THE FARMER.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 August 1911, Page 3

THE FARMER.

THE FARM GARDEN.

The domestic garden is usually a fixture, located near the homestead, and, of necessity, fenced in. Thus it follows that the soil is subject to constant cropping, and, though rotation •of crops helps the soil to some extent it, after all, means that what is left on one crop is takpn out by another. The soil must be duly compensated, or the loss of humus will end in disappointing crops, in spite of all that fertilizers can do. Stable and farmyard manure is an absolutely necessity in such a garden. It is not advisable to manure all "the ground in any year. The plots to be occupied by peas, beans, cabbages, turnips, cauliflowers, and broccoli should be well manured and carrots, parsnips, and beet-root should cc grown on ground that was well manured last year for some .. of the first-named $vegefables. as fresh manure causes roots to forks, to gtow coarse, and produce a lot of side roots —in fact, to pro* duce roots of inferior flavour and rough appearance.

Lettuces may be planted now in rich soil, These will be from seed sown in autuu.n, and give the very best of lettuces at the most, acceptable time, just, as pprmg bt-gins to merge into summer. When these plants as seen to be in active growth put in some seeds to succeed them.

Sow peas now in a regular Avay about onco a fortnight. Turnip-seed may now be put. in. It is not wise to sowrnure Uinu a few short drill?, because they do not stand long at this season, and " little and often" must be the mleto keep up a supply.

If cabbages are planted now there will be no need for sowing seed, but if plants are not available sow seed at once. Sow carrots of a shorthorn t}'pe to give early roots. So;v raddish thinly and broadcast—here again little and often,

Plant shallots and garlic- Both these are very useful in various ways in making sauces, flavouring dishes; shollots are also useful as pickles, treated the same as onions. The method of growing them is to plant the cloves is very friable soil, barely cover* ing thorn with soil —indeed, some cultivators like the top to be 'visible ; plant in rows 12 in. asunder, the

cloves being 9in or 10 in. apart in the rows.

If bioad boans are not already sown, some may be put in. One crop is usually enough each season. ,

Jerusalem artichokes a»-e a very profitable vegetable to grow. To soina the flavour may appear peculiar, but once the taste is acquhed they are always appreciated. Where losses occur among the green crops from the ravages of the larvse of the diamond-backed moth, artichokes nre particularly valuable, as they are in use from late in autumn until spring. Tubers of medium size are planted n> the same way as potatoes, 15 in. apart, in rows 3ft. asunder. Do not plant large tubers, as they are liable to produce a riumber of small ones. The soil should be good, but not too heavily manured. The crop is usually a prolific one. The smnll tubers, as well as the su~plus of tho crop, are vnluable as pig-iced.

Cauliflowers 6hould be planned now. The wist • way is to plant two varieties, an early one, such as Early Erfurt or Early London, nnd one of the Yeitch's Autumn Giant type. The earl}' sort fchould come into use during November, and only produce Mimill head?. They are prone to batton prematurely, and are then useless. When they begin to grow notice if they make good progress. If they do net, give a tablespoon of nitrate of soiln to each plant. This usually promotes rapid growth nnd makes tho crop safe. The giant kinds are n.ore certain. They come in about Christmas-time and last through JanuaiT. If plants as indicated are not available for planting, put in some seed, but it is not wise to do both. The variety sown should be a giant kind, as this is bost for summer work.