SIGNS OF SPRING

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 2, Issue 194, 2 August 1940, Page 5

SIGNS OF SPRING

FLOWERS MAKE A SHOWING! OIL THAT LAWNMOWER With the turn of the month signs of spring are not difficult to find in Whakatanc. Wattle trees have been in bloom for some weeks in parts of the district, while a pohutukawji still bravely blossoms at Ohope. Flpwers, chiefly violas and Ice- 1 land and Sunbeam poppies are mlak ing a showing in more than one garden and hedges are beginning, to sprout in a manner that suggests the early sharpening of the 1 shears. Gardeners, who for many weeks have found that they coukl regard their lawns with complacency, are realising that it will not be long before they are once again the slaves of the lawnmower. NO SCARCITY WINTER VEGETABLES Tn contrast with the winter of 1939 fresh vegetables of all kinds are plentiful at present. This is due to a favourable sea- j son for growth and also to the fact that much larger areas were plant- ; ed last summer. Last winter the vegetable market was influenced by shortages in many lines and for some kinds famine prices had to be paid. This factor had the effect that commercial growers planted more extensively and. amateur gardeners paid more attention to house hold plots. While this extra planting lias had n steadj'ing influence on prices it has not caused an over-supply and it is possible .that before spring supplies come on to the market there may yet be scarcity, this being likely in onions and potatoes. Supplies of green vegetables, such as cabbages and cauliflowers are plentiful following a favourable late summer with a good rainfall, These crops also escaped seriqus damage by the Avhite butterfly.- , lloot vegetables, of which the most popular are carrots and parsnips, are also plentiful, but the position in the potato market is uncertain. At present supplies are abundant, permitting the export of 5000 tons from the South Isl'and to Australia. The keeping qualities of these roots, however, will largely influence the state of the market in September and October and av,ail able supplies may be diminished by large withdrawals from resent stocks of seed.