KITCHEN GARDEN

Wairoa Bell, Volume IV, Issue 159, 19 August 1892, Page 2

KITCHEN GARDEN

At the first favourable opportunity a move should be made so as to get iu more of the early crops. Parly potatoes : Continue planting iu warm, dry situations, as warm, dry soils will not only bring tile crop quicker to maturity-, but will a1..0 ensure a much better quality. Peas : From this ou during the next three mouths a short row of the above should bo sown at least once a fortnight, or three, weeks at most. By so win g- free nen tlv there is a much better chance of procuring a good supply of tender pods The dwarf varieties are the best where it is hard to procure stakes. Cabbage and cauliflowers : A row of each of these should be planted at intervals so as to keep up a supply according to requirements. Those planted a few weeks ago should now be earthed up in order to support them and keep the wind from knocking them about. If not already done a small patch of seed of both should be sown so as to provide plants for later planting in the sprin g'. Onions : The main crop of spring-sown onions should be sown either at the end of this, or as early as possible next month. To be able to do so the ground should be prepared now, as soon as the soil is in a good condition to labour. "Where the onion ground was dug and manured last autumn, all that will be necessary is to fork it over to a depth of two or three inches, leaving it as tine as possible, so that, the seed may bo sown when the proper time arrives. Rhubarb should now be planted. See that the soil where the crop is to grow js not only trenched, but that a liberal quantity of litter manure is put into it. Rhubarb likes deep rich moist soils," and to grow it well this must be provided. Asparagus : Where the beds have not as yet ■r.oCiejyed the usual spriug- forking and manuring it should, bo done as icon as possible. W hile forking, mix in with the soil a liberal supply of well-rotted manure. At the same time great care should be tafcep while doing this not to iu-

jure the crown of the plants, as injury to them means injury to the crop- After the forking is finished, give a heavy dressing of coarse salt to the surface of the ground occupied with the asparagus plants, as the salt not only acts as manure, but will also keep weeds under. Make the usual sowing of mustard, cress, and radishes, also sow a small patch of lettuce. From the old seed bed prick out another batch of plants. A few more of the old plants should be tied up so that the inner foliag-e may become blanched and crisp. Growing crops : In fire weather the soil should he stirred up between the rows’ of young '‘■roving crops. T is will nssN growth.