f)06 Afirici'lfurcl Gazette of N.S.TV. \Jiil>i 2, 1908. 



AN'licii tlic lic;it ill the t'r;iiiic is dyiiiL:, lliR seed boxes or puns may l>f' 

 i('iii()\c(l while ii h'ttle fresh m.-inure is mixed tliinii^h that ah-en(lv in llie 

 t'laine, (ir a (|uaiitity of fresh stiil)le inaiiiire can l)e pijed up aiiaiiist tlie 

 outside ; this will create^ sutiieient heat to luiii^;- tlie seedlinns aloiiii-. 



When they mic strong;' enough they should be pricked out into boxes ;ind 

 hardened ott', in any wann and shelter(»d ])]aep' subsequently transplanting 

 tliem into their perinaiient position when all danger from frosts is past. 



The slight trouble entailed raising i arly ))lants is amply icpaiil, as they will 

 come in at a time when fresh NCgetables are ratlier scarce. 



Any \U'\\' ground that is to l)e added to the vegetable garden should be well 

 worked now: manure should l)e put in at the sniiie ,tim(>, so tliat it will be 

 W(dl rotted before any crop is sown in the spiim;. If the manuring is 

 deferred until the planting out of seedlings, the ciiances are that if a dry 

 spring follows, instead of the manure benefiting the plan's it will tend to 

 create heat, and do more harm than good, unless a gooil supply of water is 

 available. 



For spring [ilanling it would be well to ehoos" seeds and plants of the very 

 best varieties, sorts that will suit the summer months, espec-ialh' the cabbage 

 family. For instaiu-e, St. .lolin's 1 >ay Cabbage imariablv pinduces good heads 

 (juickly ; whereas many other sorts fail or take so long *.<i produce hearts that 

 the cabbage moth tuins anv chanee thev miLdit have had. The same appli^s 

 to other vegetables, and even it a litth- nunc has to be paid foi' good seeds or 

 plants it is well to do so, and insiston lia\ ing the best — thev ai'i' the chea[)est 

 and most profitable in the end. 



When sowing seed, especially cabbage, eaulilhiwcr, and broccoli, can' should 

 be taken not to sow the seed too thicklv. Thick sowing is a great mistake as 

 the seedlings become leggy, with very little substance in them, and freijuently 

 much trouhh> is experienced in getting th^-m to make a start when planted out; 

 whereas, if the seed had been sown thinly they would have been sturdy, well- 

 grown and strong-rooted plants, and when raised for transplanting they 

 would carry a fair ipiantity of soil on their rootlets, conseipicntl\- the\- would 

 hardly feel the shift. 



In districts free fiMiu frost, any sufHcieiith" advanced seedlings of t<imato, 

 cucumber, and caiisicum ma\- ite planted out. 



Asparojjxs — If a bed is to be established, los- no time in getting the plant.s 

 and setting them out. Attend to any established plants : a heavy dressing of 

 well-rotted dung should l)e forked in, avoid cutting the crown of the plants 

 during the operation. 



Broad ll-'ans. — ^In the cooler districts a sowing might be m;ide, and any 

 early plantings should bi- cultivated thoroughly, fer by this time they should 

 be making good headway. 



Carrots. — Sow .se-d in any land that was well manured and a crop of 

 cabbage has been taken ott" : this is tin? best possible preparation of the ground 

 for cat ruts. Sow earlv \arieties, such as Short Horn, itc. 



