THE GARDEN

Te Aroha News, Volume XLI, Issue 6404, 18 October 1923, Page 6

THE GARDEN

WHEN TO TOP-DRESS There are many kinds of fertilisers with which to assist the growth of young flowering plants and vegetables, but the most reliable for general gardening requirements are nitrate of soda, sulphate of ammonia, blood manure, guano, bonedust and superphosphate. As an aid to the slow growth of cabbages, cauliflowers, lettuces, spinach, asparagus, kohi rabi, leeks and onions, there is nothing better than nitrate of soda when it is properly applied. It is, however, necessary that the plants should be thoroughly rooted before they are able to make good use of the stimulent. Between the rows of vegetables and flowering annuals, which are thoroughly established, nitrate of soda should be broadcasted. at the rate of three ounces to the square yard, and covered as lightly as possible with a fine tined rake. The object is to nourish the fibrous roots which come near the surface, and it is useless to'put the fertilising ingredient too far in the ground where it will be out of reach. Rain, or applications of water which are necessary in dry weather, will carry the sustenance down where the roots can make good use of it.