CABBAGES

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 63, 14 March 1936, Page 13

CABBAGES

The soil between cabbages, broccoli, etc., should be kept loose by hoeing. Indeed, it is well to hoe as often as possible and not to wait for the soil to become close before doing so. It does not readily close up when there i«5 no rain, and once loose it may remain so for a long time. Weeds, however. appear to grow no matter how dry it may be, and these should be checked. Keeping the top soil loose has a great effect on the growth c*f plants. It admits air, which is necessary, and keeps the heat of the sun from penetrating deeply. The caterpillar of the diamond backed moth, the so-called ‘‘cabbage fly.” is usually troublesome in dry summers, or, more correctly speaking it is always troublesome except in verv wet summers, 1 requent cultivation has some effect in reducing the numbers of this pest. When disturbed the caterpillars uncoil a threadlike silk and roll down it to the ground. The plants should be brushed roughly to disturb the caterpillars and if the soil is then drawn up to the plants many of them will be buried. In the hearts of the plants, where are t«ie young, tender leaves, there most of the caterpillars are usually to be found, and it » there they do most harm. The destruction of the young, partly grown leaves stops development. 1 hose found in this position, being well sheltered and often very young, de- not leave the plant when disturbed, but coil themselves up and shelter more closely. These mus-t be destroyed if the plants are to be saved, for unless the plants can be induced to grow there is little hope of saving them. It the soil i> very dry watering must ftrm part of the remedial measures. When the area planted is extensive it is useless to attempt to save the plants unless rain is dearly frequent. The caterpillars have a strong dislike to wet conditions. Arsenate of lead, .lib. to 4° gallons of water, used m- a spray will kill them. lar water is first class as a preventive, but it will not kill the caterpillars. Moths of all kinds have a strong objection to the smell of tar, and if plants smell strongJv of it they will not lay their eggs on them. Tar water is made by boiling -Alb of fresh coal tar in about two gallons of water till thoroughly dissolved; then make up to 20 gallons with cold water. Do not put the tar in until the water boils. Apply copiously to the plants and soil through the rose of a watering pot. THE BORONIA plants contains at leaet one vf tne sweetest scented ol any plant grown in our garden. Like many more of ‘ gems of the garden, it has a few like but it has an awful lot c 4 dislikes, t»iv. many are the failures that attend t v attempts to grow the borunia, especial y B. magn stigma, the sweet cm-t scented <»• them all. The boronia luxuriate in sandy peat, well - drained, of course, no lime and packed as hard as you can pack it. This applies even in the open garden; the ruot run must be firm. A position in full sun is necessary. Manure is not required, except a iitt.v sulphate of ammonia may be given in epring when growth commences. During summer a mulch of leaf tbuuld be ghen and neither hoc, spade, fork or anv other sharp tool should be used do>e to the mots. Probably the biggest enemies to the boronia are scale and thrips. These attack the plant during summer, and before tuc effects ere apparent the plant has turned a greyh-h white and has passed bevond aid. The small foliage does not jeem to be able to stand the attack /•' L-rip.-. liOMrver, both these insects ran be controlled by -proving with a AiiiiM oil spray during rally summer, it U advisable to anticipate the pests b/ spraying immediately the flu or re are over and again in early spring betvre they < The Wizard- • I. it says here that a • ertain man was a financial genius. What does that mean?’’ *'That he rnuld *arn motey more qni’-kly than his family could spend it.