Salting Gravel Walks.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 7 December 1888, Page 10

Salting Gravel Walks.

A weedy gravel walk is always an eyesore, and hoeing, or turning it over at this season will ensure a wretchedly uncomfortable path for some time. Thejbest binding gravel, if hoed up in summer, will be a long time before it becomes firm again. There are plenty of weed killers in the market. Ido not say that salt is the best, but in myjexperience it ißthe cheapest; and this is an economical age, especially in all matters connected with the garden. For a good many years I used a salting machine for applying the salt in the shape of bot brine ; but, taking all things into consideration, there was no real advantage over the more simple plan of strewing the salt over the surface of the gravel in dry weather. There is always moisture enough in the atmosphere and in the night dews to dissolve salt ; and the slower the process the better, as then it gradually works down to the roots of the weeds and destroys them effectually. If » heavy shower comes immediately after the Bait is used, the brine runs away down the drains, or is washed over the edging. In the latter case rusty spots are inevitable. Therefore, sprinkle on the salt when the barometer is , steady, or when it has an upward tendency. Great care must be used in its application if the walks are edged with box, as box edgings are more susceptible of damage than grass. When using salt where the edgings are composed of box, I have generally found it desirable to raise a ridge of gravel by the side of the edgings, drawing it away from the edging with a Dutch hoe. If salt is used in a dry time, one application a year will be sufficient. All things that will kill weeds will take the colour, to a certain extent, out of the gravel ; but I do not think, in this respect, salt is much worse than other less simple and more expensive substances. Enough salt should be used to cover the road or walk with a thin film, like a fine shower of sleet.— E. H.

Beet Spinach. A correspondent in the Field writes : — " This beet should be sown some time in the month of June, or at latest in the first week in July. Those only who have a large demand for green vegetables in early spring will appreciate the merits of this so-called spinach, as if sown in a sheltered corner it will be available for use when ordinary spinach is withered up by cold winds and frost. I find it best to sow it rather thickly, and let it remain so all winter, as then the plants shelter each other. In our strong soils we find if it is sown in drills lft apart and the plants left Sin asunder in the rows that they pass through the winter better than where they have more room. It is very desirable that the bed should be in a position sheltered from east and north winds. If sown in the open, probably j it would not prove more hardy than ordinary ; spinach. I do not say that this beet is equal to ; ordinary spinach for table purposes, but it is useful when other garden produce is scarce." I