HORTICULTURE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 1, 21 January 1929, Page 58

HORTICULTURE.

THE TOBACCO HARVEST.

During February tobacco crops that were put out early in the season will commence to show signs of ripening. This is indicated by the green colour of the leaf gradually turning a paler shade, and decided yellow spots appearing between the main. veinsin the lower leaves first —and gradually spreading to . those higher on the stem. When the leaves half-way up the stem show these signs of ripeness the first suitable opportunity should be taken to harvest the crop. '

In the past it has been customary to harvest the plants by splitting the stems nearly to the ground, then cutting them off at the surfaceof the ground and threading them on the curing-stick. The fresh sap thus exposed was a suitable medium for spores of moulds and other fungi, which often established themselves' very quickly and. spread to the leaves. This trouble has lead to another system being sometimes adopted, which is to split the stems when the middle leaves are ripe, and then to allow the plants to remain standing for three to four days to allow the exposed sap to dry off before harvesting.

The more general way now, however, is to cut the plants off at the surface of the ground and to hang them on the curing-stick by tying the butts of two plants together. A curing-stick is about 4 ft. 3 in. in length. The stick is placed on tier poles, which run like parallel bars in the curing-shed. There they should be placed about 1 ft. apart to allow a draught of air to pass between the hanging plants. Later, as the plants dry the sticks may be closed, and thus provide more accommodation. The tobacco, however, must not be crowded, but enough space allowed to prevent plants touching. Also special caremust be taken to carry out these operations without bruising , or breaking the leaves.

It is important not only that the surface of the plants should be dry when harvested, but that the work should be done in fine weather, when the leaves are charged with the natural secretions that give theproduct its value, as during showery weather these are washed out by excessive transpiration. ■ . .

A curing-shed charged from floor to ceiling' with plants hung in this manner soon ,has a warm humid atmosphere at this season of the year. Under such circumstances the leaves gradually turn a yellow colour, when more air should be admitted to dry them off. This has. to be done thoroughly, and special care should be taken to dry out. the main stem of each leaf, for when this process is incomplete moulds, are almost sure to develop in that area when the leaf is baled for marketing. '

TOMATOES.

. The end of the indoor tomato crop is usually reached during February, and the harvesting of the outdoor crop is then well underway. It .is very ' bad economy to allow the glasshouses to remain, empty and neglected at this period ; they should be heavily fumigated and cleaned up without delay. A green cover-crop of quick growth should then be sown with a view to following up with crops of winter lettuce; which are now becoming more popular, or sowing down seedbeds of lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, and onions for planting out in thespring. , . The outdoor tomato crop will now probably require feeding to enable the plants to bring the crop to full maturity. In this application it will probably be beneficial to include a proportion of nitrogenous fertilizer. For two or three months the packing and selling of this, crop will keep the grower busy. The method of delivering this product to the public has not always been of the best, and it is interesting to note that a conference of growers is about to be held, when this phase of the subject will doubtless be dealt with. Anything ■ that will facilitate and expedite business with this perishable article should be

done, as there is a wonderful demand for tomatoes if they can be supplied regularly in a suitable manner. The subject of tomato byproducts also requires more attention to enable the scandalous waste which sometimes occurs to be turned to use and profit.

BERRY FRUITS

Between the rows of raspberries, currants, gooseberries, &c., it is sometimes customary to sow now a green cover-crop to turn in during the winter, and such a crop has the merit of smothering weeds as well as providing humus. The above-mentioned berry plants are often found affected with disease and in a starved condition. Plants affected with insect and fungus troubles should now be dealt with by suitable spraying. The starved condition of these bushes is too often due to deep ploughing and cultivation cutting up the fibrous roots which lie near the surface. Such treatment is very damaging to these crops, and specially so if it is done during the growing season.

Much the same remarks apply to the strawberry-beds. The runners, old leaves, and mulch should now be cleaned up and burnt, and the plants given suitable manures. In fine weather hoe the ground at suitable intervals to keep weeds under, control.

, In the Auckland District beds planted close in May or June bear heavy crops in the following November and December, the plants being afterwards ploughed in. In other districts where soil and climate are different the more conventional method of planting in early autumn and cropping the beds for four years is preferred. ' Where planting is to be done it should be carried out as soon as possible. It is important that the land should be rich, clean, firm, and smooth before planting; 9 in. between the plants and 2 ft. to 3 ft. between the rows is the usual spacing. Plants set now should make fine autumn growth and be in excellent condition for cropping next spring. Where it is purposed to plant bush fruits during the coming planting

season commencing in May, the land should be selected and prepared by subsoiling and manuring. There is no reason why it should not also carry an autumn crop of vegetables meanwhile, and so help pay for the cost of cleaning.

THE MARKET-GARDEN.

Important crops that are started this month are cabbage and cauliflower for spring cutting, and autumn onions for planting out in early spring. These are some of the most important crops in this section, and demand careful attention. A piece of land well drained and sheltered should be chosen for these seed-beds. They should be sown about the end of the month —rather earlier in southern districts and later in the North. A sowing now of lettuce and parsley will also be profitable in many instances. '

Winter crops planted last month should be cleaned and fed occasionally to obtain good growth. The celery crop especially must not be allowed to become dry or stand still. Also feed well asparagus and rhubarb crops now making a recovery from the crop of sticks drawn during spring and early summer.

Harvest crops as soon as they mature, and follow up with another crop, even, if it is only a green cover-crop. Autumn-sown onions will

now be ripening ; , .their value depends very much on how they are harvested. They.' suffer, very quickly; if stored in a close atmosphere ; they demand very dry, airy conditions to keep them well.

NATIVE PLANTS IN A NEW PLYMOUTH GARDEN

It would doubtless be mistaken enthusiasm to recommend that a New Zealand garden should be confined to native plants, but there can be no doubt that every native plant of real use or interest should be given preference in .the home garden and suitably displayed. If this were done native evergreens which there are none betterwould take ,the place of the laurels and euonymus, &c., that are at present commonly planted. The karaka (Corynocarpus laevigata) makes an evergreen hedge that compares more than favourably with the cherrylaurel. It should be planted 2 ft. to 3 ft. apart, and the hedge kept narrow; •it then makes an unbroken wall of foliage that is both ornamental and useful when rightly placed.

During. a recent visit to New Plymouth some native plants were seen growing that are well worth, noting. One of the most attractive was mairehau (Phebalium nudum), a shrub growing 6 ft. to 8 ft. -high, that has not only a graceful appearance, but is very highly scented in all its parts. In a garden of any size a group of these plants would be a decided feature. In a native state it appears, to be confined to the hilly forests of Auckland Province, but, like many such plants, it appears to thrive much farther south where it has the shelter of an established garden. .

Another highly perfumed native plant growing there was the koheriki — Angelica r'olio) ,«highly appreciated by shepherds as well as their flocks.' In fact, stock are so fond of it that, it is becoming scarce in a wild state, and shepherds often dry the leaves and rub them up in their tobacco to give it an aroma. Koheriki is a little plant 1 ft. to 2 ft. in height that is very suitable on rock-work in the open.

Parapara, the bird-catcher (Pisonia Brunoniana) is an evergreen with long handsome leaves and long narrow fruits that are extremely viscid, so much so that the smaller birds visiting the tree are often held prisoner. This tree, which grows to about 12 ft. in height, is suitable only for the warmer localities.

An attractive herbaceous plant with wide grass-like „ leaves and large light sprays of white flowers is rengarenga, the rock-lily (Arthropodium cirratum). It grows to a height of about' 3 ft., and planted in a fairly large group in the foreground it cannot be overlooked.

These are mentioned here because the planting season is approaching. Planters who are now studying the subject in preparation for future action will no doubt appreciate these notes, which deal with our native plants from the point of view of their value in the home garden.

W. C. Hyde,

Horticulturist, Wellington.

Orchard-tax Act.— By notice gazetted on 6th December, 1928, the Hawke’s Bay and the Thames Commercial Fruit-growing Districts, declared as such pursuant to the provisions of the Fireblight Act, 1922, are made subject to section 4 of the Orchard-tax Act, 1927. • / ■ ' ,