The Vegetable Garden. 401 



THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. 



July, 1920. 



By fl. 1). TiiKKY. Ccrt.R.H.S., Lecturer in Horticulture. Scbool ni Agriculture 



Potchefstrooni. 



This is the coldest mouth oi' the year, aucl frosts may be expected every night, esi)ecially 

 on the high veld. It will be practically impossible to raise seedlings in the open except in 

 sheltered positions. Frames or pits should be used for laising a few early plants of cabbage, 

 tomato, marrow, and cucumber. In tropical districts where frost is rare, French beans, 

 marrows, cucumber, sweet corn, tomato, etc , are sown or transplanted for early or succession 

 crops. 



Aetichokes. — Jerusalem Antichokes may be planted now. The tui^eis should be planteil 

 as soon after lifting as possible as they do not keep well out of the ground. 



Asparagus. — New crowns should be planted this month ; established beds should be 

 well forked over and given a top dressing of well rotted stable manure or kraal manure if 

 not already done. 



Khubakb. — Winter (Topp's Crimson) will continue to give a supi)ly of stalks if kept 

 watered ; crowns of the summer varieties should be planted now. Established crowns may 

 be forced by placing old cement barrels or parraffin tins with tops and bottoms knocked out 

 over the crowns ; pack stable manure around the covers and loosely cover over the tops. 

 Grive plenty of water. 



Seakale and Chicory may be forced in a similai' manner to rhubarb. 



Hehbs such as thyme, marjoram, sage, and mint, should be divided and replanted. 



Broad Beans may still be sown. If the earlier sown plants become frosted do not 

 despair ; they will break out again. In warm localities where growth is rapid, it is often 

 necessary to nip out the growing point to cause the pods to set. 



Cabbage. — Sow a little seed of such early sorts as Surehead, Webbs" Emperor. Enfield 

 Market, St. John's Day, Winningstad. Give a little protection until germinated. 



Lettuce. — Continue to sow Cos varieties. In warmer districts cabbage varieties may be 

 sown again : Curled Neapolitan, Boston, Iceberg. 



Peas. Sow Stratagem, American Wonder, Gradus, Black-Eyed Susan, Marrow-fat. 

 Lettuce or raddish may be sown between the rows if the peas are sown 3 feet apart in rows. 



Onions may be sown for salads : next month will be early enough to put in main crop 

 for summer. 



Radish may be sown for succession : try sowing with lettuce between the rows of 

 peas. 



Tomatoes. — Under cover, or in a sunken pit sow a tin of some early .sort such as 

 Carter's Sunrise, Earliest-of-all, Earliana, Bonnie Best ; germination may be slow but strong 

 plants will be available for early transplanting should an opportunity occur. After 

 germination give plenty of light and air to harden the seedlings off. . 



Turnips. — Continue to sow for succession ; supply plenty of water, as a check will ruin 

 the crop. Keep a sharp lookout for Bagrada Bug and endeavour to suppress it. 



Kohl Rabi is hardier than turnips and often succeeds where turnips fail ; both White 

 and Purple Vienna may be sown. 



Shallots. — Get these planted during the present month. Let the rows be one foot 

 apart, about 6 inches between each bulb. 



Potatoes. — It is too soon to plant, but the ground should be prepared, the sets obtained, 

 and placed in shallow boxes to begin sprouting. 



