THE VEGETABLE PLOT.

Taranaki Daily News, 22 December 1923, Page 16

THE VEGETABLE PLOT.

Sow.—Runner and dwarf beans, beetroot, borecole, carrot, cucumber, endive, lettuce, leek, mustard and cress, onions for pickling, peas, parsnip, pumpkin, radish, squash, turnip, and marrow. Plant.—Borecole, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, capsicum, leek, melons, pumpkin, squash, kumaras, potatoes, tomato, and vegetable marrows.

In dry weather water the ground thoroughly before planting cucumbers, marrows, pumpkins, etc., and repeat the applications on a more limited scale, after setting the plants in position. The transplating is best done after sundown, but in any case efficient, shade should be provided until the plants become established. In all cases of transplanting, however, the evening is the most propitious time in. which to perform the work. Dwarf beans should be sown every fortnight or three weeks, according to demand. A row or two put in before the end of the month should provide a supply of tender pods when those from earlier sowings are past. It is always worth while to make a second sawing of runner beans about this date to supplement the main crop. From a present sowing, supplies can be obtained far into May.

Runners coming into profit will need plenty of moisture at the roots in dry weather, while an occasional showerbath given in the evenings of fine days will benefit the plants materially, especially in assisting the bloom to set. Liquid manure, well diluted, can be applied with great advantage once each week. Pinch out the tips when the shoots reach a height of five feet. It is most desirable that the plants be mulched if material can be found for the purpose. Cabbage and cauliflower that are planted out now must have water in abundance. For about a week shade should be afforded during the hottest hours of the day.

Cauliflower plants nearing maturity must also be liberally watered in fine weather. Manure water applied every five or six days will do great things for cauliflower at this stage. When the heads form too quickly for immediate use. lift the plants with as much soil attached to the roots as possible. and suspend them head downwards in a dark airy place, and lightly syringe them with clear water each evening. Treated thus, the heads will remain longer in good coiTflition than would transpire if left where grown to battle with strong sunshine. There should be no delay in planting out celery; in showery weather if possible. but in the absence of this the work should not be postponed if the plants are ready for setting out. Tn this instance, transplanting in the evening is most advisable, and if the operation is quickly but properly performed, and water is given, the plants will suffer very little. The great point in making the transfer is to retain as much soil to the roots as possible. There need scarcely be any fear of over-watering these subjects. Flood the trenches if you will and the plants will thrive all the better for it. Endive is not usually in favour while good lettuces are available, but the crop is extremely useful in autumn when lettuce is scarce. Sow on rich soil, in drills one inch deep and twelve inches apart. Thin early, repeating the process from time to time as the plants progress until they finally stand one foot apart. Care must be taken that the plants never suffer, in warm weather. from want of water, or they will run to seed. Endive must be blanched before using by being tied up or covered with pots, boxes, or anything else suitable. It should be understood, however, that, when sufficiently blanched, endive soon starts to decay and hence should not be sown too extensively at one time.

Sow, and plant crops in furrows or trenches as was previously advised. Much better results are obtained by this method than when surface sowing and planting is practised.

Clear away the remains of spent crops weeds, etc., hoe paths, and direct a special effort towards making the garden ship-shape for the festive season.

THE FLOWER GARDEN. Sow. —Aquilegia, Canterbury bells, cineraria, in pans or boxes, cosmos, nemesia. primula, under glass and keep well shaded until the seedlings are up, Brompton stocks, wallflowers, and zinnias. Plant. —Asters, balsams, chrysanthemums. celosia, cosmos, dahlias, dianthus, gladioli, marigolds, phlox Drummondi. salvias, and zinnias. The remarks already made relative to tidiness in the kitchen garden apply as forcibly to this department. A close and verdant lawn, and tidy beds of well-kept flowers contribute in no mean degree to the enjoyment of the home at Yuletide. Pansies. —The old, exhausted stems of pansies should be cut off close to the plants, and, if these are healthy, fresh shoots will develop, which may be used for cuttings if desired. On removing the worn-out growths, pack leaf soil or loam firmly up around the base of the plants. Keep the ground moist, and water each week with weak manure water, taking care when applying, in both eases, not to wash away the soil that has been placed round the plants. Thalictrum dipterocarpum, both in leaf and flower, is an object of much beauty. Just now the plants are sending up flowering shoots, which, in exposed gardens, will need the support of strong, neat stakes. Light bamboo sticks are excellent for the purpose. The foliage of this subject resembles that of the maiden-hair fern, while the lightsome sprays of rosy purple flowers stand well* above the plant, thus giving, a most charming effect. The plant is easily raised from seed which may be sown in summer and early autumn. Cinerarias. —Every lover of flowers should certainly grow these beautiful subjects, coming into bloom as they do in late winter and spring. Cinerarias are not difficult to raise from seed sown in pans or boxes, the present being a suitable time to sow. A compost of turfy loam, with a fair addition of leaf mould and sharp sand or road grit, will answer. Cosmos make a delightful display in the autumn, especially the new double pink, white and red species. Plants to commence flowering in early autumn be set out during the next week

or two, or, if desired, seed may be sown for a later display, but it should be got in before the middle of January. It is usually advisable to transplant cosmos, as the practice tends to prevent them from growing too tall. A rather dry sunny border, which has not been too well manured, is the place for them.

The beautiful lilium auratum is now producing flower buds, and it is at this stage that a weekly dose of well diluted manure/water will be of much benefit to the plants. A mulch of rotten manure can also be applied now with advantage. Unless when growing in well sheltered position, the plants should be staked at once.

Dahlias in need of staking should have this attention as soon as possible. Examine recently staked plants and loosen the material used in tying if it is in any way inclined to cut into the stems.

Although narcissi may be lifted as the foliage dies down, it is not advisable to disturb them more than once in three years. When left in the ground for that period, lifting is beneficial to the bulbs, but to take them up each year, as some people do, is merely to impair their vitality. Another improper proceeding lies in the untimely filling of Narcissi beds wth dense growing plants which prevent the entry of the amount of light and air required by the 'bulb foliage in its work of building up the bulbs for the next season’s display. In the proper order of things, narcissi should be given a bed entirely to themselves. “Agricola'’ desires to extend to readers the heartiest wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Prosperous New Year.