Agriculture. STATION, FARM AND GARDEN. GARDENING ON THE FARM.

Waikato Times, Volume XIX, Issue 1565, 15 July 1882, Page 6

Agriculture. STATION, FARM AND GARDEN. GARDENING ON THE FARM.

BY AN OLD COLONIST.

In a * proceeding paper reference was benefits wliich accompany , from the outset of settlement. fj Jhe subject was not opened in any mere , Speculative or theoretical mood, but with /,a rather extensive knowledge of the • .itnany difficulties which have to be J, encountered by the occupier of new land. \3?hos?, difficulties include fencing, withjj out .which, gardening is more of a sorrow either & pleasure or source of profit. v The^sual ?un of advice given to occupiers f|() of -new land is, not to place all the eggs yjn^pne basket, but to vary the work of 'j, occupation and the articles produced as 'pirt^qU.aa possible. This is followed by , .recommendations to grow many crops, •', iOjJieep cattle, sheep, horses, and poultry. 1 0ccasionally bees and pigeons are recomas being nice to have around a j place, and likely to be profitable. ■Against none of these "eggs" for the colonial farming basket, has the writer , a word to say. They are well in their -TTMce ; even those of the pigeons. But . when a man on a new place attempts to take stock in them all at once, he is more likely to have giief than profit for his recompense. The fact is, and as many who read will agree, there is really more clanger to the settler on a new place in putting too many rather than too few eggs in his basket— or in trying to do too much. Coming to the subject of this paper, , gardening on the farm, the general belief is, that gardening receives no consideration from the farming classes. This is a mistake, as can be seen by visiting the farming districts, old ond new. On large numbers of farms, kitchen gardens, or what were intended for gardens, are seen. It is true, unfortunately, that, in not a few cases, the gardens have become prey to weeds, and the numerous insect pests which fasten upon fruit-yielding trees. There are causes for such a state of things, of course ; and in no small proportion of what look like failures, it will be found that want of proper fencing has had a big bhare in what followed. A close paling fence it. an absolute necessity tov\ ards succe&s in gardening on the farm ; and is as necessary, if not more, on a new as an old place. Tijrht-fitting gates with proper fastenings, are also necessary, and not only to keep out the live stock about the farm, poultry included, but the numerous running and jumping pests which aillict the new colonial settler. After selecting a suitable piece of land, then, the very next thing is to have it properly fenced. If this h neglected, any further suggestion concerning successful gardening arc more than likely to be lost. The soil for a garden connot lie too lich. This rule will be found to apply whether vegetables only are to be grown, or in conjunction with fruittrees and vines. It is advisable at the very outset to go a step fmthcr e^en than this, and to provide from the commencement for applying all the refuse, manure, waste water, &c, that can be got. This means that the garden should be located in a handy place, so that everything suitable for manure can be conveyed to it easily and quickly. The garden then should be as near as convenient to the house, and if possible,- on a lower slope, 'tin-it washing and other water can be sent into it by means of drains 01 pipes. In such «i climate as ours, very decided benefit is got by the application of even small quantities of water during dry -weather. None of it .should be wasted. The fencing being completed, and convenient arrangements made for watering and manuring, the foundations of success are laid. The necessity of choosing good and rich soil has been mentioned. A free and somewhat sandy loom is best for all sorts of gardening. Clay soil docs, not answer or any soil that becomes solid and heavy after rain, or that cannot be tramped upon to same extent without packing, so that it throw s oft water, and is heavy to work. Stones in a garden are bad ; but better have stones than clay. The slope ot the land should not be , too steep, for when soil in that portion is moved, it is very liable to wash away during heavy rain. It is also more likely than less sloping ground, to allow A\ator to urn oft', and to lose the benefit of heavy showei s. In our climate, the direction or exposure of the gaiden to the sun, is not of such importance as in climates lebs blessed with the rays of the great luminary. ]Jnt an easterly aapect is the best, and a south westerly the worst. In preparing garden land fcr crops, whether kitchen, vegetables, or fruits, the soil should be moved deeply ; but it. is desirable to keep the surface soil on the top. For vegetables, trenching 18 inches deep will answer, unless the soil is very tough— not a likely contingency in a new place. For trees, trenching 2 feet deep is quite shallow enough ; G inches deeper will do no harm. Ere planting trees, or preparing for them, it is well to see if that colonial pest, the flying fox, is numerous in the district. In hilly country, these animals arc so active and destructive, that it is really of no iise planting fruit-trees, unless arrangements can also be made for protecting the fruit by netting or other means. The risks of kitchen -gaidening are loss numerous. Where good soil and suitable situation can be got r ' when properly fenced, and if, by any, means, the use of •water can be secured,' the places are few indeed where kitchen gardening of most satisfactory kind cannot be carried on with the comfort, and in a manner to pay for all the time bestowed. It is scarcely necessary to refer to the decided advantage and profit of having an abundant supply of vegetables for the homestead. They are amongst the most necessary kind of food for health. There would be fewer pills and drugs used, and not nearly so many complaints of dyspepsia if plentiful supplies of vegetables were used with the abundance of meat. And in many places abundant supplies could be had all the year round. In the warmer parts of the country, the most trying of the summer months is the ' very season during which the pumpkin and melon tribes come to the greatest perfection. The seeds of those healthy and hardy vegetables are all hardy, and can be sent by post anywhere. Mildew or exposure to wet, arc almost the only dangers to be feared with them. Put into garden land such as described and covered with an inch or so of soil, they quickly send up strong roots, and soon after cover the ground with their trailing vines and rich fruits. Cucumbers also do well. Then there are beans of many kinds, French, German, butter, dwarfs, ' kidney and climbere, and they afford sup- !. plies ,duri n 8> all the warm months. Peas i-vdo well all over the country, and the seedsoffer grand sorts for cultivation. The^cdbbage tribe suitable for cultivation ■ t'^J^' cojpmal gardens, is very*'' numerous, ,>"«n2d*tbey,are hardy and almost -pertain to , * lj Mfwid%eH 'iii such, gardens as* desoribed, , IMi^lPwftl^ • ?ti J* e tribe, ,caujiflovrerfl in- , Wkojjmoo&$ r &) *" lettuce,' should be sown «pii^^l^B,''protftcted' from fowlu and,

tablished they grqj?;'; and' yield fwell, especially if a little %ater/ and especially washing water, can be given them. Turnips of many Vatietief", carrots also of varieties, beets, &c, ale all available for the colonial farm garden, and yield enormous crops when fairly well treated. Onions are a hardy crop, and when they get into the right soil they do as well as in any pars of the world. Shallots and tree onions also do well and deserve a place and a piece of r fich rather hioist soil. The list is becoming formidable, and already includes sufficient to supply the table all the year round. But there are numerous others. There are tomatoes of varieties, mustard and cress, capsicums, which are very hardy and wholesome ; parsnips, spinach, rhubarb, &c, In beginning a new garden, a few things that can be well treated are more likely to afford success than when large numbers of things are tried. In the warmer districts, whero maize can bo grown, there is a vegetable— that is maize in the green state — which is not half so well known as it deserves to be. In parts of the north it is in great favor. The maize cobs are pulled when the grains are ju9t formed, but still in the soft or milky state. The husks are stripped ofl, and the cobs are boiled with ham, meat, or in water only. Eaten with butter, pepper, &c, this green corn is delicious. It is very wholesome, and deserves to become a more common articlo of food than it is with all classes.