MANURING VEGETABLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21296, 24 September 1932, Page 19

MANURING VEGETABLES

REQUIREMENTS OF BEANS In the case of broad beans, if the land received a dressing of farmyard manure for the previous crop, it should not need any further dressing of this kind. Too much farmyard manure has a- definite tendency to cause the crop to make too much leaf growth. According to the Fertiliser Journal (London) the beans will be helped considerably if the land is given a dressing of basic slag during the autumn or winter at the rate of 3 or 4qr. per quarter-acre, or loz. to 2oz. per square yard. In addition, a dressing of kainit at the rate of 3qr. per quarteracre or loz. per square yard should also be used at the same time. The nature of the soil must, of course, be taken into consideration when deciding upon the method of feeding to be adopted. Where the soil is rich in organic matter,, a dressing of lime will prove useful. This should be applied during the autumn.

With French beans, appropriate feeding will always give a good return. The most suitable fertilisers are superphosphate and sulphate of potash, applied in the case of the former at the rate of loz. for each yard length of row, and in the case of the latter at half this rate. These should be applied before sowing. On certain soils. and in certain seasons it may be found that* the plants do not appear to be making sufficiently strong growth to produce first-class crops. Should this be the case, it may be advisable to supplement the feeding already given with a dressing of sulphate of ammonia at the rate of ioz. for every yard of row, watered in, which will very quickly make a decided iirtprovement in the crop. If preferred, nitrate of soda may be used at the same rate and in the same way. Runner beans, again, should be freely fed if they are to give the best results. This crop always does best when it follows one for which farmyard manure has been freely used. If this is the Case, a dressing of ljcwt. of ground lime, 3qr. superphosphate, and lqr. sulphate of potash to each quarter of an acre will be neded. These fertilisers should be worked into the soil some time before the seed is sown. Tho effect of a shortage of plant food upon the runner-bean crop is that the crop will fail earlier than it should: On light soils applications of liquid manure from time to time will prolong the cropping period ,of the beans. If liquid manure is made in the ordinary way, a great improvement in its usefulness will be effected by the addition of £lb. superphosphate to every eight gallons of the liquid. Liquid manure may easily be used at such a strength that it will be harmful, and care should be taken to dilute it fairly freely. A useful, stimulating liquid manure may be made by dissolving ilb. phosphate of potash and sib. saltpetre in every eight gallons of water.