IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22628, 20 July 1935, Page 24

IN THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

New Zealand is now past the shortest day; hence the necessity for getting through with all trenching, manuring, and digging, so as to give the ground a better chance of producing fine crops by being exposed to the action of the weather. Liming the soil is of great assistance to crops. This is best done immediately after the ground hag been turned up. Most gardeners realise that poultry manure ig an excellent fertiliser, but they do not always use the material to the best advantage. On poor soils the poultry manure is a valuable stimulant tor ajmost all kinds of vegetables, and is especially useful in the case of celery, leeks, and onions. As a rule, it is better not to dig the material into the soil, for the best results are secured when it is employed as a topdressing. It is well to make a practice of gathering the droppings from the yard at least once a week, and these should be placed on a large tray and thoroughly dried. When quite dried, store away in bags, and it may be finally pounded with a hammer and passed through a sieve so that a fine powder is secured. In this way a good stock of the poultry manure is accumulated, and it will prove of great service during the summer growing season.

In use the manure is mixed with twice its bulk of sifted wood ashes or fine soil, and about once a fortnight this is sprinkled between the rows of plants. Use enough just to cover the soil with a fine coating, a large tin with a perforated top being employed as a sprinkler. The ground upon which rhubarb is grown should be cleared of weeds and dead leaves, and the crowns covered with good fresh stable litter. This acts Is a covering, and also ag a stimulant. The rain washes down the manure from the straw, and consequently strengthens the crowns and fits them for the production of next season’s crop. SOWING NOTES.

Leeks require a free, open soil, well enriched. The best way ig to sow the seed in drills or in beds, and transplant. The early showing should be made now, and subsequent ones as required up to December. When about the size of a quill they are fit to plant out. If good-sized leeks are required, they must have plenty of room; the rows should be two feet apart, and tho plants from nine inches to a foot. In planting, draw deep drills with the hoe, and in these insert the leeks to a depth of six inches. As they advance incize the earth should be drawn towards the plants with a hoe, a long white neck being a point of excellence in a leek.

Sow largely of peas, both of early and late varieties. This crop may be grown in almost any soil, providing it be well drained, trenched, and manured. Peas ’make a strong root system, which spreads throughout the soil, and the more this system is encouraged to grow and spread tho larger storage receptacles are being provided for the storing of the nitrogenous elements _ gathered by the plant during its growing period from the atmosphere, in due course to be given back to the plant when the flowering and podding stage ia reached. Work the ground to at least 18 inches in depth, and mix all manures used with it, keeping the heaviest manures at the lower depths. This practice is only necessary when dealing with ground that is poor, or which has not previously been worked and manured deeply, as .peas will not be a success if the ground be too heavily manured. This causes a luxuriant growth of foliage at the expense of the flowers and pods. Unless lime has been previously added to the soil it should receive a thorough top-dressing of it after being trenched and manured. Broad beans also may be sown largely. They are of a very hardy nature, and may be grown successfully in almost any soil, or. situation. They prefer a cool climate, however, to a hot one, and flourish best in strong, deep, loamy soils containing plenty of soda and phosphate. Ag their loots extend some distance into the soil, it should be worked deeply in order allow them to penetrate freely. Plant in double rows, three feet apart, leaving about nine inches between each bean. When plants attain the height of five or six inches, the earth should be drawn up to them on either side three or four inches, deep. During growth, keep soil stirred and weeds down. When the beans are in full bloom, pinch out the tops so as to encourage them to set their pods.

Sow cabbage and cauliflower, and plant out, checking the plant at this season as little as possible. Sow and thin spinach. Plant out lettuces, and sow again. If carrots are wanted, sow a few of the Early Horn variety. Turnips may be sown, but not to any great extent, for the success of this crop will depend upon the character of the season.

Onions are strong feeding plants, and cro\f to greatest perfection in rich, deeply worked and well-pulverised soil, with good drainage. The best dressing to give soils is thoroughly decayed stable manure, but if this is not available use bone dust or other powerful stimulants in moderate quantities. Always dig the ground to a good depth, as, though the bulbs are on the surface, the roots should be allowed plenty of room to penetrate. Sow in shallow drills, one foot apart, covering seed with half an inch of soil. When the seedlings are about three inches high, thin 6ut to two inches apart, and when about six inches high, make final thinning to six inches apart. The thinnings can be utilised for transplanting. During srowth, keep nlnnts free from weeds, and stir the soil frequently. When the bulbs have completed their growth the leaves begin to turn yellow and fade. When pulled, leave for a few days to dry, after which remove the tops, but do not cut too short. They can then be stored in a dry place until ready for use. Bulbs that have thick necks can have their tops bent down two or three weeks previous to lifting.—“ Syringa" in the Australian Garden Lover.