HINTS FOR AMATEURS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21758, 24 March 1934, Page 8 (Supplement)

HINTS FOR AMATEURS

OVERCOMING HANDICAPS Amateur gardeners cannot always choose ideal conditions for their gardens, and when the only spot available is a patch of shallow soil which cannot bo deeply trenched, they must gr-jw those kinds and varieties that will succeed best under those conditions. Even shallow and gravelly soil should be as deeply dug and carefully prepared as it is possible to do; decaying leaves and any vegetable matter can be dug in or saved in a compost heap for applying as a mulch in dry weather. Such use will be even more beneficial than burying the material. Of special importance will bo the choice of kinds and varieties of vegetables to be grown, for one must uolect those that will best suit their particular soils. As an example, do not depend on the long carrots when the stump-rooted varieties will develop their edible portion nearer the surface, and thus yield better crops. With beetroot, for instance, it is useless to grow the longrooted varieties, but others are available which are a bit deeper in the root than the ordinary round variety, giving more flesh, and yet they are capable of growing in shallow soils, because they heave themselves halfway out of the ground as they grow. This type is well worth the attention of those who garden on shallow soils. Its name is Clucas Empire Globe Beetroot. The principle applies, too, to cabbages and cauliflowers. Those dwarfgrowing plants of the last-named " turn in " and form some quite nice heads before the plants begin to droop for want of root space, as specimens of the large varieties do. Of course, it must be understood that to do any good at all with stony gravel or a thin soil over hard rock it is essential to supply all the humus-forming material available. These shallow and gravelly soils possess the advantage of affording the cultivator an 'opportunity of sowing or planting crops very early in the season, as they become sufficiently dry and warm to warrant this early cropping. "When this is done plants usually make good growth before the really hot dry weather arrives. When the sun is parching the ground it is difficult to raise healthy plants, but one may usually do well with the New Zealand spinach. It is a splendid vegetable, and does well on gravelly soil. Early potatoes are good crops on naturally dry soils, as they are lifted very soon. Do not attempt to sow crops during hot summer weather, but when the autumn rains begin 'seed sowing* can again be proceeded with. Small onions can be grown quite close together, and are usually hard and keep well. Some organic manure should be dug in before seed sowing, and a certain degree of feeding is required when the plants aro growing.

CULTURE OF CELERY BLANCHING METHODS Celery is a crop which requires abundant supplies of wnter. Indeed the soil should be always moist, and -when the plants are established, occasional applications of liquid manure are an advantage. The use of nitrate of soda is inclined to make the stalks very springy, instead ot crisp. Cow manure and soot water will he found excellent. No earthing up must he done until the plants are almost fully grown. The addition of a little salt to the trenches before commencing earthing, will give a nutty flavour tc tlie celery. The operation of earthing must be done gradually. On the first occasion 110 more than 4in. or Sin. of finely broken up soil should be placed round the plants, first removing all old leaves and suckers from the base. Every 14

EARTHING-UP CELERY (lavs about tho same quantity of soil ran bo added, taking care it does not roach above the centre of growth. When tho mound of soil is complete it should roach to within 6in. of the top of the plants, ami the sides should be flat and steep. A large quantity of the variety of celery known as self-blanching is now grown, but even this is all the better for a certain amount of blanching, which can be done quite easily with paper bands. Tho self-blanching variety can bo grown 011 the surface of the ground. When ready for blanching, stripn of stiff brown paper about Gin. wide are placed round each plant and tied in position, fresh hands of paper being added as growth advances.

Another way is to fix a broad plank along each side of the row to exclude light. This plan has much to recommend it where quantities are grown. The state of the plants can bo ascertained at any time. This plan is a variation of the old system of lifting the whole crop when ready for blanching, and stacking close together in a pit or trench. In districts subject to very heavy frosts in winter, thg trenches or pits could be covered with straw or litter and the celery taken out as required. The disadvantage is that a certain quantity is always more or less spoiled by decay,, brought about by the close conditions. The chief points are to encourage the frowth of the celery as much as possible v watering and manuring, and not to blanch until the plants have attained a good eiro.