Taranaki Should Be Able to Revive its Rich Farm Gardens

Taranaki Daily News, 30 September 1940, Page 32 (Supplement)

Taranaki Should Be Able to Revive its Rich Farm Gardens

A three or four years' war is visualised by the authorities, and however optimistic or pessimistic people may consider that view to be, it behoves all who grow, or may conterrplate growing, foodstuffs to look also to their gardens. The farmer who has agreed to sow extra acres in crops and topdress more liberally may feel that he is doing enough, since skilled labour is scarce and costs are rising against a fixed rate of remuneration. In these times, however, fresh responsibilities are unavoidable. If there is any member of the family available, attention should be concentrated upon the improvement of the vegetaible garden as a job of work likely to prove useful and even profitable. Too many dairy farmers of Taranaki shamefully neglect the cultivation of a vegetable patch and always have done so. Some few farmers are keen gardeners, while others like to see the place kept tidy. Many farmers' wives look on the garden as their special department and set as good an example as could be desired once the men folk have ploughed, disced and fenced the area. The farm usually has plenty of dung— that priceless asset — to spare. The suburban gardener sighs for it, and the more daring will even sally forth after a circus has passed with bucket and shovel, but with the replacement of the horse by motor power, the need for animal manure in every branch of horticulture has become more urgent and pressing. Manure Problem. Good vegetables and fruit can only be grown in well-manured, fertile, welldrained soil. Lime, while essential to some, is unnecessary for others. Rotation of crops among the vegetable family is just as important as is rotation of crops for the wheat grower, but the average gardener does not practise it. There are sheltered corners on many a farm where early crops can be grown with the minimum of trouble and expense. There are mellow brick walls and iron roofs on which the sun shines that may well carry their load of passion fruit or shelter tomatoes. Dwarf hard-fruit trees will come in bearing long before standards or halfstandards, and are capable of considerable exploitation throughout Taranaki farm lands. Where, to-day, are the rich orchards that grandfather planted" Often they have deteriorated through neglect, and when cut down r.re bitterly regretted. If on your far.n there is a long path, set out on 1 oth sides to annual and perennial flowers, it may be possible to plant at the back of a row of cordon pears and another of apples set at three feet apart. There is no system which will give finer fruit or quicker returns than the cordon. Not all varieties are suitable. but one is safe to make Cox's Orange Pippin the main apple. while such pears as Conference. Durondeau and Williams are good croppers and saleable varieties. Soft fruits demand heavy manuring and should have a patch of their own where they can remain undisturbed and out of the regular routine of digging which their surface roots o'oject to.

None So Derelict. No farm garden is so derelict that it cannot be cleared of weeds by the simple application of sodium chlorate. This will keep the area treated free of all weed until the few months have elapsed during which the chemical is still active, after which the ground can be dug up and planted in the normal way. A little specialisation on a crop which suits a particular soil and site may bring in handsome returns during the coming years. Farmers' wives are well-known who make extra pin money by growing horseradish for sauce. bunching snowdrops for sale, marketing carrots. brocolli. onions. and in drying fierbs. Fruit is fairly easy to grow. provided pest control can be efiected and there can be no .doubt whatever that, in spite of this year's glut, the demand for fruit is going to be haruer to satisfy. For years after the last war soft-fruit prices remained very high indeed.