'S SEED. REPLANTED ROOTS. Mention has been< made in these columns on several occasions of the desirability of growing one's own seed in an endeavour to produce an improved strain. In the early spring one replants selected roots of any of the root crops such as carrots,parsnips and onions, and these commence their second year's growth. After a short while —about tho present timethey begin to develop their flower stalks and it is then that they require a little attention. A stake should be provided to support the tall-growing seed-heads as they are the most valuable nart of these plants, tho roots being useless once they run up to seed. Tho three crops mentioned above are not tho only ones from which the amateur grower may save seed, however, for there are plenty of others, not necessarily root crops; which may bo allowed to seed and which may give rise to an improved strain.. Replanting is not always necessary, either, as some may simply be allowed to grow ou for a second season.