RURAL GARDENING

Globe, Volume XXIV, Issue 2689, 20 November 1882, Page 3

RURAL GARDENING

[From the “ Weekly Press.] We have before now drawn attention to the fact that gardening, as a part of farm economy, receives little attention in proportion to the importance of the matter; and yet there is no portion of the farm which will give so good a return in the way of domestic comfort. An acre of land, one-half planted with fruit trees and the other half with vegetables, properly attended to, will supply fruit and vegetables all the year round to a large ‘amily. But to do so the land must be aberally treated as regards manure, and a constant war must be waged against weeds, grubs, and the attacks of small birds. There is one source of manure available wherever there are a few head of cattle and horses housed during the winter me and that is the liquid manure wu.;h o aally runs to waste. A tank sunk in the ground, or even a large cask, will serve to collect the precious liquid, which can be conveyed to the roots of the trees or growing vegetables, or it may be thrown over the soil in preparation for early spring cropping. It is well known that liquid manure, especially that produced by well fed stock, has almost all the necessary elements for plant food in a soluble condition. Gardeners in the old country well know the value of this kind of fertilizer, and they spare no pains in collecting it. Where liquid manure from cattle cannot be obtained it may be manufactured at a very small cost. A couple of hundredweight of superphosphate of lime or Peruvian guano will suffice for half an acre of vegetables, a little to be used when sowing the crops, in a powdered state, and the rest to be dissolved in water as required, and applied to the growing plants. A couple of pounds’ weight of either compound will suffice for each gallon of water, and will well repay the little time required for its manufacture and use, for there- is always enough spare time about the homestead for such odd jobs. As regards the kind of vegetables most easily grown, there are few more delicious thau the vegetable marrow, and few that repay the trouble and expense of cultivation more fully. Every farmer, large or small, ought to grow it, and yet it is not nearly so extensively cultivated as it should bo. It may be owing to the circumstance that the plant is rather tender, and liable to be cut off by lat« frosts, which is the chief hindrance to its more general culture. The remedy is a simple one, viz., not to bo tempted to sow the seed before the second week in November. The soi. cannot be too rich for marrows, but to grow them to perfection they must have shelter aud moisture, as well as plenty of good well-rotted manure. A good plan iv to collect a heap of rubbish and mix it with a couple of barrowsfull of fresh manure, and to form a mound covered over with soil, on the top of which the seed may be sown. This mound should be composed of rich materials, because on that will depend the growth and vigour of the plants, and consequently their fruitfulness. The plants should have their leading shoots stopped after they have made three or four leaves, and they should then be pegged down on the surface of the ground. This measure will not be necessary except in exposed situations, which situations should however bo avoided. The stopping of the leading shoots will lead to the breaking of the lower buds into branches, which will also require pegging down. We have frequently heard complaints that the marrows did not produce a satisfactory quantity of fruit, when a little attention paid to stopping the leading vines would have left no room for complaint. Some varieties of vegetable marrow grow more freely than others, and will consequently require more frequent stopping, but this will suggest itself to any ordinary observer. The point to bear in mind is, that the more freely the plant grows, the chances of fruitfulness are increased: but at the same time it may be necessary to stop the running branches in order to throw them into fruitfulneis. Ojc great advantage of the marrow is, that the fruit, if allowed to ripen, may bo kept for use throughout the winter and far into the following season, thus supplying a wholesome and palatable dish at a time when other vegetables are scarce. They may be stored away in any dry and airy place. One of the best for this is the custard marrow : it is also one of the best for flavor, and although certainly not the most productive, is a very profitable sort to grow. Under good management a great weight of valuable food may be obtained from a comparatively small space of ground at the least possible cost in labor or material. There are several varieties of pumpkins equally valuable, some of which thrive best when led over a pile of branches or over an old building. Again, cucumbers may j also bo grown almost as readily as the marrow, the same treatment answering in most respects. The best crop we have over seen grown out of doors was by a Chinaman in the vicinity of Christchurch. He grew them amongst cabbages, the cool shade of which seemed to answer exactly their requirements. In dry weather they require a copious supply of water, which may be enriched by the addition of a little guano or superphosphate. Asparagus is a vegetable rarely ever met with in rural gardens, and yet few vegetables are more easily grown. A bed once properly formed will, after the third year, furnish an ample supply each spring of one of the most delicate aud wholesome of all vegetables for many years, the only condition for successful culture being a top-dressing once a year of well-rotted manure, and a light sprinkling of salt at the same time. French beans are also easy of culture, quite as easy as either the ordinary pea and garden bean. Periodical sowings of radish, cress and mustard, beginning in August and continued up till December, will also supply an agreeable change. These may seem trivial matters, but no farmer, however few his acres, should bo without a well-stocked kitchen garden, especially if he have duo regard for the health «f his family.