IN THE GARDEN

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20910, 15 September 1939, Page 7

IN THE GARDEN

NEW HOBBY FOR MANY HAMILTON SEEDSMEN BUSY GREATER ACTIVITY THAN USUAL There are probably more blistered hands in Hamilton this week than for many years. Men all over the town are “digging-in”—that is, in the peacetime sense of the word —turning over the sods and preparing to set up a new hobby, gardening. Springtime is normally gardening time, but this spring everyone seems to be gardening. It’s a fashionable craze, no doubt made more fashionable because of the high price of vegetables and also because of the war. People are fearful that vegetables will soar in price still more, or perhaps that there will be a shortage. As a result of the desire of the people to become vegetable gardeners, the seed merchants in Hamilton have experienced improved business. That many oT the customers in the seed shops are “new chums” to the gardening business, can be gauged from the fact that numbers of purchases are made to the accompaniment of question. “What is the best way to . . .?” Then again, “How deep do you plant .. .? Oh! And how much manure should I put with . . .2” Every Spare Moment Hamilton is rapidly becoming a town of gardeners. Early to home from the day’s business, up with the crows and in the old clothes nearly all the week-end has been the inside story of quite a large number of Hamiltonians during the past week or two. Men who once took a pride in a green lawn have jettisoned their obsession for utility purposes, and are now more practically engaged in preparing and caring for the vegetable plot. In some cases the front lawn has been turned over and transformed into a garden of vegetables. One of the factors which might have had its effect on the sudden turn towards gardening is the shortage of seed potatoes and other vegetable seeds owing to the severe winter, although in 'Hamilton the shortage is not as great as in some centres. Local seedsmen should be able to meet all the demands. So those people who have delayed a while in preparing to garden have still a chance. There is no restriction on imported seed potatoes which come from California. Speeds were not affected by the import restrictions and seedsmen therefore expect to be able to fulfil all orders quite comfortably. Onions Now In Bupply One seed merchant in Hamilton said the main shortage had been in onions, as the growers had ceased to market them owing to the high cost of production. The shortage had been overcome now, however, and supplies were coming forward at the present time. No shortage was apparent in other lines although the demands had been heavy. In Hamilton there is not likely to be any shortage of manures, and stocks of German classes of fertilisers seem to be held in good supply. So, as the gardeners dig away and prepare for days ahead, New Zealand will not be caught napping in either days of war or days of high vegetable prices. The new utility hobby is not only proving interesting, but it is finding favour with the Government, which welcomes preparations against food shortages in a time of emergency.