VEGETABLE PLOTS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 150, 27 June 1931, Page 7 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE PLOTS

WORK IN THE GARDEN In the cultivation of vegetables during the winter, one of the chief difficulties of the grower, on account of the frequent rains and wet state of tho soil, is in keeping weeds and insect pests under control. It is such weather that weeds soon get out of hand, unless every advantage is taken when conditions arc more favourable to hand weed the crops, ami dig the ground between th « rows, for the more often the soil can be stirred the better will be the growth obtained. At this season, too, slugs piny havoc with many young | plants of the cabbage family, lettuce and carrots. Carrots, especially, until they arc fairly well advanced, soon falla prey to these pests unless carefully watched and kept dusted with lime or other preventive, until the plants are well established. When grown upon raised beds, many winter vegetables arc more easily produced than when sown upon tho flat ground. When the ground is raised, surplus moisture is naturally more quickly disposed of, and the soil more easily worked, as most of tho thinning and weeding can be done from the sides without treading upon the beds. As the season advances with its decreasing temperature, plants require every assistance that will in any way promote !ii<n'i’ healthy root action, ami growth. | This especially, applies to all winter When conditions are unfavourable for sowing, planting, or working the soil between the crops, much can be. done in breaking up and preparing laud lor fnl ure cropping. Ground required lor planting nut, potatoes, onions, rhubarb. asparagus and other crops, cannot be too well treat'd. Even if the ground for asparagus, rhubarb, and similar crops has been previously broken up : and prepared, an ocasional turning over, so (hat tho manorial properties > applied will become thoroughlv incorporated with the soil before planting. I i will be an advantage. j ,