VEGETABLE PLOTS

Taranaki Daily News, 20 July 1935, Page 5

VEGETABLE PLOTS

SOUTH TARANAKI SCHOOLS RECORD ENTRIES RECEIVED. DIFFICULTIES OF THE SEASON. f --- The vegetable plot competition, organised for children living in South Taranaki town areas, was well supported this season when a total of 87 entries was received, the figure being the highest in the five seasons the competition has been conducted, says the report to be presented to the annual meeting of the South Taranaki Boys and Girls’ Clubs to-day. For various reasons, however, there was a larger proportion of failures than usual and only 42 plots were carried through to the final judging. The distribution of the plots withriame of the school, the number of plots entered and the number judged was as follow:—Hawera, 23, 12; Eltham, 14, 3; Stratford, 12, 6; Eltham Convent, 9,5; Manaia, 8,5; Normanby, 7,3; Turuturu, 7, !;• Tawhiti, 6,4; Kaponga, 1,0; total, 87, 42. -7 . No entries were received from Opunake or Okaiawa. The following is a summary showing the support given to this competition since its • inception:— Per cent.

The choice of crops remained the same as for last year, being carrots, parsnips, beetroot, leeks and silver beet. This appears to be as suitable a selection as any as the crops are fairly free from disease and require some variation in the way of cultivation. V Through the generosity of Newton King Ltd. the Farmers' Co-op. and the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Company a free supply of fertiliser was available for competitors and all chose ; to use this mixture. The ingredients were the same as used in previous years and once * again produced splendid growth. POINTS OF CULTIVATION. Every year sees more careful attention paid to the selection of a suitable piece of ground for the plot and in few cases can any fault be found with the early preparation' of the sod. However, it is in a season such as the one just experienced that the full benefit is obtained from early and deep preparation of the soil and this is the factor mainly responsible for the variation in. the growth of crops as witnessed after the long dry' summer.' There appears to' have been .the usual proportion of.com; petitors who lose enthusiasm soon after the crops appear above the ground with the result that the plots are finally abandoned. In a difficult season such as the past one, with its long periods of very dry ' weather, many experienced failures with, the first sowing of,the.seed and did not gio ahead with the work. It is this, combined with the failure of an unusually large/number as a • result of the dry 7 holidays that/accounts fot tije analler,proportion, of.plots that were carried through to the final judg- ' ing this year.-' Against this was the -very ■ pleasing j feature that, with - few exceptions, the plots that were judged showed work. of?a very high standard and one was forced to the conclusion that the. /.adverse season had, 'for J the. most part,' ' resulted- : in the elimination of those Whose work is only, mediocre in a favourable season. •/' V /'■/ ' r , judging of the 'record; books, in; • .sjfrhicfi egch . child has to:-keep details'-- . of all’; work - done and all .observations i'.oiijihe/grawth of the crops, has disclosed .a very greatly improved standard; of work. 'Hie average mark obtained for ’ the; .record books 4s iriuch higher than for> ahy of the previous years. The plots- were judged ,at the beginning of May arid; it was unfortunate that the. judgjng followed closely on a period of'stormy weather during which heavy hailstormshad dorie. Considerable dafnage' to the.- tops., of .’the plants, particu■larly of the". silver beet. Points were » : fo'r cultivation, .general appearance and growth, including freedom from while . additional points were given for the quality and appearance of the produce sent in for the show exj hibjt Points were also allowed for the recbrd books. For the purpose of completing the judging and as well as to compete for the special prizes offered by the South Taranaki Winter Show Company competitors were asked to forward exhibits to the recent show. Thirty-three of the 42 whose plots wer.e'. judged took part, tn the. di^layZ--The- quality of the, vegetables was very, good: Ih'i fact, the whole | display was by fari-the best yet made in! this section.. ■.For the - second year in ! succession' Murray Eden, Turuturu, won the. championship for. .the best display with a very fine exhibit of each of the five vegetables grown. Championship awards were:—Champion, Charles Rye (Eltham), 96 points; runner-up, Murray Eden (Turuturu), 95J points. Both these boys deserve the success they have achieved as they have. S( done good work in the past and last 7 year gained second and third places in £ the championship. Charles Rye has competed for, four years and has done good work on each occasion. , £

Schools Entries Judged Judged 1930-31; 9. 67 44 65.7 1931-32 7 75 58 77.3 1932-33 8 ' 84 46 54.7 1933-34 9 69 48 69.5 1934-35 9 87 42 48.3