VEGETABLE CULTIVATION.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1486, 8 July 1912, Page 10

VEGETABLE CULTIVATION.

ADVICE'FROM AN EXPERT. For purposes of gardening, spring may be said to commence with July, ns with ihe first clays of this month seed sowing begins. • Some interesting notes on vegetable cultivation arc reprinted from the "Journal" of 'the Department of Agriculture, in which Mr. '\V. H. Taylor has the following to say:—

The first thing to attend to is the- pea supply. The usual plan is to simultaneously : sow two varieties at least. One kind should be a dwarf, the other a taller sort, as the latter varieties are longer than the dwarfs in coming into bearing. They coma Jnto use wten the supply from the dwarf is nearly over. If for any reason - it is not convenient to sow. two kinds at this time, another sowing of a dwarf kind should he sown as soon as the first is showing above the soil. Sow a .taller kind at this latter date in any cas<?." Tho best rule to follow as to time of sowing after the first is to sow again as soon as the last sowing is up. Dwarf kinds may be town thicker than taller sorts. The rate of sowing should be a pint of seed to a drill JO feet long for dwarfs, and' the same quantity to a SO feet drill for varieties up to 3 feet. It is a mistake to grow the taller sorts unless they can Ire provided with stakes, for they otherwise smother themselves, and a great part of the.crop is thereby lost. Some knowledge of the habit of varieties is' neocsa'rv to determine how thick the seed should 1* sown. Foine varieties branch out freely, nud in t'le-e cases the plants should be 'quite Gin. apart. Dwarf varieties do not branch, or only to a slight extent, and with them thin sowing only leads to waste. Onions.—What other seeds should bo sown largely depends on local conditions. It, may he sot down ns an axiom that it is better to wait awhile rather than sow seed in ground unfit for its growth, whether this may arise from hurried preparation or a too wet state. With this reservation, you cannot gst your onion seed in too early. This may require a little explanation. Firstly, then, if the soil is tco wet when the seed is sown it cannot be sown properly, and will be likely to fail to grow. Again, it may come up all right, but not make growth fcr a few weeks thereafter. This is bnd. Where experience shows that such a thing is likely lo happen, it would be belter to sow a little later. Hut this should be always kept in mind: mildew seldom appears before Ihe end of .TanuarV, usually later, and it is highly desirable that Ihe crop_ should be in mi 'advanced Stale before its appearance: ul.-i that late-sawn crops meet dry weather before (hey have al tained any size, and the chances are ((gains! their ever iliiiti l ,' so. The "prevalence of mil<l?w in some districts, usually lint country v.ifh a moist climate, is the chief reason why many cnltivalors sow in ailt'imn.

Cari'nU that have stouil the winler so to seed in sprine. As scm as tho top> boffin to show signs of •rrnwinu, lift all that-are left. • Tf stacked in a dryish place, and covered with soil, they will Wop a few weeks loneer. To continue the supply put. in a small quantitv of Early Horn seed. These come on quickly, are usable in a very small state, and fulfil requirements till the later-sown larger kinds are ready. Turnip <ood slruild uol bo nut in so early a- carrot. In the Wellington province August is j»s oarlv as wo can sow: Jhey co to seed if sown earlier. Cabbage and cauliflower plants, from the autumn sowini.'should bo ready lo ro out. Got thorn iihnted a 5 soon as they are. larce einujh: the 03rlv>r the l-'t.ter. Lettueo.—The same thine .ipnljo? fi lettuce. Put ou.t a sood bed of these,, for

this planting frequently affords the best heads of the season. They stand longer than those .sown at any other lime, and are in greal-er demand.

Rhubarb may lie planted in deep rich ground. That enriched with stable manure is most suitable. It is useless to attempt to grow rhubarb in poor soil, or soil deficient in humus.

Jerusalem artichokes still remaining in the ground should now lie dug. The tubers will keep fit for use for some time yet if )i«t In a ilrv place and covered with <lrv rarlh or sniul. They wither if s-t.icked ill a dry place and are. jiot covered. They grow quicker if put in a damp place.

Tn seconding the' Addross-in-Roplv the ether night. Mr. Vigor Brown. ' M.T\. spoke of the necessity for more Chw>makiiig factories in the- Dominion. Chee-e-makiug pays, especially when the plant includes "Victor" Vats. Two jarge Taranaki Companies have realised this, and have placed orders for 50 of tbe<? patent vat=. Orders from any part of the Dominion filled satisfactorily. Manufacturer, Albert J. l'nrton, Carterton.

A WINNER OF COMPETITIONS. The Egg-laying Competitions for 1910-11 and 191142 were both won by pens reared on "A. and P." Chick Raiser. The first essential for profitable poultry keeping. Obtainable from all Storekeepers.*