ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20556, 6 May 1930, Page 3

ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

GENERAL OPERATIONS, One. matter which should be attenrKirl to without delay is the lifting of the kumnras which have been left in tho ground to enable them to swell out as » result of the autumn rains. By this time the tubers should have filled out sufiicicntly to be of a useful she, but to leave them in the ground for much longer will mean that their quality may be affected, This is due to the. fact that the tubers arc liable to start into growth and produce shoots. As with potatoes, sprouting spoils the flavour of the kumaras, and so one should not run the risk of this.

Furthermore, if the soil becomes excessively wet at present'tho tubers may become black in the centres as a result. This also affects the flavour. It will bo advisable to lift- all remaining kumara crops without delay. Fairly extensive rains may bo .expected at this time of tho year and the risk is becoming greater

as time goes on. The kumaras should be dried and stored in the boxes or other containers. They should be covered with fine, dry soil and kept covered with boards so that the rats cannot get at them. Very lar.je receptacles are not tho best as tho last of tho produce will not bo used for a considerable time and anything may be happening to it in the meantime. With smaller containers the tubers may he inspected at any time, and this should - be done periodically. The autumn crop of potatoes should be lifted as soon as the tops die, and after the produce has been dried it should bo stored in the usual manner. The • same remarks made with regard to tho kumara crop are applicable to the potato crop also. These consist of the warning in connection with allowing the crop to remain in the ground too long. After they have matured potatoes are particularly liable to commence sprouting if the soil is moist.

The preparation of the garden for the winter season is one of, the most important things to be attended, to at present. The plots that'are not carrying crops at present are the most easily- dealt with. These may be left to lie fallow after 'being dug over, or they may be sown down with some green manure crop. When undecided as to which will b.a the best treatment, the gardener should consider the state of the soil as far as the food supply is concerned. If it is rather played out the ground will bo best sown with a green crop, this to be dug in at the beginning'of spring to enrich the soil. For this purpose there arc several crops that ar3 suitable. Lupins, if not allowed to grow too tall, are undoubtedly one of the best manurial crops as they are leguminous and "have the root nodules common to the members of the legume family.

Algerian oats on their own or with vetches mixed in, are also very good for green cropping. .Barley i'fc another suitable crop for the purpose, while for a quick-growing one there, is nothing to beat mustard. This last crop is also useful in driving eel—and wire—worms out of the soil. If the plot is being left fallow it should be dug and left in as rough a condition as possible. The rougher the soil the less will it be compacted by tho pounding of tho heavy rains.

The ground that is occupied by the crops cannot be dealt with so easily, but much can be done toward helping the plants to weather the winter better, lne fork is the most useful tool in this part, of the operations. The soil between tliii rows of crops should be loosened up as much as possible, and the fork should be used to its full depth. In this case, also, the soil should be left in as broken a state as possible. All crops that are likely to reo»ire support should be given' such as is necessary. Boisterous weather during the winter is not infrequent by. ar.v means, and when the plants are weighed down with moisture tljev are easily damaged. There are certain crops _ that cannot be staged, but which require a little support', nevertheless, and earthing up isf the most feasible method of providing them with the requisite support. The majority of the cabbage family come within this group, and v when the tops of the plants are fairly well advanced they are inclined to be top-heavy. After being pulled out or hoed out* all weeds should be removed from the garden at this time of the year when the soil is so moist. This is necessary to prevent their taking root again, which the majority would do. They should be placed on the compost heap, if suitable for this purpose, or otherwise they should be destroyed. ■ ' The blanching of celery and leeks should bo continued as the plauts advance in growth. The other crops requiring to be bleached should bo treated also in the manner mentioned in these columns recently. When any earthing up ■:s being "done one should remember. that the soil should not be drawn up to the plants while it is in a wet condition, and, furthermore, that it should be pievented from getting into the centre of the plants, this being achieved by wrapping paper round each one.