The Garden.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 1 December 1891, Page 2

The Garden.

Potatoes of the main crop should be kept well hoed up to kill weeds and loosen the soil. Previous to moulding up, it will be found advantageous to remove the weaker shoots from the sets leaving only two or three of the strongest. This is thought by some to be an important point in cultivation of garden potatoes as leading to an increase of crop and to large sized tubers. Crowded shoots, it is argued, exclude light and air, hence the whole plant becomes weakened. A sowing of Endive may be made, the seed being scattered thinly in drills at about 12 inches apart. When large enough to handle the plants may be placed at 11 inches apart. Onions should be thinned when a few inches high and vacancies in the rows made good with the strongest plants. At the final thinning they may be left at 4 to 6 inches apart. Parsnips can easily be thinned when young ; they may be left about 8 inches apart. Thin turnips at first with the hoe, leaving patches of the plants at 6 to 9 inches apart, they may then be finished off by hand. Do not omit to make sowings of Savoy, Broccoli, and Brussels Sprouts.