BUSH FRUITS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 3 July 1940, Page 8

BUSH FRUITS

PLAY A DUAL ROLE. Bush fruits should play a dual role in gardens; they should provide fruit for dessert as well as for cooking. For the former purpose consideration of the flavour is very important, and should bo given preference, provided the variety possesses a sufficiently strong constitution to make its cultivation worth while. Black currants are not usually regarded as suitable for dessert, yet many people are fond of them as such. Probably the two best-flavoured varieties are the early, large-fruited, thin-skinned Boskop Giant, and the sweet-flavoured Victoria. Both are heavy croppers, but the latter is rather more susceptible to “bid bud” than others. Laxton’s Perfection is probably the best-flavoured red currant, and produces the largest berries. Unfortunately, its growths are rather brittle, easily damaged by wind, and it should be planted in a sheltered position. White currants make excellent dessert, and space should be found for a few bushes whenever possible. White Versaillaise is the best, a heavy cropper, bearing long branches of large,, sweet berries.

Gooseberries of first-rate flavour for dessert are numerous, and it is not easy to limit the selection to one or two. Langley Gage and Whitesmith take first rank among the white-fruited kinds, the former being generally regarded as the best-flavoured of all gooseberries. Golden Drop is a delicious yellowfruited gooseberry, with Leveller as a safe second choice, the latter being also suitable for cooking. Lancer is supreme among the green-fruited kinds so far as flavour is concerned, and is. in fact, one of the best gooseberries for general garden cultivation, while of the bestflavoured red-fruited varieties, few will disagree with Warrington as a first choice. Finally, there are the raspberries. Among red-fruited kinds, Pyne’s Royal is generally placed first for flavour, although in some gardens, particularly where the soil is very heavy, it is not always successful. Red Cross is a good second choice, and can be recommended for general cultivation. The yellow-fruited raspberries are grown specially for dessert, and pride of place should be given to Yellow Antwerp, the sweetest of all. with the larger-fruited Lord Lambourne if_ a second variety is needed. November Abundance is the bestflavoured red-fruited autumn raspberry, though not such a heavy cropper as the rather acid Hailsham.

CHIVES USEFUL IN SOUPS & SALADS. Chives are useful and are much appreciated in the spring becouse of their mild flavour, for use in soups and salads. These may be planted now. Place each clump six inches apart, and the rows one foot apart. The green tops only are used, not the tubers. When they are required cut the tops off close to the ground. The plants will soon develop new growth which may be cut several times during the year. That chives are ready for use much in advance of spring onions makes them valuable. Shallots may now be planted. These may be successfully grown on the same piece of ground, for several years provided it is deeply’ dug and well manured. Shallots are perfectly hardy and are not subject to frost injury. A sunny, open position should be given them. When planting press the bulbs into the soil about two-thirds of their depth. Place them 10 inches apart, and 12 inches between the rows. Garlic is useful although not much grown. It requires the same culture as shallots.

ZINC RINGS GOOD BARRIER AGAINST SLUGS. The zine ring is an invaluable barrier against the attacks of the slug where it can be applied. Its efficacy is, however, all the more certain if it is made of perforated zinc, or of plain zinc notched round the edges and the notching bent outwards so as to form miniature chevaux de frisc. The perforated zinc when cut has irregular edges which seem more obnoxious to troublesome pests than the plain. The notched edges are still better. These can ■ be cut by means of a strong pair of scissors. Two points should be attended to in the application of the ring. It should be pressed well into the ground and at least two inches »f the ring left above the surface. The other point is that care should be taken to see that no leaf so overhangs the ring that it would form a bridge for the passage of the slug, whose ingenuity is great when he has discovered a choice morsel he would like to devour. The rings can be soldered at the junction, but they can also be fastened with wire, or. another method, to form little tongues of the zinc to fit into slits at the other end of the material when forming the ring.