CARE OF THE VEGETABLES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1242, 18 September 1875, Page 18

CARE OF THE VEGETABLES.

It is altogether a wrong idea to suppose that the vegetable garden needs very little attention after the first weeding. People who labour under the impression that this necessary department cannot be made to appear in a manner ornamental as well as useful have never seen a truly tidy garden. If we allow the weeds to grow, the stones and clods to remain in the walks, and the old bean and pea-vines to stand in the beds after maturity , of course everything will appear to disadvantage; but, on the other hand, should a few hours occasionally be devoted to hosing and raking the whole enclosure, walks and all, and that, too, before the weeds start, it will be no trouble to keep everything snug and in perfect order. The thrifty gardener will make his gr mnd pay for the extra trouble, by cropping judiciously. He will plant his onion sets and parsnip seeds in the same bed, and edge it with radishes ; he will set out late cabbage plants between his rows of early potatoes ; and celery trenuhes will take the place of early peas ; turnip seeds will be scattered here and there, whenever a crop has matured and gone, so that all summer long the visitor shall not be able to find a foot of vacant space. And, until the frosts of autumn, all may be, and should be, preserved as neat as the flower beds. It is too much the practice for our farmers to leave this department to the care of the feminine portion of the household, when they have no business to be burdened with work which properly belongs to the tiller of the fields. A wet clay in many instances is devoted to "■ clearing up the garden," which leaves the surface in a cloddy, baking state as soon as the sun shine 3 upon it, because it is not suitable weather for working among the all-important farm crops. Farmers often complain that farm hands dislike to work among vegetables ; our remedy for this is to give them superior vegetables to eat, and they will not object to assist in raising them.