THE GARDEN.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXIII, Issue 5, 21 November 1921, Page 311

THE GARDEN.

W. H. TAYLOR,

Horticulturist.

VEGETABLE-CULTURE

The next six weeks should be a very busy time in the vegetable-garden, as the winter supply mainly depends on work done during that period, and there are also the autumn requirements to be arranged for. Succession crops of peas and dwarf beans should be sown, also turnip, lettuce, spinach, and radish. Seedling crops, such as parsnips, carrots, and beet from the main sowing, should be thinned while quite small. If seeds were sown thinly, as they should have been, thinning is not a formidable task, and the smaller the plants are the quicker the work can be done. A good way of thinning is to take a piece of hoop iron, such as is used to strap cases, cut a piece about 8 in. long, turn over at right angles about f in. at one end and file the edge sharp. With this implement spare seedlings can be easily cut out, and also weeds growing in the lines of seedlings. The spaces between the rows should be loosened a day or two before with a flat hoe, or Planet Jr. cultivator, so that weeds may wither. After thinning cultivate the soil again : a loose and clean surface encourages the plants to grow.

. Early celery-plants should be growing well. See that they do not lack water ; they require a good .deal, and will not thrive without it. Later seedlings should be ready for pricking-off. In a good many places pricking-out, all except the first lot, can be done in .the open . ground. Where the climate is hot, however, . this cannot be done, as the soil dries so quickly that the young plants wither up. In such places pricking-out must be either in boxes under lights or in beds of soil under lights ; on the whole the former method is the better. The soil for the boxes should contain a fair amount of humus, which encourages the formation of roots, a good, root-growth being more important than size of plants. Rich manure in the soil would cause top growth without many roots, and should be avoided. The humus may consist of very old stable or cow manure, • leaf-mould, or mould from decayed vegetable debris.. No artificial fertilizer should be used. The boxes should be heaped up more than full, the surplus stroked off with a piece of batten, and the soil then pressed firm. To prick out, first mark lines by pressing a strip of lath into the soil, the seedlings, which should be very small, being then pricked into the lines. This makes spacing and keeping straight lines an easy matter. . Space the seedlings 2 in. apart. When a box is filled with seedlings give a good watering and place it in a frame ; shade for a few days. If watering is properly attended to good plants will be secured. -- :.. Tomato should by now have commenced to make, growth. See that energy is not wasted in growing side shoots that will have to be cut off by suppressing such growths as soon as possible. Keep the soil well cultivated and free from weeds. Spray about every fourteen days. If heavy rain occurs soon after sprayingthat is, before the mixture has thoroughly —the spray should be repeated as soon as possible. The spray may be 4—4—40 bordeaux, or, alternatively, 6 lb. of washing-soda may be used in place of 4 lb. of lime in the mixture. Autumn Giant cauliflowers should be planted before the end of December, also Brussels sprouts. The latter do indifferently well if planted several weeks later, but early planting is necessary to secure the best results. . Brassicas for winter use comprise broccoli, cabbages, savoys, &c. Early broccoli are the first planted, a start usually being made in November. Planting of the greater number of subjects that come under the heading of brassicas takes place , during the four weeks beginning with the last week in December. About 25th November is the time to sow cabbages, savoys, coleworts, and late broccoli in the warmer districts, the plants being then ready to set out at the time stated. In the colder districts an earlier start must be made.

Rabbit Districts.— New Zealand Gazette for 13th October notifies the formation of two further rabbit districts in the Auckland Province — Kawa West and Kahuwera.

Importation of Plants into Fiji. Owing to the existence in New Zealand of fireblight, the Government of Fiji has issued an order prohibiting the importation into that country from New Zealand of the following species of fruit and plants : All members of the natural order Rosaceae, which includes apples, pears, medlars, quinces, roses, hawthorn, &c. - '

Trophies for Farmers’ Field Competitions.— Messrs'. Sutton and Sons, of England, through their New Zealand agent, have presented two silver cups, value 25 guineas each, for the best mangold crop grown by a competitor in these competitions, the cup to be won three times before it becomes the property of the winner. One cup is for the South Taranaki district, and the other for the Wanganui district. Competitors may use any firm’s seed.

Charges for Seed-testing.— The following circular was issued last month by the Department’s Biologist to the seed trade and others: “ Owing to the fact that the expenditure in connection with seed-testing has largely exceeded the revenue received for the work, it has been found necessary to increase the charges to 2s. per sample for germination and 2s. for purity. The increased rate is to date from Ist November, 1921. It is with great regret that it has been found necessary to increase the charges, but as it has been decided that this service should be more or less self-supporting an increase in the rates has become imperative.”