THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20622, 22 July 1930, Page 15

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

BROAD BEAN CULTURE

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I Broad leans arc grown f.iirlv extensively by amateurs. Successive sowings should bo mado at intervals of three weeks in order to maintain a continuous supply. Rowings may bo made until the end of August, after which it is rather late for them to do any good. The soil should be prepared by digging it deeply in the first placo and afterwards incorporating sonic compost "V stable manure. The latter should Vie used only if it is in a well-rotted state, as otherwise it is liablo to causo the seed to lot when it is decaying itself. In order to provide good drainage on heavy soils, it is advisable to trench tho plot instead of digging it. Tito seed niay bo sown in either ?!r.glo or double rows. .For a singlo row there should bo from 2fl. bin. to 3ft. of space, v.hilo for tho double row, about 3ft. 6in. to -Ift. is required. The seeds should bo sown individually and should be planted about 6iu. apart. Broad beans should be planted about Kin. deep at this time of the year, j L>'onio of the earlier batches broau beans may be in need of some attention. Tho ground between the rows should bo kept lonso by frequent hoeings or forking.?. This treatment will give as much encouragement as anything, provided there is an ample food supply. When tho young beans reach a height of 9in. or so they will probably require pome support. | Protection Against Wind. i The best method of preventing the I beans from being blown about by tho strong winds, so common at this tiino of the year, is to drive in a strong stake at each end of tho row, and others at, intervals of 6ft., if tho row uxceeds this in length. The plants should bo encircled by running a string right along I one side and back the other, gathering it in to each of the ttakes between tho two end oni.s. Although they are grown so often, one frequently hears of the failure of ♦ li«> plants to hour any pods worth .speaking of. This is duo to tho action of tho humble bee. Tho earlier crops should not fail in this way as tho hue does not como out until the warm spring weather sets in. When it does como out, it proves a great nuisance by puncturing the basus of the flowers, instead of entering them to obtain tho nectar. This means that they do not brush the pollen on to the stigma, with the result that the pods do not set. Hand Pollination. The difficulty may be overcome by poli iinaung tho flowers by hand. This j may be a little laborious, but it is I worth while. Even in tho case of the j early crops it is advisable to handj pollinate, as it is not always certain that ihero arc sufficient insects apart from tho humble bees to perform this operation. Tho hand-pollination is carried out by means of a camel-hair brush, by i which the pollen is conveyed from (lower to flower. The broad bean plants will probably require spraying before thoy have grown vory big as they are subject tu the attacks of rust. As soon as the first .-.igns of this are noticed, the plants should bo sprayed with Bordeaux, 4-4-40. I Although it is best to spray before tho disease appears, tho rust its fairly slow I in spreading and it cftn bo kept in check I fairly cnsi.'w i