THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Matamata Record, Volume II, Issue 90, 11 July 1918, Page 3

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

(W. 11. Tuylor in Journal of Agriculture) With July the busy time in a vegetable-garden begins, that month being really the beginning of spring so far as concerns gardening operations. Cabbages, cauliflowers, and lettuces —from seed sown at the end of March or the beginning of April —should now bo planted out. Older plants have a strong tendency to bolt to flower, and they should not be planted. In respect to cabbages, the provisions made should depend on the purpose for which they are grown. Spring cabbages after the heads are cut sprout with great freedom. If the sprouts are thinned so as to leave three, these will develop into well-hearted heads weighing from 2 lb. to 4 lb. each. A bed so treated will produce heads till near midsummer. In a private garden this sprouting habit saves a planting. The sprouts are always milder in flavor than the first head, a fact that should not be lost sight of. The sprouts, however, are not suitable for market purposes, so the market-gardener must plant an additional bed of a later, therefore larger, kind to succeed the spring variety, either at the same time or quickly following the first planting, and he will draw the stumps as soon as the heads are cut. Cauliflowers of two kinds should be set out at once. An early type, such as Snowball, will come into cut before October is passed and carry on till the end of the year. A large kind, like Early Erfurt, Metropole or Autumn Giant, put out at the same time, will begin to head about the end of the year when the earlies are about over. Lettuces should be planted in maximum quantity in proportion to needs. This planting produces what are probably the best heads of the year, and at a time when they are most appreciated. Onions of giant kinds should be planted. Small kinds may be also put in, and in some circumstances it is good policy to do so. The giant kinds should be planted as a matter of course, as they cannot be grown to full size from spring sowing. It is not wise to leave them to grow where sown ; transplanting is necessary to prevent them going to seed. Peas are sown as the beginning of the season’s routine, and hereafter are to be sown at intervals of two weeks. The first sowing should consist of two types, a dwarf for first use and a taller kind to succeed it. The tall kind is longer coming in than the dwarf, which is the reason for sowing both together. Drill for peas should be drawn about 4 in. deep. A little soot sprinkled over thaseed before covering with soil will materially improve growth, , and protect the seed from slugs, wireworms, and mice. Birds are in some places very destructive to peas, eating them off as soon as they show above ground. ' In the Gardeners’ Chronicle of a recent date appears the statement that a line of scarlet worsted stretched along the rows will save them. The colour (scarlet) is said to be important. I know that if the rows are provided with sticks, however short they may be, birds will not touch the peas. Spraying with quassia-water will also save them. A little lime added serves as an indication when another application is required. Broad beans should be sown, unless this has been recently done, in which case it is not necessary. The next sowing should be made in October.