THE FARM GARDEN.

Kaipara and Waitemata Echo, 16 October 1912, Page 3

THE FARM GARDEN.

VEGETABLE GROWING,

Beoccoli seed should tie put in at once. Broccoli should always be given a place of importance in the scheme of the garden operations, for it is bioccoli that supplies the the so-called " cauliflowers " throughout winter and early spring, from June to December in fact; there are no cauliflower obtainable from June till November. A number of different varieties should be sown, including early, mid-winter, and late sorts. It is best to plant more than the estimated number required, for it is utterly impossible to calculate exactly when they will come in ; a number may come at once ; hence unless there is a sure surplus, there is certain to be a deficiency^ I suppose no one can explain why it is that, when a batch of cauliflower or broccoli plants, all of one kind, and all in every way alike, are put out at the same time, they do not all button together, but a batch of a hundred plants may actually be in cut for a couple of months. This matter of un* certainty cannot be controlled, but it should be considered in the planting arrangements ; you must provide for a few to go to waste occasionally, or your supply must of certainty be short. " CAULiELOWEK-seed should be sown now, sorup such variety as Veitchs' Autumn Giant; the early kinds are quite useless for summer work. The cauliflowers, if the plants are well looked after, should be in use at Easter time, just as the pea-supply has slackened off ; they are especially valuable at that time.

BittrssELs sprouts seed should be sown at once. This is perhaps the best of all winter vegetables, if well grown ; but they are better left alone unless they can be given the ideal conditions ; for unless grown straight on without any check they are not likely to be of mucii use. It is a mistake to leave plants of Brussels sprouts broccoli, or cauliflower to grow in the seed-bed till they are large enough to plant out. It will answer all right sometimes, particularly in a rainy season, but as-a rule the plants require better treatment, to fortify them against dry weather and other troubles. As soon as they can be handled the plants should be pricked off into beds of rich soil. Put them 2m. or sin. apart; they then make strong dwarf plants, with plenty of roots. Omoxs will in most cases be ready for thining, and there should'bo no delay about it; for a great deal depends on a good start, and this they do not get if crowded. If it is desired, the plants taken out can bo transplanted, provided they are lifted without damaging the roots. The best and quickest way to transplant is to draw drills with the market. Lay the roots of each plant against one walL of tho drill and push the other Avail of tho drill against them; the plants need not stand upright. It is important not to bury any more of tho stem than can bo helped, and this need not be done if the plants are left lying almost or even quite on the ground; they soon lift themselves when the roots get hold. Asparagus maybe planted now in the way previously described. Fkk.ncii ju'.axs maj be sown early in October in Wellington Province, earlier or later in different parts of the Dominion, and even in_ various localities in the same province , ae^ cording to comparative warmth of soil and liability to frost. ; in any case it is useless to sow until a certain warmth of soil is assured ; better be a little late sowing than too earh .

Rr.oEii ukans may be sown at the same time : they require deep and good soil, It ;s obvious that a plant that makes so strung and succulent v. growth as these beans d.) must reijuire a considerable amount of moisture : soil should be workod deeply, so that the ro.its can get down after it. The best crops .1 have over grown were obtained when 1 planted the beans in trenches prepared ah for celery. A good v-pit deep was thrown out. then a good coat of fat stable manure dug in the bottom ; half the soiltjkeu out was then returned, and the beans sown on the surface ; they would thus bo about Gin. below tho normal surface. Wheu the beans had g*-own a bit the sticks were put in ;■ these were put down in the trench, on each side ; then the remaining soil was returned, tilling the trench up level. This helped to hold the stick linn, and moulded up the beans ; but, as tho soil we:s left level, rain had easy ac;-ess, and the roots, being welt down, sel do:n suffered from drought.