GARDENING NOTCS.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14634, 18 June 1918, Page 8

GARDENING NOTCS.

SAVING VEGETABLE SF.ED. I (Specially written for the Herald.) The . writer hurc-ni will be pleased to answer questions relating to the cultivation of vosjetables *ind fruit. Please address all o'imniui/ications to "Garden and Orchard,", care Herald Office The heed of giving vegetable and farm seed of nil kinds becomes move and more apparent each .season, for the loason viuit tho countries from which many -varieties wore obtained are now non-pi'rtduetivo owuitf to the war, and i even were the. seod available could l v not rv.-cU New Zealand on account ot : j the shij ping siiortuge. The hints given j below .are inttndvd only for the cottage j gardener ; the. methods adopted by large . growers being dissimilar, machines in most eases beinix brought . into ' requisition. Tho saving of seed by hand labor takes up ti good deal of time, but one has the satisfaction of knowing that ' something has been earned, as well as ( congenial occupation provided. i The fi*st essential is to go over tlie gaowing crop and make a selection of the best plants which arc true to type, and save the seed from these only. However, should there be an odd plant which giv«s promise of having desirable qualities, either in extension or additional to those possessed by the parent, the ataik should be marked m somn distinctive way, and the seed oollected and stored 1 separately. In this way one will bo sure o.f having seed that will germinate freely, and probably bo the means of improving the strain. Then there is a 'possibility of developing anew type, a target on which few have the luck to scoi'e a bull's-eye. After the seed has been taken from the plant it must be thoroughly dried, and the best means of doing this is by exposure to the sunlight. _ Dampness, either -interal or external, is fatal to stored seed, so, after cleaning, place all you have in tins with perforated, lids. For small quantities tobocco boxes, with a few nail holes punched through, answer very well, and treacle or tea tins can likewise be employed for greater bulk.. The. time to harvest the stalks is just before all the sap has, disappeared, the seed being improved by being removed from the plot at this stage, and the likelihood of loss, by dropping being greatly minimised. Nearly all root vegetables run to seed in spring, and this is the best time to choose for the purpose, for there are many bright days to follow during which the process of thoroughly drying and ripening can be carried out without too much trouble. Carrots, beet and parsnips shoitld! be stored in dry sand until August, and then • planted with plenty of room to allow the seed heads to develop. Two feet for each root is as little as should be given. Radish and turnip for seed 'can be sown at any time up to six weeks hence, and will not require to be transplanted. Cabbage and cauliflower should be growing now if it is intended to have them on the list, 'and lettuce can be sown in August. Onion , bulbs ; as well as shallots and garlic can either be growing now or be planted at once. Almost every vegetable above-men-tioned will send up seed heads three to ' four feet Jiigli. apd should they <le» velop, as it is hoped they will, it will be necessary to give them some support ,to keep them erect, a few .stakes placed firmly at intervals iftong the row, with two or three strings or wires stretched fiK>m end to end will answer the pur?x)st. Much seed may be lost either >y being laid' on the ground or by being knocked about by the wind. Peas, beans pumpkins, cucumbers, tomatoes, etc., etc., can all be saved from the fruit when it ripens. There is usually a great deal of waste matter among the seed wlien first taken from, the containing pod, but in almost every instance it can" be speedily removed, first by shaking in a sieve with suitable mesh, and then plunging into clear water. The water will not harm the seed fin the slightest degree, and it can then be dried by being tipped on to a piece of buttereloth suspended on a- frame. Onion. — The seed! is contained in a small pod with several sections, and these begin to open as the ripening- process terminates. Clalliei* tlie seed heads" at this stage, ami dry thoroughly in the sun. Most of the seed will shake out elean, and what remains can be rubbed out. with the hands. These remarks apply also i© shallots and garlic. Under no circumstance should the seed heads be covered with cloth, as is sometimes done about Gisborno. Cabbage, cauliflower, radish and turnip seed are all contained in ■ pods, and these after being removed from the fitalks can be made to yield their contents by being placed, in a smooth cloth, bag and beaten with a stick. Another mode of. breaking,- the pods is to tread on the bag, but to ■do this one must hot be wearing heavy boots. Beetroot, parsnip, rhubarb, and lettuce have their seed uncovered on the stalk, and, when thoroughly dry, can be shaken off. Sifting or winnowing will remove the dirt. Peas, French beans, and broad beans are contained in strong pods, ■ and if there is* a considerable quantity to treat they may be threshed' while attached to the stalks oh which they grew. First pull the dying plants from the soil, even if some of the pods have not fully matured, keeping the root, ends as nearly as possible the one way, and leave in the sun for a week or so to extract all sap. The ' :> 4ew of evening a light sliQwer will not harm them, but if the soil becomes damp the stalks must be turned. When thoroughly dry spread on a tarpaulin and thresh with a flail. The chaff may be separated by winnowing' in the wind. A small quantity may be treated as per directions for cabbage, etc. Tomatoes, Cape gooseberries, and pasfiion fruit should have the seed removed from the fruit, and, after being placed m a butfcercloth pocket, thoroughly washed and squeezed to remove the pulp. If the entire fruit is placed in v a position where there is a free current of air the watery portion will entirely evaporate and the seed will remain in the shell, perfectly clean. Pumpkins, marrows, cucumbers and other members of the gourd family aa'e easily collected, but the remarks in the last portion of the preceding paragraph apply to these also. Potatoes and' gooseberries can be grown from the seed contained in the berries, and those who have the time and interest should make the attempt to produce plants from these. It takes two or three years to perform the operation, but there is alawys the goal of a new variety in view. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS. J. Mcß. — The above hints are in reply to your own and other enquiries, mid the writer hopes that they are sufficiently clear. However, if there are any points requiring elucidation, please mention them, and the best will be dona for you. As you remark, some' exceptional prices are asked for new varieties by vendors, but Mr. Burpee, the American plant wizard, is credited 'with haying paid Mr. Malcolm, who raised a scarlet sweet pea, now known as the Fiery Cros9; £250 for three ounces of the seed 1 , with the right of introducing the new variety. When . the Northern Star potato was first put on the market single sets in pots were auctioned at ten guineas each, and now you could buy a ton or more of the inbers for that amount., H. I. H. — Loganberries should be grown on new • rods each year, but, ti there is not a sufficient quantity of new wood 1 on your plants, some of the old ones may be retained and will bear, it Ihe spurs are cut short. F. M. — Td the best of the writer's belief, it is contrary to law to Bpreod •poisoned; grain within the Borough, any«tray, it would be dangerous for fowls or other poultry in the vicinity. F. R. H. S.— Fellow of the Royal Horticulturnl Society.