THE GARDEN.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXIV, Issue 4571, 1 June 1923, Page 1

THE GARDEN.

VEGETABLE-CULTURE. Cabbages for the earliest spring supply are in many cases already planted; where they are not the plants should be got in without delay. The true earlies make very small heads and require very little space. The rows need not be more than 18 in. apart, with the plants 12 in. apart in the rows. Welldrained land is especially necessary for the early crop; if the soil holds water it will be cold and progress of the plants delayed. Farmyard, stable, or animal manure of any kind should not be used for early crops; it holds water like a sponge and makes the ground cold. A dressing of 2 oz. or 3 oz. of blood-and-bone per square yard may be given, or the same amount of superphosphate with 34 oz - of sulphate of ammonia added. When the plants begin to grow, a dressing of nitrate of soda, Yz oz. to Y oz. per square yard, will hurry them along.

Beds of young turnips should have what attention they require in the way of thinning as early as possible. White-fleshed varieties do not require much thinning. They begin to bulb early, and if they are pulled as soon as ready room is made for others. The yellow-fleshed varieties stand longest; these should be thinned at once to allow space for the development of each root.

A good many people have the idea that summer variety of rhubarb should be lifted in winter and be kept out of the ground till spriiig. This is quite wrong; it should not be disturbed except for special reasons, but if it is lifted it should not be replanted till spring. This is practiced not because it benefits the rhubarb, but because if it were planted back during winter the soil would become weedy. As the plants remain dormant till spring it is best to delay planting till that time, when the. roots can be planted in freshly worked, clean soil,—By W. H. Taylor, in the Journal of Agriculture.