GARDENING NOTES.

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume XLV, Issue 14711, 17 September 1918, Page 9

GARDENING NOTES.

"(Specially written for the Herald.) The. writer hereof will he pleased to answer questions relating to the cultivation of vegetables nnd fruit. Please address all eommni/ieationa to "Garden and Orchard," care Herald Office All plants are now making rapid growth, and seeds germinate much more .quickly , than they did a month or so back, ' hence, tlie. «;ork of the cottage gardener is accumulating. The weeds] must be kept down-, for not only do they extract from the soil much of the food required 'for the vegetables, but they crowd the plants, v hieh condition is not. conducive to the well-being of the latter. It' is much more easy to -get rid 'of weeds While they aro small, than would be the case were they allowed to come to maturity consequently it is advisable to keep the, destroying implement at work. A practically weedless garden, too, is a thing of beauty and a joy to the beholder. Keep the, hoe going between, the rows, not only for tho -destruction of. weeds, but so that the surface of the soil will not cake, for a hardened uppercrust is not to be desired. The stirring up of the soil, helps materially, fo; not only doos it permit moisture to penetrate, but prevents evaporation. who wish ! to hurry the plants along will' doubtless be feeding -with liquid manure, and it is little uso applying this per medium of the watering can unless the surface is sufficiently loose to permit the liquid to percolate through, for it is through the* roots, that the plants obtain their nourishment. Tho good people of Poverty' Bay are especially fayored both as regards richness of * soil and' suitable climate, and almost anything, excepting actually tropi. cai vegetation, can be grown here, the only fly m the ointment being the number of pests that luxuriate m these parts. One thing, however, should always, be borne m mind, and that is

properly -tended plant or tree is not

nearly so prone to disease as. are those which have been neglected. There are many insect destroyers on the market, but red oil. lime-sulphur, Bovdeau mixture, or kerosene emulsion, according to ,feli e nature of the pest, are tho .-'mixtures which have- been found the most reliable. La3t spring it was feared that bluestone (sulphate of copper) would' be difficult to obtain, but apparently itwat only v. v scare\, most of the big. merchant;, being ready to quote for any quantitie: at the present time. Pumpkins and marrows are growi somewhat extensively m this district, but

little attention is given to the numerous other members of the gourd family, with the possible exception of the cucumber For the first time the casaba was growi last year, and it at once. proved nob only was the melon . superior to the rockmelon wliich it resembles m a glorified manner, but that it was much more prolific unci had a. longer bearing period. Then there is the vino peach, which really should bo called vine orange, for it is of th'tsize and color of an orange. The flesh *i 3 white and <an be made 'lnto jam oi pickles, or can be lioiled or baked a& pumpkin or marrow. There are other. 1 such as the -snake gourd, New Guinea butter bean, Guana, heun, etc.,; which have been tried m isolated cases, but all uome to perfection and proved the suitability of this distinct to their pro -duct-ion.

Th>> writer scorns to have mused a mild sensation among growers of the choko by his remarks upon an edible tubei beint; borne by the plant, this attribute of the somewhat new addition to our dietary apparently being unknown. Revere! fetter- have" been received asking

if there is still time to plant, and tc all the reply,, is hereby, given that the choko may be. planted at any time. when growth is shoeing from the indention The plant loves a, warm situation, and all grass or weed's should be kept away from the stalks," co that there will bt little inducement for slug* or snaih to wander m the vicinity. 'These ravenous insects are inordinately fond of the young shoots, as also are fowls and cattle.

About thiff time last year it was mentioned m this .column that the 21st daj of September was the day on which tin Maoris m the Bay of Plenty thought the correct . time to begin then' maize planting, and, aa the climatic conditions here are almost identical, tins, should be

a good time to perform the same opera-' tion locally. Those .who grow on a. large, scale loealfv usually postpone their planting until 1 November, with. the,. result that all qf the previous year's _ harvest is L-onsunied,, before the new' maize., if, threshed, prices soar, but the late one> have no means. of participating m the :-,xtra. profit../, Scftne of the larger grower*,. Opotiki way huekea bold bid to get theii production the market- at. the earliest possible: moment,- and artificial drying ol the oobs is resorted to. . . v- : 7 •> " ' •» Mr-"'iJ<.-.'fCv RtVinsay,'*bf 'the Victorian Department of Agriculture, has pubished the results of some interesting experiments m '.potato .growing, conducted ,by him. Taking potatoes from the same crop, one lot was stored m vseed boxes xud the other m bags, the digging having been done m May. The bagged need showed numerous eyes and wa.planted m November, the ; boxed lot; had mostly only one strong shoot from the main eye. * Of, boxed seed one ton % pei acre was sown, and of the other 16 cwt. some of the latter being cut owing to ■ the numerous stalk shoots. Both lots received the same manure, were planted m similar soil, and had the same attention. Tlie. returns were : Boxed seed, 13 tons per acre; bagged seed, 8£ tons which worked out at a difference of £2C per aero at. the then, price , of potatoes To sum up, it was- proved that the say ing of the seed while the skin is .yet moveable by rubbing, and the boxing of the tubers ie undoubtedly a payable proposition. ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS

Nuker.— Many thartks. Am alreadj wearing a larger size m luats. The onb object of the publication of these notes' is to help those who are not already; thoroughly conversant with the congenial and profitable occupation of gar dening. '-.■-..■ M.B.— The chili will undoubtedly grou v Gisborne, but- must- be protected from frost or bleak winds. The writer has been shown some young plants thus early m the seasem. - . Tomato .-r-- Very sorry that tho culture of tomatoes has not been sufficiently explained, and an attempt will be made i<> rectify the omission m the near futures 'You aro. really early if youi plants are showing flower buds. Puke.— Tt all depends. upon the variety and the mercle of cultivation you intend to adopt, but usually sixteen to twenty feet is given between -the beds m wliich pumpkin seed is planted. Good results can be obtained by planting at a less distance, if the maaii runners are checked he fore the intervening space is covered. Berry. — Next week.