THE GARDEN

Pukekohe & Waiuku Times, Volume 9, Issue 520, 6 April 1920, Page 3

THE GARDEN

HOW TO START A COTTAGE GARDEN.

In these days most married folks endeavour to have a home ol their own. Quite naturally, when the home has been acquired they desire to have their quarter-acre look as neat as possible with its flower beds in front and its vegetable plot at t'ie rear of the house. The difficulty that confronts the would-be gardener, who has had no previous experience and is unable to distinguish a beetroot from a dahlia tuber, is what shall I grow? When shall I plant my seeds' How shall I do it? In these notes I am not taking anything for granted. 1 am assuming that you are quite ignorant of any technical language in connection with the garden. If you were willing to persist long enough y>u would gain your knowledge by experience. The trouble'is that the amateur sallies forth with a couple of shillings' worth of seed, and when, alter waiting many weeks, there is no result, he laments the loss of the two bob and lets the garden go to the dogs and spends his surplus cash on sport.

Don't let the fact that your land is poor prevent you from making an effort to get some results. There is no land so poor that it will not respond to proper treatment. 1 hat treatment should commence right away. Many amateurs make a huge

mistake in waiting till the spring before commencing. If any dairy farmers take the trouble to read this column now is "your" Jinie to vet to work when things are slack. A cl.-y spent turning up and manuring a section, so that vour wife may have some vegetables to helo keep you fit and healthy, is a day that is much better spent tiup if you went

to Neighbour Mlank's sale simply for the purpose of looking on. The average dairy farmer does not realise what a valuable thing a vegetable garden is in keeping the family doctor away.

It is my desire to help the novice to turn up his plot of land and ob-

tain the best results in the m >f,t economical fashion.

It must be remembered that the further you are away from the so the more liable you are to frost, and when the sowing season comes there is really no hurry to get all your seeds in at once. As I will point out when the spring season is upon us, it is really safer and better to be a week late than a week early. A

checked plant never does so well as one that goes straight ahead. I would advise readers to cut out and file these notes for reference. 1 be glad to answer questions. If you send them to the editor he will see that 1 get them in time to answer by the time the next notes come out. Anything urgent will be answered at once if a stamped envelope is enclosed. I am out to help

you on gardening lines and, being an enthusiast, do not mind a little extra trouble if you are enthusiastic enough to try and profit by these are the outcome of lb years'las a hobby in all kinds of soil. With this foreword let me get to work and tell you what to do during this month. First of all dig up as soon as possible all the land that you intend to cultivate. If it is grass land skim off the surface with a sharp spade, and dig in, but that it is put down fairly deep so that it will rot and not grow. Leave the ground that has been dug over to lie in a rough state so that wind, rain and frost can get to work on it and act as a sweetner and fertiliser. As an il- - yon can sow with oats or

in istard anxL then dig in the springtime. Thiflk called green manuring, and is of very great value. It is a good plan to collect ho: so, cow, and fowl manure ii it is available, and stack in some spare corner for the winter. Also make a heap of sods and all decaying vegetation. Then in the spring mix these together and you will have a splendd fertiliser. I have had a stack oi touch sods all the summer and am now mixing them all growth being killed- -with a heap "I de-.aved manure. If you need an arii.ici.d fertil-iser--and it is good to have one to -■so spa: ingly when planting I would (.•commend the mixed garden foriilser, which costs 8s (id per cwt, an.i ■onsists of blood, superphosphates iiid bonedust. 1 have used it for two rears and have found it act spienlidlv, but mix it well with the soii before putting in the plants, whethci •regtable or Howe/'.

Plant a small lot of cabbage seeci n a warm corner. 1 would sugg"si rly York and Knlield Marke\ • mall quantity of each. II planted oi Vell-iotted manure the seed wil ome away quickly and you will havi •arly plants. Protect from slugs uj i strip of zinc or corrugated i oi ibout three inches deep. Put tlicsi ,11 ips round the bed and thus k« Mr. Sing out. Sow seed thinly.

A , o\v of lettuce sown very tin. \ lU | left to develop where sown o .mill t:\ing!-o that yon might n. vi eliaiiee of earlv lettuce. Sow tic tbbr.ge variety. Also sow a sm .1 aiantitv of caulillower seed.

Transplanting can be ca ried out. •i though evergreens had better be left till August, (let your gooseb ri ies in as soon as possible. I hey root near the surface and can stand plenty of manure. if you have any rhubarb give th. m stacks of manure. They aie gr< ss feeder'S.

Get. your seed potatoes, il you I;, vv not saved any, as soon as pot-.sii.l-siiul put tliein in a shallow box or on i. shelf in a well-lighted poniiiui. I'lie idea of this is that tliey \ -i fiirow out shoots, strong and sfo and when planted these will co >i< iway in a few days and no siren l 'I has been lost by the potato a' i the ease when Die shoots a e I n: • I; ~| oil'. Il enables > oil to .•et

crop early though you have not p;,ml od the seed till the heavy frosts : r past.