HORTICULTURE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume 53, Issue 3, 21 September 1936, Page 185

HORTICULTURE.

Vegetable Crops.

October is not the least important month of the planting season. Besides completing the sowing of hardy main-crops, the following half-hardy crops are started in most districts—kidney beans, gourds, sweet corn, tomatoes, egg plants, and peppers ; also important are the seed-beds of savoy and red cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, and kale sown for planting out two or three months later to mature during autumn and winter. These crops provide a valuable and varied supply during the summer, autumn, and winter seasons. To obtain the best results from the half-hardy crops a rich free loam and well-sheltered position is required. Beans and gourds are among the oldest of our vegetable crops. The broad bean, Vici faba, is a hardy native of Europe, which in ancient time's was extensively grown ; during later years it has been almost entirely displaced by the kidney bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, which with so many other useful culinary plants was introduced from South America. Being useful in either a green or dried state makes the kidney bean available over a long period, and thus a vegetable of the first importance. Land well supplied with humus should be given a good dressing of phosphates, and, when the crop is up, a light dressing of nitrate of soda as required. The seed is sown 2 in. or 3 in. deep, 3 in. or 4 in. apart, with 18 in. to 30 in. between the rows. The gourds have long been esteemed in warm and tropical countries everywhere, especially species of Cucumis cucumbers and melonsand Cucurpumpkins and marrows. The marrow, said to be a native of Persia, is the hardiest, and, used in a green state during summer, is an attractive vegetable. The keeping-quality of pumpkins makes them of value in affording variety for winter use. And in many parts of the country the warm season is too short to produce a good crop of cucumbers and melons outside, unless every precaution is taken to start the crop as early as possible. Excellent musk and water-melons are grown in the warmer districts here, and they are crops which could doubtless be extended with advantage. A rich light moist soil and good shelter are the main essentials. Sweet corn is a variety of the field corn, Zea Mays, being distinguished by its high sugar content in its early stages of development and by its translucent kernels when dry. As a summer vegetable it is becoming increasingly popular. It is drilled 3 ft. to 4 ft. apart, and the plants are thinned to 8 in. to 10 in. apart in the drills. Golden Bantam is a popular early dwarf variety, and Stowell’s Evergreen and Country Gentleman are vigorous late varieties that are popular. A continuous supply is obtained by sowing early and late varieties ; or by sowing an early variety at intervals of two weeks or three weeks. To obtain it in best condition, it should be gathered so soon as the silk withers, as the amount of sugar decreases as the kernels harden.

Egg-plants and red peppers are of tropical origin. They are the last to be taken from the shelter of the frame, and planted out only ■ when warm weather is practically assured. The increasing quantities reaching the market during, summer indicate the greater interest taken in these attractive and useful culinary fruits. They are grown satisfactorily only in the warmer localities, ;

Towards the end of October tomato-plants are planted outside in many districts. In the cooler localities early November is often soon enough. As a good crop can be expected only from good plants every effort should be made to be sure the plants are suitable. Good plants are of a satisfactory strain, young and sturdy, well developed, free from disease, and thoroughly hardened off. In well-prepared ground such plants come away with little trouble under ordinary conditions. A generous dressing of phosphates, usually applied in the form of superphosphate and finelyground bonedust, and a moderate dressing of sulphate of potash are the chief fertilizer requirements. If the land is rich in organic manure the potash dressing should be correspondingly increased. Under glass this crop is now reaching a stage when the growth is of such dimensions that the amount of air in the house is much reduced, while at the same time the volume of vapour from transpiration is greatly increased. As a result a humid atmosphere is created which often reaches high temperaturesconditions which are most injurious to this crop and should be avoided by providing ample ventilation : in sheltered warm localities this requirement is often very considerable especially if the climate is also generally humid. By such attention at all times now flowers and foliage develop the substance and vigour to properly function and be less likely to suffer from leaf mould and other diseases. In most districts ventilation also at night generally now is necessary. Small and Sundry Fruits. Tree tomatoes, Cape gooseberries, and passion vines may now be planted out. These require a relatively warm position to obtain the best results ; they are natives Of Peru or Brazil. Cyphomandra betacea, as the tree-tomato is called by botanists, is a semi-shrub with large soft leaves and grows here to a height of about 6 ft. Its bronze foliage is quite ornamental, as also are its large smooth oval fruits, which ripen in mid-winter. These are generously produced by plants growing in a rich moist loam and well-sheltered position. There is a fairly steady demand for the fruit, which is suited to culinary purposes and makes an attractive dish under good management. A small planting only is usually made, the plants being set about 6 ft. apart. The Cape gooseberry, Physalis peruviana, var. edulis, is well established in favour, and might well receive attention for commercial cropping by those who have light land in a warm position. To ripen the full crop before autumn frosts intervene good plants should be set out early and kept growing steadily. A good dressing of phosphates and some sulphate of potash suit them best. The plants may be set 3 ft. apart with 6 ft. between the rows where no support is given. The Cape gooseberry is a perennial herbaceous plant, cut down to the ground by frost in autumn, but when the tops are cleared in early spring and a good dressing of fertilizers is cultivated in they will grow away and produce a second and even a third crop. The passion vine, Pas flora edulis, has received a great deal of attention during recent years, sometimes perhaps too much, but the unique flavour and fragrance it imparts to salads confers a distinction that always makes this fruit popular for that purpose. It is also to be remembered that six or seven years is the extent of the life of a plantation, so that any overplanting which may have been done in some localities is not a very permanent feature. Although not exacting as to soil conditions, good land is necessary to produce full crops each season over the whole life period of the plantation. Good drainage and shelter are also essential. To enable spraying for the control of disease to be done effectively it is essential that the vines be trained and pruned annually to avoid an accumulation of old unnecessary growth and to maintain a good supply of the new laterals on which the crop is borne.

Plants may be set now io ft. apart, at the base of stout stakes and posts standing 5 ft. out of the ground ; with a distance of 9 ft. between rows it takes 480 plants to the acre. Two No. 8 galvanized wires, one each side

of the top of the post, and another 3 ft. below them, should be made fast to well-stayed strainer posts, tightened and secured. By stopping laterals after a few leaves have formed growth is concentrated in the leader, which when the top of the post is reached is stopped to make it break into side growths, which are trained along the top wires, and form the bases from which the fruiting-wood springs. Where it is desired to plant passion fruit next season the seeds from selected fruit may now be sown in boxes, pricked out into other boxes later, and grown on in sheltered cradles until required for planting out. Land for autumn planting in strawberries may now be planted in an early vegetable crop and thoroughly cleaned so that it is ready when required. Where it is intended to plant bush fruits next winter, a main crop of vegetables may be grown now, and a similar routine followed, which secures adequate preparation with economy. The Homestead Garden. Few gardens in this country are complete without a liberal display of daffodils to supplement the flowering shrubs during the winter and spring of the year. Rather large groups, each composed of a single variety, planted in the foreground of a shrubbery are perfectly happy with little attention for a few years if they have the vigorous constitution necessary for garden planting. Some of the older varieties have the necessary qualities to fill these requirements admirably, but a great many have been entirely superseded by the fine new seedlings which have been introduced during recent years. These now form a very long list, and, while most of them have the quality which warrants registration, a very much smaller number have, in addition, the vigour which is necessary to warrant them being used for display in the garden borders. To assist planters in making the best selection for this purpose the Royal Horticultural Society has concluded a threeyear trial in their Wisley garden and recently published the result in the July number of their Journal. Of the 262 varieties of the newer kinds under trial the ones mentioned below are among those which received the higher awards of merit. The method was to plant twenty-five bulbs of a variety in a clump, the clumps being distributed through a shrubbery border as in an ordinary garden, and to keep them under the supervision of a specially appointed' committee. Varieties receiving awards carried from fifty to one hundred blooms in the third year. The large trumpet varieties were among the earliest to flower : those receiving the higher awards among yellow trumpets were Brandon, Decency, Solferino, Sulphur, Winter Gold, and Wrestler. Of the white trumpets Roxane and Pacific. In bicolor trumpets Mrs. E. C. Mudge. In the large-bright-cup section (Incomparabilis), Havelock, Ambule, Carlton, Garibaldi, Grenade, Helios, Jubilant, Killigrew, Lucinius, Red Defiance, Smeroe, and Yellow Bird. And with a light perianth, Folly, Eva, Marian Cran, and Warlock. In the short-bright-cup section (Barii), Dinkie, Nanny Nunn, and Ming. In the section devoted to white, or whitish, cups large or short (Leedsii), Marmora and Tunis received the highest awards. Others receiving good awards were Cicely, Grayling, Hera, and Mitylene. Rock gardeners will be interested in the hybrids of Narcissus triandrus and N. cylamineus. Those of Narcissus Jonquilla, which always make a wide appeal with their grace and perfume, include Golden Sceptre, Lanarth, Trevithian, Aurelia, Hesla, and Yellow Prize. In the section known as Tazetta or Poetaz it comes as no surprise to find Scarlet Gem received the highest award ; the clumps bore twenty-six flower stems the first year and seventy-nine in the third year ; with the variety Glorious as a very fine second. Such variety trials are invaluable to planters. By planting the most suitable material in an understanding manner time and money are saved and good results are obtained without delay.

W. C. Hyde,

Horticulturist, Wellington