GARDENING NOTES.

Hutt News, Volume 1, Issue 21, 18 October 1928, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES.

|. Supplied by H.V.H.S,

, (Continued from October 11.)

Salsify.—Sow early in November in lifeh soil but not freshly manured as this vegetable is inclined to prong. Treat the same as parsnips. Sow in rows 15 inches apart and cover the seed one inch deep. Keep well cultivated and when digging the crop take care not to break the root otherwise they will be useless for exhibition purposes. Variety—Mammoth, Sandwich Island. ShaDots. —Treat the same-as onions in preparing the ground for shallots. Plant early in August. Rows should be lft apart and the bulbs pressed into the soil eight inches apart and covered until the tops are just above ground level. Varieties —Bobbie's Red.

Tomato.—Fruit of medium size with a clear, smooth skin, and firm flesh are required for exhibition. I will not fully go into details of seed sowings, etc., but will give a few hints on manuring, etc. The majority of garden notes I have had the pleasure of reading always tell the garden enthusiast not to plant tomatoes in ' rich soil.. I wonder how commercial growers would succeed if they planted in anything but rich soil. The best soil is loam, well broken up and deeply cultivated. When planting out incorporate with the soil a moderate quantity of artificial manure, comprising what the Americans term a 4-8-8 mixture, meaning 4 parts of nitrogen, 8 parts of phosphoric acid, 8 parts of potash (sulphate). The quantity of potash can be reduced on heavy soils but do not eliminate from mixture altogether as potash not only acts as a manure but assists the plants to resist that deadly disease known as " Black Stripe." Spray every fortnight with Bordeaux Mixture- Once'the plants begin to grow, keep side shoots removed. After the first truss is formed and the plant well established give each plant a pinch of nitrate of soda. Watch carefully for caterpillars. A fortnight before the Show select the best fruits and remove any leaves that are .shading them to ensure the fruits being well matured and uniformity coloured. Do not carry defoliation to excess. A good way to keep tomatoes for show purposes is to pack in clean sawdust. Varieties —Kondine Eed, Best of Allj but the grower would be well advised to stick to those varieties that do well in his own particular district.

Turnips. —This vegetable requires a loose soil, moderately rich and well cultivated. Sow in drills 15 inches apart and thin out to 6 inches apart. A sprinkling of nitrate of soda and super- •* phosphates after thinning out generally produces good results. Varieties —Snowball and Golden Ball. Vegetable Marrows and Pumpkins, and Squashes. —The secret of success in growing these vegetables is to provide an abundance of moisture combined with a very rich soil. Given these, the plant generally gives good results. With pumpkins and squashes pinch out all fruit with the exception of the two best fruits. Place fruit on a piece of wood or some other material otherwise it will become discoloured. Marrows should be cut early in the season but as the date of Show approaches select the best fruits and remove all other fruits to ensure good specimens being obtained fO'- the Show. Varieties —Marrows: Long Cream and Long Yellow. Pumpkins: Ironbark. Squash: Golden Hubbard, Turk's Cap. It is hoped that after giving you cultivation notes of all utility vegetables - that are generally seen on the Show benches, my readers will double their efforts and support the Society with their products and increase their entries at the forthcoming Shows. Should any reader be desirous of further information a letter to the Secretary, Box 19, Lower Hutt, will meet with a prompt reply.

Millias and Knightlike are likely to partiepate in the finish of the October Handicap. Of the thirteen engaged in the Wellington Handicap, Pink Note, Blimp, and Shining Armour appear to have chances. HARCOURT CUP—SECOND DAY. The contest appears to rest between Prodice and Laughing Prince. Both will be in strong demand. TRACK AND STABLE GOSSIP. Teri is a model of consistency. Battle Colours is working particularly well on the tracks. Vigilance should go well in the Wainm Handicap. Dermod is a smart performer engaged in the October Handicap. King Mirdas is improving with every race. He is sure to be well fancied for the Wainui Handicap on Saturday. Head Serang is being whispered as the likely winner of the Taita Handicap. Beaumont is one to keep in mind for hurdle events at the Trentham Carnival. If the going is soft at Trentham on Saturday, Nukumai will take no end of beating in the big flat event. Keen sportsmen are picking Blimp- to put up a good performance in the "Wellington Handicap on Saturday next. Shining Armour continues1 to go on winning. His success at Masterton on Saturday will bring him into favour for the Wellington Handicap. Vexatious is a fine track worker. The chestnut will take no end of beating in the First Hurdle Handicap at Trentham on Saturday. Tilley's stable will be represented at the Trentham Carnival by Cashier, Consent, Mandane, and Laughing Prince. Pink Note gave an impressive performance when he won the Mosgiel Handicap at Duncdin. The South Island gelding will probably go out favourite for the Wellington Handicap. HORSES IN THE LIMELIGHT " ■ Vexatious and' Beaumont. Head Serang and Clever. Vigilance and Cashier. Teri and Mooregas. Pink Note and Blimp. First Money and Francplin. Bright Glow and Helotis. Dermod and Knightlike. - Prodiee and Laughing Prince.