VEGETABLE CULTURE

Hutt News, Volume 2, Issue 42, 27 March 1930, Page 9

VEGETABLE CULTURE

Hoeing Speeds Maturity.

Systematic and thorough -hoeing should always follow watering, or rains, as soon as the surface is.sufficiently dry that it can be worked without -tn rni°u£ <ucr in sticky lumps. This oper?.f''» is one of the most important in 3ouneciicn -with tie garden, whether it be a'lrbng the flowers or vegetables. If anyone douiSTs the valtfe of hoeing for thf/ benefit of growing plants, vrheth^er weeds be present" or not, allow one portion to remain uniworked and note the results. It will be found tit it titt»t part, of the crop which has been regnJarly hoed will reach maturity a^Bout a fortnight earlier than t&e part left un>. touched.

That the crop may derive full benefit from hoeing, a du-st mulch about two inches deep should bo secured. Mere surface skimming is not sufficient, as it does-little more than take off the tops of any weed, growth.

Give Attention to Cabbages and Cauliflowers when Planting.

When setting out young. Cabbage plants, it is a good plan to cut the leaves back by half; curtailing the foliage relieves the root functions somewhat, witlb. tJhe result that the plant soon becomes thoroughly established, and new growth quickly follows- If^ the plants are rather "leggy/" set them .so tihat the lower leaves are just above the surface.

Early Cabbage, with their closely enfolding' outeT leaves, may be plantei «ighteen inches apart in the row, with the rows two feet apart. Cultivation

greatly aids steaay growth. Moistore is another essential; in time of drought,copious supplies of water may be given once in four o? five days. Occosional light dressings of nitrate of soda will worlc-wqnders. Apply after hoeing, end follow with a good watering. -• With Cauliflowers thjL.plaatS-wilL re«

more fertilisers and culture (ia fact, intense culture) than Cabbages, na only tiho3e Cauliflowers are really good which are grown quickly.

It is. a mistake to have tie soil iii the seed-bed richer or even as rich_ftS the ground in which, the young seedlings are to be transplanted later, na tihe young plaints are liable to be starved after transplantation. This applies chiefly to crops such as cabbage and cauliflower. General Work. This is the time for earnest -work-in every department. Make a general clearance of the ground wherever there are vacant spaces, and ridge up all plots not to be planted on for a while. Get a waste corner clear for (heaping up manures and composts, where they can be turned over during unfavourable, weather. . " i In preparing for spring and summer crops, first trench-over the ground intended for root crops, where possible using plots wihiah were welt- manured this season. If tKe soil allows for deep digging, fork Over the second spit, and if it is of a friable and fertile nature, bring it to the top, so as to turn the •whole soil over from 18 inches to two. feet deep.

Plant out Lettuce, in a warm situation. Earth up Celery.

Sow Cabbage^ Cfoiriiilower, Brocolty Spinach, Onions, Carrots, Turnips, Broad Beans, and Peas (Day's Early Sunrise) for spring use... "Wiaen thinning out Tootcrops which produce round roots such.as Beet, Turnips'and Carrots, it is .not necessary to thin these out to too great a distance. These vegetables are much more delicious and tender when 1 to 1J inches in diameter than wihen grown to a large sjze, wiben they often became- hard, woody and fibrous, and therefore they need not be thinned to more than 1$ inches apart.

£asy Way to Ckdovr MusJirooms.

Mushrooms are always acceptable, so that those wiho have a plot of grass not used far a lawn should try' growing them, althoiig hivnless weather. con> ditions suitable to the running of the spawn prevail, a large crop of t!hi* delicious fungus cannot be expected. All that is necessary is to lift pieces of turf a foot square, and a yard ox so par.t, dig out the soil to the dep-t&i of twelve inches, put in. ten inches of fresh horse droppings, beating it quite nrm, then insert a piece of muslhroom spawn just level with the surface. Add about half an inch of soil and replace the turf, beating- it down.

Spawn is sold in bricks by all seedsmen. Divide each brick into eight portions and plant each piece smooth side

upward