THE FARM GARDEN.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 2 October 1912, Page 3

THE FARM GARDEN.

VEGETABLE GROWING,

Mr W. H Taylor, in the Journal of Department of Agriculture, says :— To maintain a continuous supply of good vegetables a vigorous policy is necessary. The old adage about procrastination is particularly applicable to the pursuits of gardening, where the success of everything depends on doing whatever is wanted in the very nick of time. "Do it now," should be the motto ; there should be no putting off till tONmorrow what ought to be Jone to-day. A delay of one day may bring weather-changes resulting in the loss of a week. This may mean a break in the supnly, or increased labour in thinning. It may be as wasteful to sow too early as it is to sow too late; there is a time when it is best to do everything. My endeavour is to indicate the best time and manner, having nr view the importance of securing good results with a minimum of labour. As illustrations of my meaning I will mention three important vegetables— viz.. celery, parsnips, and leeks.

To most people celery is associated with a good deal of frame and box work ; this involves a lot of work.- If celery is required early the box cannot bo avoided. But most of the readers of these articles require celery in late autumn and wintei; or, putting it another way, while there is a supply of tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuces, and suchlike, there is no real need for celery, which will be the more appreciated if it fills the want caused by the cessation of other supplies. , The best celery is afforded by the winter crops, not the early ones. The soil should be rich, and the seed not sown too thickly. _ When of a fair size, lift the plants with a fork, so as not to break the roots. Transplant into beds of rich soil, and leave the plants about oin. apart. They"remain there till they strengthen into strong and sturdy plants • then plant in trenches in the ordinary way. This plan is the one followed by most experienedd gardeners j it gives good results, and to the novice it avoids the somewhat difficult box work, which frequently leads to failure.

PAKsxirs are not of real service till summer crops are gone, they are at their best in winter, when the soil is cold ; if taken into use too early thoy are liable to pall the taste. If sown early in November, thoy are ready for use, and of good size, by May, quite early enough, as it gives them a currency ol five months.

Leeks are frequently sown too early. Their place is as a winter vegetable ; sown too early, they are liable to go to seed. Seed sown on the loth of September and transplanted the Inst week in December on good land, but manured only with superphosphate and bone-meal, gave us in Junclceks which, when trimmed ready for the pot, in many cases weighed nearly 2lb. Pejs should be sown about twice n month. The best plan is to sow again as soon as those last sown are well through tho ground. But it should be distinctly understood that this rule will ensue a continuity of supply only if varieties of the same character are sown each time; for whereas a dwarf will come into use in about ninetythree to ninety-live days, second-ear-liers will take at least ten days longer, and main.crop varieties about three weeks longer. This should bo kept in mind, as, if a dwarf vnrietv was sown last, a talhr sort will not come into use when the dwarf is past unless it was sown at the same time ; therefore, if that has happened, the best way now is to sow more dwarfs aud a tallsr sort at the same time.