Kitchen Garden

Manawatu Herald, 24 November 1892, Page 3

Kitchen Garden

Among the things which may be done when work is not preasing is the preparation of the Celery trenches. When the trenches are marked out, the intermediate ridges may be made available for French Beans, Lettuce, or a row of Turnips. These by being sown now will be off in ample time, and will not interfere with earthing later on in the season. In small gardens this early preparation of the trenches is certainly the best to adopt, so as to economise cropping space. Choose an open position, and arrange the rows from north to south, both sides of the plants being thereby exposed to the sun. There is nothing like having plenty of soil for earthing. For double cropping tha rows should be quite 5 feet apart, an extra Gin being all the better. Where the ground will not be so occupied, the rows require to.be 4ft Gin apart. The depth at which the trenches will be taken out must hi gauged by the soil. As a rule, 9in to 12in will do, and the width 15in to 20in ; the latter distance for accommodating two rows of plants. After taking out the soil, fork up the bottom, laying the manure on this and surfacing with the top fertile soil in preference to forking it in. A dressing of burnt garden refuse spread along the rows previous to placing in the manure will be an advantage. On cold heavy soils, bring up the rooting medium to within 2in or 3in of the top, a warmer root hold being thereby assured. Ib should be remembered that it is very « unwise to allow the young Celery plants to become stunted in the pang or boxes in which the seed has been sown. It is sometimes recommended to plant direct into the trenches, but the best course is to prepare a suitable plot on which to pick out the seedlings. This bed ought to be formed on a level and hard surface, for if this should be at all loßse the roots will penetrate too deeply ; consequently the plants cannot be lifted with such a good clean ball as they should be. Over the bottom should be spread a layer of rotton manure to the depth of two inches, and over this a layer of holding soil. This latter is very essential, for if at all loose and sandy it will not hold to the roots when the time arrives for planting The material must be pressed down firmly previous to pricking off the plants, which should be four inches apart each way. Provision should be made for a stock of winter vegetables. Borecole or Kale may be sown thinly in seed beds, thus avoiding the labor of pricking out, as when the plants are ready they may then be at once planted in their permanent quarters. Thin out growing crops and keep the hoe in constant use — Exchange;