THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXI, Issue 18973, 26 March 1924, Page 3

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Sow onions, carrots, lettuces, and cabbages. Earth up celery as required. Prepare top dressing for lawns, and give them a thorough weeding. Sow as necessary: Globe artichoke, broad beans, cabbage, savoy, early cauliflower, carrot, endive, lettuce, parsnip, radish, silver beet, spinach, turnip, and a quick maturing variety of peas. In sunny and sheltered situations a final sowing of beet-root may be made.

Plant; Cabbage, savoy, cauliflower, broccoli, borecole, Brussels sprouts, herbs and leeks. In choosing ground for further cropping, avoid positions that ere likely to be shaded to any extent in winter. The beds should also bo raised a few inches above the surrounding level of the ground Deep digging will ensure this. Sow broad beans on freely drained and well prepared soil. After covering the seed, apply a good dusting ot basic slag along the site of the drills. Failing the slag, give a dressing of superphosphate when the plants are through the ground. Prepare seed beds for the autumn sowing of onions. A site that was well manured for a recent crop of cucumbers, after being deeply dug and trodden firmly, will make an excellent bed. Before proceeding to sow, give •the surface a liberal dusting with soot and lime. On lifting Jerusalem artichokes, pit the tubers in dry, sandy soil, as soon as possible, for they quickly deteriorate when allowed to re—ain on the surface of the ground for any length of time. When digging the crop be careful to clean out every scrap ot tli e roots, for whatever is left will sprout and prove troublesome next seasonCut away asparagus tops that have withered as a result of damage sustained by ther ecent gale, but retain, and, if possible, . traighten up and stake any broken stems that have survived the ordeal. Cut back the badly damaged stems on forward crops of peas. If the plants were making vigorous growth before the storm fresh shoots will most likely spring up to take the place of those cut away. Cultivate frequently with the hoe or fork, and give an occasional dose of weak liquid manure. Press the soil in firmly about crops that have been loosened by wind. Seedlings, especially, will require this attention. To assist fully developed fruits to ripen thoroughly, expose them on both sides to as much sun and air as possible. Place pieces of board under the fruits to keep them off the ground, and before storing, pdace in a dry, sunny spot for a few days to complete the ripening process. The thorough ripening and proper storage of marrows and pumpkins are important factors in keeping the fruits sound over the longest possible period. A good place for storing is in a dry and well ventilated room or shed, although they will keep quite well in dry places under dense growing trees if kept clear of the ground and protected from rain drip. A washhouse is an altogether ill-chosen place to use as a store for these fruits